Not an A+ Week

This past week was probably one of the most stressful that I have had this semester; papers to write, tests to study for, deadlines to meet. There were honestly times when I didn’t know if I was going to survive. I would lay down at night and the thought of sleep was the farthest thing from my mind…I just kept thinking about the 101 other things that I should be doing instead of trying to sleep.

There is a quote by Thomas L. Holdcroft that says “Life is a grindstone. Whether it grinds us down or polishes us up depends on us.” I saw that quote this weekend and immediately said that I had let this week break me. I really shouldn’t stress because in the end everything gets done…somehow it always does. The stress that I put on myself wears me down and is so unnecessary. The time at college is supposed to be the time of my life, so I can’t let this experience be one that wears me down…it needs to be one that molds, polishes, me into the person that I will become.

Growing up heavily involved in the ag industry I understand just how busy and stressful life gets. But what we all need to remember is that the situations we go through are meant to shape our future. We can let our experiences be negative and wear us down, or we can find the bright side to the story and learn from it.

The lesson I learned this last week: It isn’t about getting 100% on every project. It’s about preparing yourself, learning along the way, and giving it your all.

Carpe Diem

Carpe Diem…Seize the Day. A simple saying that can have life changing effects. You see we can go through life just living, just getting by. Or we can live each moment to the fullest, take each and every opportunity we have and run with it…don’t you think that is a life that is more meaningful? Don’t you think that if we seize every moment, every opportunity our life will make more of an impact?

Carpe Diem can mean many different things to many different people. For some it may mean that we need to try new things whenever the opportunity presents itself. For some it may mean that we need to talk to people about the important things in life. For some it may mean that we need to slow down, truly enjoy the simple things in life. We each have a different meaning for the term Carpe Diem, and that’s okay, the important thing is that we live out its meaning.

The perfect example of this saying, in my mind, is probably my dad. My dad comes to mind specifically because he is always challenging me to go above and beyond. The drive that I have to succeed is because it is something that he, and my mom, have instilled in me. By watching my dad take advantage of every opportunity possible I have learned the importance of not passing on opportunities. It is sometimes scary, challenging, and to be honest sometimes I just want to say no or even give up. The relationships that my dad has in the world of agriculture have opened so many doors; they have allowed him to take advantage of so many opportunities. For anyone involved in agriculture, there are so many doors that we can choose to open or just walk by. Unfortunately, especially in the younger generation, it is becoming so common to close the door on opportunities, or not even open them for fear of failure. When opportunities come knocking on the door of our life it can be scary, but exciting at the same time. If we would all just seize the opportunities handed to us, think of the impact we could make.

Our time is limited, but the impact we can have on all those around us is limitless. We have to take advantage of every opportunity possible. Stop walking by an open door. Open the door and seize the day…Carpe Diem

Infinite Potential

This past week thousands of students from across the United States traveled to the National FFA Convention in Indianapolis, Indiana. I have made that amazing trip several times myself, but was unable to make the trip this year. That trip is one that changes your life. For those who have the extreme honor and privilege to compete on a team, you partake in an experience that will forever change your life.

The hours of practice, sleepless nights leading up to the big day, homework neglected, social life forgotten…all for the moment of truth. But what exactly is the moment of truth?

Is it the moment when you finally get first in the nation? Is it the moment when you realize that you didn’t do as well as you thought? Is it the moment when you are surrounded by thousands and thousands of Blue and Gold jackets and feel such an amazing sense of pride?

Does the moment of truth define who you are? I believe that how you react to the moment of truth helps to define who you are, but is not a moment that forever defines the impact you will have on this world. At the time you might not realize the impact that this event has on your life, but years down the road when you get the chance to reflect how you do…that is when it all comes into perspective.

For those of us involved in agriculture, and even those who are not, we can learn so much from the members of this incredible organization. We learn that hard work always pays off, no matter what the outcome is. We learn that pride in your organization is something that cannot be explained. We learn that to be passionate about something is a feeling that changes everything. We learn that anyone, no matter how old, can make an impact.

I didn’t have the opportunity to attend the National FFA Convention this year, but I still learned a lot from all of those who made that life changing journey. National FFA 2010…Infinite Potential.

Miraculous World of Agriculture

The other day as I was driving I looked out my window and was absolutely amazed. It seemed like just yesterday that I was driving by these same fields and praying for a good crop, praying that the tiny seedlings would yield an abundant harvest. Some of the fields I drove by had already been harvested and some fields of corn, soybeans and sunflowers still remain. What a miracle! To think that a tiny seed will go in the ground and emerge looking completely different…emerge to do incredible things! The world of agriculture is full of miracles like this one; miracles that we all too often take for granted, if we just look around us we will see that agriculture offers us so much, all we have to do is take the time to notice it.

So often I find that I drive by fields on the side of the road and acknowledge they are there, but lately I’ve been asking myself…do I really notice them? Do I really understand the importance that every single plant in that field has; do I understand their worth? Do I truly embrace the miracles of agriculture?

