Generational Impact

Generational impact is the effect and outcome one generation leaves on another. Some things are taught. Many are observed. A few can be tradition. The most effective positive impacts are given selflessly.

Passing on the principles, values, and morals we grew up with is getting harder. Today's culture wants to raise the consequences and cost of speaking truth so high that folks will keep quiet. Either lack of courage or apathy in speaking truth is leaving a void and is damaging to the next generations.

The second most asked question I have gotten in the last two decades is how do we operate as a family unit. I'm going to let the farming pictures about replanting, spraying fence rows, mowing road ditches, putting equipment away, 2nd pass spraying, and haying, tell their own story this week. And I'll share some business and life goals we've had over the last twenty years as a family.

When a business grows, don't make smaller slices. Don't necessarily make a bigger pie. Find more and different flavors of pie. Meaning diversify. Thanks for the picture.

Give the next generations as much responsibility as they can handle. Identify each one's strengths and let them lead. Help others become better at things then you are.

Allow as much independence as possible to establish the next generation's family unit. Even if that means helping them move on if they choose to. Thanks for the picture Matt.

Have goals. Weekly. Marketing. Community. Servantly. Generously. And affirm the crew who help you outside the family as essential and needed in making those goals.

Be progressive, cutting edge, stewardly, productive, and bold, without falling into the political correctness rut. Show others by example that the vocation you're in is a blessing. And don't let the demeaning, and those who hope you fail, to discourage you from helping feed the world.

When life is good, tell God and others thank you. When troubles and trials come, lean on God and others for help. Encourage the next generation to have dreams and goals without getting ahead of God's purpose for their lives.

Speaking of a generation ago, do those of you in our community remember Don's Diner. Don and Shirley ran a successful small restaurant on the east side of Oskaloosa along A Ave East much of their lives. Thanks for the picture Jon.

Well, one of Don and Shirley's sons, Jon, is staying with us this week with his daughter Gretchen and two grandchildren. Jon and his wife Kim have pastored in El Paso, Texas for a long time.

So yes, we as family are blessed to share the joys and challenges of farming. We are blessed to share friends in the ones we work for and with in our different custom work ventures. But most of all we share a faith, that what we have is not our own, but on loan from God. And who we are is that we belong in this life and the next to our faithful Savior. That folks is what makes generational impact work. Blessings.