Monday, December 31, 2012

Year in Review

With 2012 drawing to a close, I have been doing some thinking about the past year and the challenges and opportunities I faced. 2012 was a year full of lessons learned, so I thought I would share my top three.

Top Three Lessons from 2012

  1. Take chances. When I set off for my three month adventure in Milwaukee, I thought I was crazy that there was no way I could do it. But I did. As I look back, I am so glad that I took the chance to try something new. I had the opportunity to gain valuable work experience, meet great people and I grew a lot as an individual. What seemed like an impossible feat, taught me that I can do anything I set my mind to.
  2. It's okay to compromise. Stubborn is a word that is frequently used to describe me. No, it's not my best attribute but I'm working on it. This year presented me with numerous opportunities to learn the importance of compromise. As the boy frequently tells me, "you can't always get what you want, but if you try sometimes you might get what you need." So often we think that we have to get everything we want, exactly when we want. My question to you, to myself, is why can't we learn to work together to come to a common solution? Why does a solution to a problem have to be all or nothing?
  3. Love life. Life is too short not to enjoy. No matter what the circumstance, I have learned things could always be worse. 

I'm thankful for the lessons I learned in 2012, and I am looking forward to the many lessons that 2013 has in store. I hope that 2012 was a great year for you and yours!

Until next year,
Jessie

Thursday, December 20, 2012

A Team, An Industry Worth Fighting For

Friday was a big day. Yes it was my birthday, but more importantly the Bison beat Georgia Southern in the semi-final game...next stop, Frisco!! It was so fun to spend my birthday cheering for the Bison with thousands of other dedicated fans. I don't think anyone who walked out of the FargoDome had much of a voice left, but no one cared. We got to watch an incredible football game and will get to watch the Bison fight for another FCS Championship!

The unique thing about Bison fans, perhaps sports fans in general, is their dedication to their team...good times and bad. True fans stick with their team through the tough times: injured player, a season plagued by more losses than wins; no matter what true fans remain dedicated to their team. Yes, it would be easier to cheer for a more successful team and, let's be honest, you probably wouldn't get harassed as much if you would quit wearing that jersey in public, but those aren't characteristics of a die-hard fan.

I think the same goes for the individuals in the agriculture industry. Besides sports fans, our industry is made up of the most dedicated people I know. Individuals who will get up several times during the night in the middle of winter to check on cows and calves during calving season. Individuals who will seed around the clock to make sure their crop gets in the ground. Individuals who will combine through the night  to get the crop off before the rain. Individuals who wake up at 4 o'clock in the morning to drive their kids to town so they can ride the bus to a 4-H or FFA judging contest. These are just a few of countless examples of the dedicated individuals who are part of our great industry.

Just like sports fans, the individuals in our industry are there through the good times and bad. When it hasn't rained in weeks, when prices aren't the best, when the tractor breaks down, when hail destroys an entire field...they don't give up. They may get discouraged, but they never quit fighting. They understand that life is full of challenges, and sometimes it can feel like an uphill climb, but they know that their industry is something worth fighting for. No matter what the circumstances, people in agriculture don't give up.

All I wanted for my birthday was a Bison victory...my wish came true!!

I'm proud to be a Bison fan and there's no question I'm proud to be a part of the agriculture industry! Win or lose, I hope you will remain a true Bison fan. And despite the challenges you may have faced this year, remember...agriculture is an industry worth fighting for!

Until next week,
Jessie

Wednesday, December 12, 2012

Change is a Good Thing

Did you read the title of this blog...'Change is a Good Thing' the fact that I am saying that is shocking, and I have a feeling that those of you who know me are laughing to yourself. So I'll be honest, I'm not always a believer that change is a good thing, but I hope you and I can agree that the new name and design of my blog are good changes!

Ever since I started blogging as an intern I have wanted to blog on a more user friendly platform that allows me to interact with my readers and makes it easier for you to follow my blog posts. Since I am now full-time with RRFN, I decided it was time to accomplish my goal and ta-da you have A View from the Topp.

