When I was first approached about writing this page for Progressive Dairy, I asked for a little time to think about it. Time is one of our most valuable resources, and too often it is taken for granted. There are many things that contribute to success, but being aware of what success truly means to us – and then being intentional, focused and proactive about how we spend our time – ranks very high on that list.
Before I accept any new commitment, I ask myself whether it contributes to something that truly matters to me. Like many of you, I am busy, especially being involved in agriculture. But being busy is not the same as being effective. The real challenge is continually evaluating whether we are busy doing the right things.
It didn’t take me long to realize that writing this page was a place where I wanted to invest my time. Our time has value, and how we spend it shapes not only our results but our relationships, our legacy and the people around us.
Several things quickly rose to the top in helping me make that decision.
First, I genuinely love Progressive Dairy. It is my favorite farm magazine, and I align with the vision and mission behind the publication. The topics are relevant, thoughtful and practical. Every issue contains something that challenges me, teaches me or causes me to reflect. I often highlight sections, tear out pages, make copies and place them in files so they can be shared with our team or revisited later.
Second, people are very important to me.
I’m not an extrovert who needs to constantly be surrounded by people, but I have a deep respect for and appreciation of people – all people. I believe that people are what is most valuable on this planet. Without people, nothing else truly matters.
If I could give you every physical thing this world has to offer – all the land, all the equipment, all the money, all the homes, all the businesses – but you had no other people to share it with, those things would be meaningless. It is relationships that give value to everything else.
That belief shapes how I view leadership, business, family and life.
I am also very aware of the power of words. Words are not neutral. They have the ability to build, heal, encourage and inspire – or to wound, discourage and divide. Whether spoken or written, words matter. Any time we are given an opportunity to speak into someone else’s life, it is a responsibility and a gift. When you impact one person, you also impact the many lives connected to them.
I have a deep appreciation for people in agriculture. Farming requires strength, perseverance, patience, resilience and faith – often all at the same time. I hope that through this page I can offer encouragement, perspective and insight that helps you more fully understand just how important and valuable you are. Not only because you help feed the world but because of who you are as a person.
I also believe that every person has seeds of greatness within them. No one else is exactly like you. You have a unique set of experiences, strengths, talents and perspectives. That difference is not a flaw – it is a necessity. It is why we need one another.
We all have both strengths and weaknesses. Much of traditional development focuses on fixing weaknesses. While there is a time for that, I believe there is also tremendous value in learning to operate within our strengths and allowing others to complement us where we are not as strong. That mindset builds healthier teams, stronger families and more sustainable businesses.
Family is also very high on my list of priorities, and I know it is for many of you as well. I consider my role as a husband and father the most important leadership responsibility I will ever have. Agriculture gives us the rare opportunity to live and work alongside our families in a way few other industries do. That is a gift – and it is also a challenge.
Family businesses are complex. They are emotional, relational, financial and deeply personal all at once. Success cannot be measured solely by numbers on a balance sheet. It must also be measured by the health of our relationships, the strength of our culture and the well-being of the people involved.
My hope is that through this page I can share examples, encouragement and practical wisdom that supports you not only as a producer but as a person. If even a small portion of what is written here helps someone grow, heal, reflect or find the courage to take a meaningful next step, then the investment of time will have been well worth it.
