What's Behind The Brand

So, what's your brand? I'm not talking vehicles, machinery, seed, politics, or church denomination. I mean you. It might be your business or logo. It might be your hobbies. It might be your name or family. Now a little more probing question. What's behind your brand? Goals, values, mission, accomplishments? That my friend, is your story. Thanks for the picture Kasey.

Jan and I have been blessed to have spent this past week together in Cayman. It was earned as a thank you for our family seed order from Becks Seed. Several of our customers and their spouses will be enjoying a similar experience in various warm locations over the next few weeks. 

Our family has been in the seed business for over 35 years. We love helping people. And having seed available for folks goes hand in hand with our custom farming business. A few years back we made a transition. Today Karl and Kristin operate K and K Seed. Yes, the Becks seed brand has a lot to offer including better performance and value. But it's what's behind the brand that's motivates our family. Becks goal is to honor God and bless others. That's letting your light shine in a dark world today. And that is why we can help farmers succeed.

One morning Jan and I got up and drove to the far east side of the island to watch the sun come up.

We stopped at Fosters Grocery Store to buy spices for the crew back home. Exactly five years ago this is the isle we were at when we met David. David and Carol were from Tennessee and were on the island for Carol's disc replacement surgery in 2018. He shared their story with Jan and I. We shared it with BJ who had a ruptured disc back home. BJ and Cassia came to Cayman a month later in February, had a very successful lower disc replacement, came home, and was farming two months later. Miracles do happen yet today. Thanks David for being part of that divine appointment behind the brand.

This is a picture from the beach of The London House where we stayed. I'd often spend early mornings at the ocean with God, thanking Him for blessings, and asking for wisdom and guidance.

We are so blessed with friends from a variety of settings including the Becks seed business. With Jan and I, on the ocean front, out for supper, are Ken, Chad, and Lesley.

When we're away it's always fun to get pictures from home. Kurt and his boys finished his fenceline feeding bunks and is taking care of bred cows for Keith and Julie. Thanks for the picture Kurt.

Winter in southern Iowa has allowed Mike to continue to build terraces. Thanks for the picture Mike.

The shop crew tackled removing a fifth wheel slide from one of our older semis, and mounting a dump box. Thanks for the picture BJ.

This was the week Karl and Kristin got in 10,000 early weaner pigs. Of course the best part of this picture is Karl's little helper Sydnie. Thanks for the picture Karl. 

Home and family are a big part of my story. I'm blessed God allowed me to be part of this crew. These folks are a major part of who I am today.  

On Cayman cemeteries have been close to the beach for centuries. And the vaults have to be shallow for obvious reasons. There is a reef around most of the island which protects it from pounding waves.

So I come back to my first question. What's behind your brand? Because folks will forget who you are. They will even forget your accumulations and accomplishments. But they will never forget the gift you accepted from Christ, and the gifts you gave and did for others. That my friends has eternal consequences. 

We are in an era today when folks are tired of being talked at and sold to. Over the last couple of years it's been hard to know what's real and what's not. Who's really for you, and who's just pretending to be for you. We crave authentic connections. We don't just want to know about the brand, we want to have relationships, and trust the folks behind the brand. It's how we were created.