I hope you will take advantage of the opportunity to follow my blog via email and as always, I love to hear from you, so feel free to comment on a post or send me an email.

So maybe we can all agree that change is a good thing...sometimes!

Until next week,
Jessie

Thursday, December 6, 2012

Adventures in the Windy City

Last week I was in Chicago for the Top Producer Executive Women in Agriculture Conference. It was a great opportunity to network with women from across the country who are passionate about this industry, and I look forward to sharing some thoughts from the conference in future posts.

I attended the conference with my mom and sister in-law and we decided to stay an extra day after the conference to explore the Windy City. Amanda and I had been in Chicago earlier this summer when she and Justin visited me in Milwaukee, so we had a chance to do some exploring, but we were excited to check more things off our list.
Exploring the Windy City with two of my favorite ladies
If you are ever in the Chicago area, here are a few of my recommendations.

1. Navy Pier - I had a chance to explore Navy Pier this summer and had a blast. There are tons of boat tours, rides, theaters, food vendors, etc. The view of the city from atop the Ferris Wheel is incredible.
Navy Pier Ferris Wheel
2. Pizza - You can't go to Chicago without having a slice of some authentic Chicago style pizza. There are a ton of pizza places to choose from, but I would definitely recommend Giordano's. They are famous for their stuffed pizza. 
Giordano's serves the best pizza I've ever had!
3. Millennium Park - We didn't get to spend a lot of time here, since we were trying to cram as much as we could into a short amount of time, but I would definitely recommend going here. Even if it's just for a few minutes.
The 'bean' in Millennium Park
4. Garrett's Popcorn - Everyone we talked to said that you can't leave Chicago until you stop at Garrett's Popcorn. I now understand why! They have several different types of popcorn to choose from, but their most popular is the Chicago Mix (what a clever name), which consists of carmel corn and cheese flavored popcorn getting mixed together. It sounds weird at first, but I assure you it is delicious. I wish we would've bought more to bring home.

5. Magnificent Mile - I'm not a big shopper, but going into the various shops along the Magnificent Mile was a lot of fun. Even though we didn't buy anything, it was fun to give my dad a hard time!
The Magnificent Mile is definitely more fun with dad's credit card =)
6. Sprinkles Cupcakes - If you've ever watched the show Cupcake Wars on the FoodNetwork, then you've probably heard of this shop, which is owned by one of the shows judges. Anyways, we decided we had to go try some cupcakes. They were delicious and of course had sprinkles! The coolest thing about the shop was the cupcake ATM, where you get to determine every aspect of your cupcake.
Stop at Sprinkles to satisfy your sweet tooth
There are many other great attractions in Chicago, and I hope that I can go back and continue to see what other things the city has to offer.
So blessed that my friend Sarah came
from Milwaukee to spend the day with us
P.S. You've probably realized that the blog is different than it has been in the past. Next week I will highlight the exciting features of the new blog format, which will allow you to follow my blog and receive email notifications when I add a new post...stay tuned!

Until next week,
Jessie

Wednesday, November 21, 2012

A Season of Thankfulness

Turkey, stuffing, mashed potatoes and gravy, and pumpkin pie. Tomorrow we celebrate Thanksgiving, a long standing tradition of gathering with friends and family to reflect on all the blessings we have. We each have so much to be thankful for, but sometimes I feel like the true reason for this holiday gets lost in a clutter of black Friday ads. It's amazing to me that right after we get done reflecting on the many blessings we have, we will spend the entire next day shopping. I'm not against black Friday or getting a good deal, but I hope that we all take time to realize just how blessed we are.

In my family we have a long standing tradition where, before we eat our Thanksgiving meal, we go around the table and say what we are thankful for. Here's just a few of the many things that I am thankful for this year.

