StillwatersIowa

Good morning friends. Have you ever thought about what are you the face of? What do folks see when they interact with you? These little farm kids helped bring supper to the field south of Pella one evening. Recognizing our identity, our purpose, and how we can benefit folks is the key to know what our brand is and where we are going. What gets you going? What are your passions? What are you good at? What makes you unique? What fuels you up? What energizes you? What do you enjoy a lot? What makes you can't wait to get up in the morning? Most often we are the face of what we do. We need to be ambassadors of our professions. Hopefully in our work we are willing to share ideas, advice, and equipment if possible with those around us for their good. Farming has been something I have wanted to do since I was as small as some of our youngest grandkids. God started that desire. He gave abilities. And then opportunities. He gives the energy for accomplishments. And ...

Yesterday was one of those days when you could harvest corn in the morning and then switch to soybeans after lunch when the grain moisture  was dry enough. Ethan was just down the road driving grain cart for his dad, Mark. John was in our field driving grain cart for Kasey and his dad, BJ. And Ezra, Brian and Becky's 5th grader, was driving grain cart and unloading for his grandpa. Folks appreciate their work and are more productive and effective when they are acknowledged, affirmed, encouraged, and THANKED for their help. Sending thank you notes doesn't seem to happen as often these days. It takes time and effort to find a card, write a note, find an address, and stick it in the mail box. Nowadays it's simpler and faster to text, message, or email if one remembers. However receiving thank you notes still feels good even when the advice, the gift, or act of kindness wasn't done with the intention of getting back. A written...

There are three kinds of workers in the work place these days. There are those who hate their job, (Gallop says 70%), often complaining and thinking others have it better. There are those who tolerate their job, going to work every day because it's a paycheck but can't wait for a promotion or retirement. And there are those who love their job and look forward to the next day and the next week. Who do you suppose is the group that gets the most done and is making the biggest difference? Often people that make a difference are common folk. They work to have a positive influence. They understand the power of relationships, connections, and engaging. They invest their time, treasures, and talents in others. They pass along credit to those they work with, not expecting recognition in return.  I am blessed to work with a crew that makes a difference. On busy days they start between 4 and 6 am without being asked to. Most mornings we genera...

For the last number of years our crop season has been planned around starting harvest in early September. This happens with early planting, pushing the crop with extra nutrients during the growing season, adequate heat units from sunshine, and having machinery ready to roll . During the growing season in the south and east area of our operation we had less then normal rainfall which sped up the maturity process. It also weakened the stalks as the corn plant put all of it's energy into producing an ear during a dry summer. We were around 12 inches below normal approaching September. Since starting harvest we have received close to 12 inches of rain. 2018 will go into the record books as a normal year. However a foot of rain during harvest has caused some setbacks. On July 19 we all heard about or experienced the Pella tornado. It headed southeast following the Muchakinock Creek. It twisted up some corn in it's path. Then the last week of August a 75 mph wind blew betwee...