People First

Saying people first is easy. What makes a family or business distinctively different is actually accomplishing that goal. People work with people. Leadership and help alike need to create a culture where folks are treated as friends.

So what happens on a farm when things slow down some in the summer months? Folks often hear me tell them that it's summer time and there is less need to push. We still need to be productive. We need to keep our farms and equipment neat and repaired. We need to take the time to be neighborly, helping others. We need to be grateful, for each other and our growing crop. We need to plan for harvest, just over two months away. We need to be humble enough to admit failure and accept change if there is a better way.

Farming is where the action happens and we need to have fun while working. BJ and Cassia's farmstead welcomed a baby donkey this past week. You've often read stories about our kids. Probably more than they care for. This week I'd like to mention and publicly thank our hired helpers.

Jim has been helping us since 2016. He and his wife Barb live in Beacon where Jim was mayor for 6 years. He can build or fix anything he is asked to do. We both enjoy telling the younger crew how things were in the older days.

Alex has worked for us for close to 20 yrs. He is in charge of soybean planting, most dry spreading, and a major part of NH3 application. He does anything else he is asked to do. Alex and his fiancé Alexis are planning a wedding.

Kasey has worked for us a couple of different times. He runs our 612R sprayer just about 100% of the time doing a fair amount of custom spraying. Kasey likes to get a ton of work done and sometimes has to be encouraged to call it a day. He and Sydnie live in Albia with their two children, Preslie and Lane.

Dean is helping us after working at Drost and Van Wall Equipment for 42 years. He, Jim, and I are all close to the same age. He is one of the best mechanics in southern Iowa on both square and round balers, planters, combines, and about anything else he is asked to fix. He also helps a few others when time allows. He and Konnie live east of Oskaloosa.

That just leaves our part time help. Linda, Pablo, Jon, and Matt. Linda does our books in the mornings. Pablo trucks and cleans equipment when he isn't working at Cargill. Jon helps truck mostly in the fall. And Matt can do about anything including our heating and cooling needs. He is also a good organizer. We also have a couple of helpers that trade help for equipment use.

We have grandkids ranging from 4 to 21 yrs. old that help. Some help Grandpa. Some help their Dads. Some have their own rented acres. What a blessing to watch them together learning work ethic, responsibility, values, and caring about each other.

Family and helpers alike deserve a fair return on their efforts. Their hours need to be flexible for their own endeavors as well as family responsibilities. They need to know we're all here to help should there be a need. They need to be given and taught leadership and direction for those not making their own plan. But most of all they need to feel appreciated.

The H Farmall we have talked about before is running like a top. What's it's purpose? I have no idea.

Late Monday afternoon after grandkids, Jan said she was going to mow yard awhile and then pit cherries. So I told her I'd start pitting. I googled pitting cherries with no luck. But before long I was figuring it out. When she got in we worked together and canned 15 qt of ice cream cherry sauce. When I brought them to the basement fruit room I counted around 250 jars of canned fruit, pickles, and sauces. The extra vegetables get frozen in quart bags.

So I'm just a southeast Iowa farm kid that was able to live his dream of helping feed the world. God has allowed me to have a wonderful wife, six great children, many grandkids, and two great-grandchildren so far. This kid is turning 69 yrs old the day after tomorrow. This kid is still a work in progress. And whatever abilities and accomplishments are only by the grace of God. Thanks for the visit. Thanks for the picture Jon.