  1. Family and friends. That probably seems like a cliche answer, but it's true. I am so thankful to have an amazing family that supports me and gives me advice when I need it. They are my biggest fans and, sometimes, my toughest critics. I am so blessed that they stand with me along the way, always pushing me to strive for my goals. I am also thankful for friends who I can always count on, whether I need to talk about some frustrations or just need a good laugh they are always there for me. Even though I don't get to see them as often as I would like, I am so thankful for each and every one of them.
  2. Red River Farm Network. I am truly blessed to work for the greatest group of individuals I know. I am truly amazed at what I continue to learn. Each day is full of challenges and successes, and I am thankful for the amazing opportunity I have been given.
  3. Agriculture. As I sit down at the dinner table tomorrow, there is no question that I am thankful for the food on the table and for the individuals who work hard to provide it. This industry is full of some of the most passionate individuals I know, and I am thankful for the farmers and ranchers who work hard to provide for their own families and feed the world.
  4. Freedom. I am thankful for the men and women who have dedicated their livest to ensuring that our great nation remains free. It is no question that without the sacrifices of these individuals and their families we would not be able to enjoy many of the freedoms we do.
As you prepare to spend time with family and friends, take time to reflect on what you are thankful for.

Happy Thanksgiving!!
Jessie

Wednesday, November 14, 2012

Don't Let Fear Get In The Way

On May 21, I embarked on the scariest journey I have taken so far...living 720 miles from home for 12 weeks. For some that might not seem all that scary, but as I was saying goodbye to family and friends, trying but miserably failing to hold back my tears, I kept thinking "you're crazy."

You see, until May 21 I'd never been away from home longer than two or three weeks at a time. So the thought of living in a place where I didn't know a single person for the entire summer was a little frightening.

The first week was probably the hardest, rush hour traffic and agency 'life' were just two big adjustments. Thankfully I met some great people at work and at a church I found. Random visits from my parents, the boy and Justin and Amanda also helped those 84 days fly by...not that I was counting or anything!

Looking back now, I am so thankful that I stepped out of my comfort zone and spent the summer in Milwaukee. The lessons I learned at Bader Rutter will continue to help as I gain experience in the 'real' world. And the friendships I made while I was there are also something I deeply treasure.

I guess you could say I'm glad I didn't let my fears get in the way. I can't imagine my summer being any different, and I know I grew a lot as an individual. I feel like I accomplished something really meaningful and I will never have to ask myself the dreaded 'what if' question. I am confident that when other 'scary' things come my way, I am fully prepared to face them head on. I faced my fear, now it's your turn!

Until next week,
Jessie

Wednesday, October 31, 2012

The Worst Mistake Is To Not Make Any

One month. Tomorrow I have been with Red River Farm Network full-time for an entire month. Where does the time go?

I'll be honest, the first two weeks were a little overwhelming. I was trying to get into a routine, set up my office and a long list of other tasks. Things have settled down and still no routine...it's safe to say farm broadcasters don't really have a routine, because each day is different from the next! But that's what makes my job so exciting, I get to come to work and talk about various individuals about the numerous issues facing our industry!

It's also safe to say that I've made my share of mistakes over the last month. My recorder dies in the middle of an interview, the guys didn't receive the email with my stories for a broadcast and the subject line of FarmNetNews simply read Re...just to name a few. Being the perfectionist that I am these mistakes are frustrating. As much as I want to avoid making mistakes, no matter how hard I try I am going to mess up from time to time. But making mistakes is part of life, it's how we learn.

As a child we learn that you will get burned by touching the red burner on the stove, as a teenager we learn that breaking curfew will cause you to lose privileges and as a college student we learn that we have to be responsible for getting to class on our own and turning our assignments in on time. These are just a few of the countless lessons we learn during our lifetime. Sometimes we learn them the hard way and sometimes we learn from the mistakes of others. As a young woman who is entering the work force, I know that there are many lessons I have yet to learn.

