Adding Value

I read on a fellow farmer's office wall this week that "Farming is not just a business, it's a way of life." We are two weeks away from harvest starting at our house. In any business we need to ask ourselves, what are our goals here, and who are we the face of?

Last evening after checking crops up north Jan and I stopped in New Sharon for supper. I added value to my meal with ketchup, salt, and pepper. Some of you know I love pepper. I usually have to take the lid off to get enough added. With grain prices down we try and add value to the products we produce by forward selling and minimizing loss. We try and add value to our business by keeping things neat and clean and being efficient. We try and add value to the folks that work here with affirmation and encouragement. 

Most folks are good at something however everyone is not good at everything. We happen to think that Cat has a high capacity combine that makes us more efficient. However we don't think they are up to speed with their headers. So we use a Mac Don header on soybeans and thanks to Bauer, Zeiglar, and BJ, mounted a John Deere head to pick corn. 

We spread some slow release nitrogen on Jan's new grass seed to give it a push going into the fall season.

I so appreciate thank yous and I'm guessing you do too. We support 4-H kids by attending and participating in the livestock auction at the fair. Many including some of you personally thanked us for buying or bidding on your project. Last week I received a really neat card from Jordan and this week Macy and her mother delivered us two of my favorite pies. Thank you all for your appreciation. Gratitude adds value to everything we all do.

We try and show appreciation to folks that work with us as well. Once a year we rent the Slideways go-cart track on a night when they are normally closed and enjoy racing followed by eating supper together. 

Karl and I are starting to talk to folks about next years seed needs. Our seed prices came out this week for next year and many numbers are down about 3%. 

We had an unexpected guest this week. This gentleman had delivered some pipeline parts south of town and was needing a place to shower and sleep before he headed back to Louisiana. 

Our cabin was suggested however it was being used by the PC volleyball girls. So Jan offered him our basement. I don't even know his name, I hope he had a restful stay.

Speaking of the volleyball girls, they had their annual kickoff retreat at our cabin again this year.

 Thank you Kim and Kathy for adding value to these young ladies lives by being their chaperons as they work together side by side not just in volleyball but in life as well.

Dean came with his Dad, Brent, to go racing last Tuesday evening. Folks, you can't even measure how important it is that little ones have a Dad that takes time for them.

Malaki hangs out with his Dad, Karl, and already loves the machinery. However if you ask his Mom, Kristin, I think she will tell you he likes red combines better than yellow ones.

Jackson's mind never stops when he helps his Dad, Kurt. Jackson told me yesterday his hard plastic tire on his little 4-wheeler needed air. So Grandpa finds an airhose and an end that makes a hissing sound and tells him to blow it up.

This is a cool picture of our landlord, Gary and his wife. Gary stopped to help Elijah put his bicycle chain back on. Gary owns a large manufacturing business east of Oskaloosa and has fixed and invented things all his life.

This picture was taken just six short years ago at Kurt and Emily's wedding. Today these are all young men. God has given us a responsibility and a time frame to add value to each other. It's what Jesus did and we are created in His image. Let's be the salt "and pepper" that enhances others.