| |
October 2006
A Successful Farmer
Dear Friends,
Pretty much everyone strives for success. Being considered a "successful farmer" by friends and neighbors is a desirable endeavor. But, I always wonder, who is the judge whether you are "successful" or not? Are our relatives the best judges? Or, are our peers – other farmers down the road – the best judges? Maybe farm consultants or experts in specific areas of agriculture should be the judges? Perhaps the local grain elevator or implement dealership should consider the question? I just don’t know.
Most of the time, peers would judge farmers that drive clean, relatively new vehicles and equipment as "successful". If they have enough funding to keep up the home place, keep up a good line of machinery and quality facilities, that should be considered financial success.
I’m afraid that I would fail that test, though. Most of the big pieces of machinery I have on the place are carrying a little rust, and I don’t think any of my tractors or major implements are less than 25 years old. So, I suppose that is one strike against my quest for success in farming.
If a farmer covers a lot of ground, or cares for a lot of livestock, most folks would consider that person, a successful farmer. Rightfully so, because if you have the capital and equipment to operate a fair-sized farm, you are probably closely acquainted with some business success.
Again, looking at my own operation, I fail that test. On the crop side, we raise a little bit of every thing – corn, soybeans, oats, alfalfa, rye, wheat, sunflowers and Christmas trees - but we don’t raise a whole lot of any particular crop. We finish a few hogs and have a small cow-calf herd and a donkey that the kids named "Valentine", and that’s about it. So, in this particular instance, I suppose that is strike two against me in my quest for success.
A lot of folks would stop right there. If you don’t pass those tests, you probably aren’t successful, they might say.
But I would add another aspect to the whole success question. Am I there for my family when they need me? Do I have time to help my kids with homework and say their prayers with them when I tuck them into bed at the night? Do I teach them about stewardship of our resources and about the importance of treating people, the land and livestock with respect?
Maybe one of the best measurements of success is not quantitative at all, but qualitative. Maybe my peers, acquaintances and farm experts aren’t the judges I should be concerned about when I’m shooting for success. Maybe my family should be the judge I listen to the most.
So, I have a long journey and a lot of work ahead of me in my quest for success, but I think that if my family, and ultimately, my Creator, consider me a success on the really important aspects of life, then it must be so. For me, I’m sure the jury is still out, so, having failed all of the other criteria for success, I’ll just keep trying to do better on the one area where I think I might have a shot at making the grade.
Have a good week.
W.K. Kellogg Foundation
Website design by:
Kim Sawatzke
Professional Results,
Reasonable Prices!