Thomas Edison once said "If I find 10,000 ways something won't work, I haven't failed. I am not discouraged, because every wrong attempt discarded is often a step forward..." What an interesting way to look at a situation. Embrace our mistakes? Now that's a new concept! But what a freeing one. If I lean into the mistakes I make and look at them as a step forward, instead of beating myself up for it, I might take more away from the experience. Since making mistakes is inevitable why not look at each of them as a step forward rather than a step back?


Until next week,
Jessie

Wednesday, October 24, 2012

It's Election Time...Let Your Voice Be Heard

Debates. Television Commercials. Facebook Statuses. Radio Advertisements. Yes, there's no question that it's an election year. Are you prepared to cast your vote in 13 days? Since you are constantly bombarded with advertisements telling you how to vote, or in some cases, how not to vote I promise that this post will not include my personal opinion on any candidates or ballot initiatives. I will however be encouraging you to take part in the democratic process.
With all the advertisements it is so easy to hear what someone says and accept it as fact, but let's be honest...not everything we hear on the television or read on the internet is true! This brings me to my first point, get informed. There is a lot of information being thrown at you, especially now that the election is less than two weeks away. Take time to learn about the candidates, don't make your decision based solely off of a campaign advertisement. Do your own research and learn everything you can about the individuals vying for an office. 
When it comes to the issues do the same thing. Dig deeper than what the measure actually says. Take time to look at who is backing the ballot initiative and think about the measure would mean long-term. This year, in North Dakota, we have two ballot initiatives that directly affect agriculture. I think it is always imperative to vote, but when the issues directly affect my industry there's no question my voice will be heard. And I will make sure that everyone I know does their part to protect our industry as well.
Once you learn all you can about the candidates and the issues, you are ready to cast your vote. Make sure you take time on November 6 to cast your vote and if you are unable to vote on that day get an absentee ballot. I promise the process is painless and if you've done your research it won't take you long to fill out your ballot and send it back. As Americans it is truly a blessing that we have the right to vote. Think about it. We have an opportunity to make a difference in our country. I often hear people say they don't vote because they don't think their vote makes a difference. The problem is it isn't one vote. Numerous individuals, you and old, feel the same way so they don't vote. So one vote becomes two and two becomes hundreds, even thousands. All of their votes combined could make a difference. So don't forget to encourage your family, friends and neighbors to cast their vote. And remind them , one vote makes a difference.
Like I said before, this post isn't focused on me telling you where I stand on the issues or who I think the right choice for our state or country is. I just want to encourage you to take a part in the democratic process. There are important decisions to be made, so get informed and cast your vote. I have made my decisions for election 2012. Have you?
Excited to cast my vote in election 2012!
Jessie

Wednesday, October 17, 2012

Now What?

Barley, check. Wheat, check. Dry beans, check. Corn, check. Harvest 2012 is done...in record time. Seems strange to be done combining so early, but I can assure you it is a great feeling! The last few weeks were crazy. Not only did I start my new job, but we were also busy trying to combine soybeans and corn. The days were long and tiring, but we are thankful for a safe harvest season.

Harvest is done, so now what? Well let me assure you there will be no shortage of things going on at T-T Ranch. In fact here are some of the things at the top of a never ending list:
                                         -Grain to haul
                                         -Fertilizer to apply
                                         -Calves to wean
                                         -Machinery to service

And I can assure you that this list goes on and on. I'm sure you can relate. Whether you are a farmer,
stay at home mom, rancher, seed salesman, communications director, whatever your title is you know
that there are always things to do. But what a great feeling it is when you can finally check something off
the list. No we don't ever get to the end of said list, but each job we check off is one less thing we have
to save for tomorrow.

These last few weeks have been very crazy, but I am so thankful to know that we can check harvest
2012 off our lengthy list of things to do. But who am I kidding, I can't wait for harvest 2013 to begin!
Well, I guess I better get back to my own never-ending list of things to do.

Until next week,

 Jessie

Wednesday, October 10, 2012

I'm Back =)

Hopefully the news that I'm back with Red River Farm Network excites you, I know I'm excited! So much has happened since my last post, so I think it would be appropriate if I updated you on some of the highlights.

