Drag the planters out of the barn, fire up the seed tenders, update the field maps and start your engines. It’s time to plant. No matter how you define this annual event, one thing holds true: It’s a race to the finish. As my ag teacher so eloquently put it in his greenhand livestock reasons orientation, “The wind blew and the mud flew. I place this class … ” We are certainly ready to see the soil fly (hypothetically) as it’s covered in green growing crops.
This season as you enjoy your packed lunch at about 10 a.m., take a moment to ponder the lessons learned from the hardwoods in March. This annual NCAA basketball tournament is a testament to quality leadership, perseverance, a will to win and tactical efficiency. It often isn’t the biggest, the fastest or the most highly praised players who emerge victorious. Rather, it’s the selfless and the team players who cut down the nets.
Here are a few concepts to focus on during the hustle of planting:
1. Leaders lead. If you are in charge, be in charge. Make a plan each evening and share it each morning. Of course, you’ll have to improvise from time to time, but starting on the same page is important.
2. Be a team. Nobody wins alone and that means you must trust your crew to handle their roles. If they know it’s OK to ask questions or ask for help, they’ll be more likely to do so. Together you’ll accomplish more than you ever could alone. Sometimes you will have to ask. Don’t assume everyone just knows what to do.
3. Make in-game adjustments. You can scout and you can scheme, but rarely does every game happen exactly as anticipated. Be flexible and make daily adjustments where warranted. That doesn’t mean cutting corners, but it does mean going with the flow.
4. Commit to excellence. Make your expectations clear, keep them high and stick to your standards. It’s OK for there to be mistakes as long as lessons are learned. A word of caution: If you set a high bar, you’ll need to meet it also. Be confident, but know difficult things have a way of keeping you humble.
5. Remember why you started farming. Your passion and your love of the profession will see you through difficult days. Take a minute to enjoy the experience. The game is hard, but the rewards are many.
