StillwatersIowa

We think, read, and practice a lot about leadership. It's an attribute worth pursuing. But to borrow a phrase, if one turns around and no one is following, then all you're doing is going for a walk. Followership is the capacity and willingness to work under someone. Not in just a passive obedient way like sheep. Not in just being a yes man way without thinking. Not in an alienated way with lots of criticism. Followership takes reliability and commitment, action and engagement. It takes humility and a teachable spirit. A follower becomes a reflection of whom they are following. After BJ moved our 6R dozer home, I leveled off some ditch cleaning dirt that the DOT had brought and dumped on some poor reclaimed coalmine spots. August has just enough time to squeeze in some odd jobs. My followership title this morning came from a conversation Jan and I had with our friend Tim, in Indiana. We attended Becknology Days in Atlanta after being asked to be part of a meet and greet the even...

The start of harvest is just weeks away. Chopping season is already underway. Our summer season has had blessed times. It has also had struggles. Both situations come with responsibility. Responsibility to make a difference. We have mowed a number of Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) acres for others. Some choose not to take the risk of mowing. These acres often come with surprises. Like flat tires from thorn trees and sharp stumps, broken batwing mowers from unseen obstacles, and falling in holes. We choose to help with both the blessed acres and the struggling ones when when folks put their trust in us. Our family is blessed to have different members in it with a variety of abilities to help others. Mike is working on building wetlands in a reclaimed coalmine. Mark is digging basements for new homes and demolishing old ones. BJ is here loading his trencher to help a landlord with a wide wet waterway. Jan and I headed to Iowa City early Thursday morning. Her MRI showed no additional ...

Last Sunday afternoon on a Ranger ride, Jan and I stopped at a cemetery north of Fremont. Most all the grave stones had a birth date, a dash, and a death date. The dash represents an ongoing journey of living. It won't be perfect. However those of us visiting this morning still have the opportunity to intentionally live our dash so it positively impacts our families, friends, and community. We found Jan's great-great-grandfather. Margaret, his first wife's dash was only 40 yrs. Rebecca, his second wife, died at 36 years old. His 3rd wife Amanda, outlived John by 11 years. Jan's great-grandfather Elijah, died at 69 years old. Jan's grandfather Carl had a twin brother Curt. Our twin sons Karl and Kurt were born 100 years later, and are named after them.  In 1964 my dash was 8 yrs long. I was in 3rd grade at Osky Christian. Our family moved to Pella in late November. So on December 15, 1964 Miss Tobac had my 19 remaining classmates write me letters. They meant a lot to...

Every August we get calls to mow CRP (Conversation Reserve Program) acres. This is usually marginal ground where a farmer is paid to sow down land for conversation and wildlife. Elliot mowed yesterday until a volunteer thorn tree caused a flat tractor tire.                                When I was a kid, we rode to school in a "panel". Neighborhood parents would take turns picking up and driving their children to and from school. The bench seats sat around the edge of the vehicle and we faced each other. Seat belts were unheard of. Nowadays these are called vans. Thanks for the picture. When Jan was a kid, her family had a car and a truck. We just had a single car. Farmers didn't own or drive a pickup until the late 60s and early 70s. And then they were totally used for hauling or towing. Nowadays 80% of pickups are used for personal use only. Thanks for the picture. During my teenage years my parents had 6...

It's August, our last official month of summer. John and Ella got in 200 head of small feeder calves to custom feed for three months. Great-Grandpa Ferguson, who built the barn, would approve. August is often a month to clean out bins, preparing for the crop in the field. Jim has been hauling corn for Bill and Mark. August is also a month to get trucks ready for hopefully a busy fall. August is a month when fertilizer and seed prices come out for next crop year. That means  a conversation with input suppliers. It might mean a conversation with one's banker. Is the 2025 crop in the bin sold? Is the 2026 crop in the field sold? When planning, what will 2027 look like? As a landlord, August is a month when one looks at their farm and determines whether he or she is happy with their renter. As a renter, one is asking himself if he is doing his best to keep his landlord not only satisfied but thankful for the owner/renter relationship. It is also a month when the tenant needs to eva...