1. 86th Little "I" Queen - You may be wondering what Little "I" is and why being the queen is such a big deal, let me explain. The Little International, better known as Little "I", is a longstanding tradition on the campus of NDSU. Saddle and Sirloin was started to develop an interest in animal husbandry on campus, and our biggest event of the year is the Little International. Individuals can show pigs, sheep, cattle, dairy and horses in a showmanship competition. They spend a little over a month working with their animals, so that they look good and behave well in the arena. Little "I" is similar to what you would see at any county or state fair. You can also cure a ham and give a speech as part of this event. We also put on a livestock judging contest for 4-H and FFA members and select an individual who has made an impact on agriculture in North Dakota and honor them as Agriculturist of the Year. It is a busy weekend that takes an entire year to plan. I was elected the 86th Little "I" Queen, which means that I was in charge of lining up media interviews, decorating Shepperd arena, organizing a coloring contest at the mall and lots of other fun activities. It was a great experience and a great way to round out my time at NDSU.
I had the privilege of serving with Little "I" princesses Sarah Schaaf and Katie Dressler
2. College Graduate - Speaking of NDSU, I am now an alumni...just saying that makes me feel old! I accomplished my goal of graduating in three years. To top it off I even graduated as a cum laude! My time at NDSU flew by so fast and even though I don't miss the all nighters spent studying for tests or having five papers due the same week, I miss my friends. One of the highlights of my college career was being involved in different organizations and meeting people I never knew before college. Given my job description, it's safe to say that I will likely run in to some of these individuals in the future, so it was fun getting to know them while at college. I've been back to Fargo a couple of times since graduation, but I am looking forward to many more trips to spend time with friends...in fact I'll be back this weekend cheering on the Bison football team!
My parents are glad all of their children have FINALLY graduated from college!
3. Bader Rutter & Associates Intern - If I graduated in May and it's October, you may be wondering what I have been up to. I had the opportunity to spend the summer in Milwaukee, where I interned for Bader Rutter & Associates, a public relations agency. I worked on the Dow AgroSciences and Mycogen Seeds accounts and had the opportunity to write news releases, newsletter articles, help plan some events, learn about social media monitoring and lots more! My colleagues were great and very willing to teach me new things and show me ways to improve my writing. I am grateful that I had the opportunity to intern for such a great organization. But my summer wasn't just about work. I got to see a lot of Milwaukee, met some great friends, went to several Brewer's games and went to Chicago for the first time. Living in Milwaukee was a great experience but there is no question that I am a farm girl! By the time my internship was over I couldn't wait to trade my office chair in for a tractor seat, my high heels for a pair of cowboy boots and my dress clothes for jeans and a t-shirt. When I got home I immediately started making up for lost time. There were calves to be halter broke for our sale, dry bean samples to grade, trucks to dump at the elevator and lots of combining to be done! Needless to say there wasn't much down time.
Enjoying some Brewers baseball!
4. Big Kid - People have been joking that I'm a big kid now, and I guess they are right. I started full-time with RRFN a week ago and I'm so excited for this opportunity. They are letting me work from Grace City, so I can still help on the farm after work and on weekends (I think my dad likes that!). Jason has graciously allowed me to have my office in his house and the view isn't too bad. Today I can watch the guys combining corn across the road. My daily commute is also shorter, my previous drive time to Grand Forks was about four hours round-trip  Driving to my office now takes less than 10 minutes, I'm not quite sure what to do with all that extra time! Just kidding, my job and my dad are having no problem finding things for me to do! It is such a privilege to work for such a great company, and I look forward to keeping you up to date on the latest happenings. You will also be able to read my writing in the pages of the Northarvest Bean Grower and North Dakota Soybean Grower magazine. And you can expect weekly blog posts, yes I said weekly!
I think that just about covers everything. I look forward to seeing you at a tradeshow or a meeting. As always, feel free to contact me: jessie@rrfn.com
Today's view from my office window


Until next week,

Jessie