Farmers plant millions of tiny seeds each year, and those tiny seeds grow to make a significant impact on the lives of many. It has got me thinking, if a tiny seed can make that big of an impact why can’t I? I am ready to leave my footprint in the field of agriculture, and I am tired of sitting on the sidelines waiting for somebody else to make that impact.

Farmers cannot sit around waiting to plant the seeds or harvest them, business people cannot sit around waiting for the sales to come to them, and agriscientists certainly cannot sit around waiting for the next big discovery to just appear in their labs. And I certainly cannot sit around waiting for someone else to tell people about the miracles of agriculture! My question for you…how will you make an impact in the miraculous world of agriculture?!

It Takes Dedication

The summer of 2007 was supposed to be an exciting summer for our family. My grandparents were celebrating their 50^th wedding anniversary and we had been planning for over a year for this joyous occasion. We invited friends from all around the nation, ordered all the food, and had everything in order. Then the unexpected happened…my grandma became deathly ill a week before the big celebration. Doctors told us to cancel the big celebration and to start praying.

This was nothing new for our family. Grandpa and grandma had their share of difficulties over the years, but what we learned through it all is that…it takes dedication.

On the day that we were supposed to have their big celebration, we had a smaller get together at the hospital in Fargo. We brought grandpa up from the nursing home and from the moment he got there ‘til the moment he left he stayed at one place…by grandma’s bed side. He stood by the bed, held her hand, and gazed into her eyes for the whole day…it takes dedication.

That is probably one of the greatest lessons I learned from my grandpa and grandma…it takes dedication. They taught me, my whole family, and probably everyone they came in contact with…it takes dedication. It takes dedication to raise a family, survive farming mishaps, an elevator fire, and a long list of other things. The crazy thing is that they never complained about it.

The legacy that my grandma and grandpa have created is one that includes a lot of dedication. The one thing I want you to take away from this blog entry is that life…takes dedication. Success…takes dedication. Love…takes dedication. Agriculture…takes dedication. But if there’s one thing that I know it is this: the dedication you put into whatever you do is well worth it. My grandpa and grandma were able to celebrate 50 years of life and love together because they understood…it takes dedication.

Living Life

Growing up on the farm has been by far one of the most influential things to have happened in my life.I honestly believe that the lessons that I have learned growing up on the farm wouldn’t have been learned anywhere else. And that these lessons will be a solid foundation as I continue on in life.

Farm life teaches you the importance of hard work and determination. Farm life teaches you to respect others and to always thank God for what he has blessed you with. Farm life teaches you that you have to work hard and that there are rewards if you have the patience to wait for them. Farm life teaches you that each and every one of us has unique talents and we each serve a different purpose. Farm life teaches you that worrying is inevitable but pointless since we are not in control. Farm life teaches you to think outside of the box...what works for one person won’t always work for the other. Farm life teaches you to never take life for-granted.

In our home we have a large picture with a poem by Bonnie Mohr. The poem is called Living Life and I would like to share it with you and challenge you to really think about what the poem says. There is a lot of truth in it, for those involved in agriculture and those who are not.

"Life is not a race - but indeed a journey. Be Honest. Work Hard. Be Choosy. Say "thank you", and "great job" to someone each day. Go to church, take time for prayer. The Lord giveth and the Lord taketh. Let your handshake mean more than pen and paper. Love your life and what you've been given, it is not accidental ~ search for your purpose and do it as best you can. Dreaming does matter. It allows you to become that which you inspire to be. Laugh often. Appreciate the little things in life and enjoy them. Some of the best things really are free. Do not worry, less wrinkles are more becoming. Forgive, it frees the soul. Take time for yourself ~ Plan for longevity. Recognize the special people you've been blessed to know. Live for today, enjoy the moment.

How will you live your life? How will you be remembered by those around you? How will the lessons you have learned (whether on the farm or not) allow you to live a better life? How will your life be defined? Each of us has a unique purpose in this life, but the big question is this: how do we live our life while trying to fulfill our purpose? How is our life going to make a difference in the lives of those around us. Will the difference we make be a positive one? Think about it...

Lessons Learned

Yesterday after work I headed straight to the field. I always love helping on the farm and combining is one of my favorite things to do. Yesterday my two older brothers, Jason and Justin, and I were in charge of running the combines. As we went around and around I got to thinking about how awesome it is to be out in the field with my brothers; even better was the fact that my mom, dad and sister in-law Amanda were also busy helping to keep everything on track. I feel truly blessed to have grown up in a family who loves to be together and who are passionate about agriculture.

Growing up on a family farm I understood from an early age the importance of what we do. I also learned that every job is important, whether that means making the guys supper, cleaning the house, or running a combine; each job is vital to the success of our operation.

When I was younger the lessons I learned were different that those I'm learning today. When I was younger I learned: the floor of a combine is an excellent napping place, the guys love when you make cookies, and if you go with dad for the day he just might take you to the cafe for breakfast. Now I'm learning: the floors of the combine are a lot smaller than they used to be, the guys still love it when you make cookies, and the rewards for hard work are well worth it.

I guess what I'm trying to get at is this: I have learned so much by being a part of my family's farm. The more time I spend in the field the more I learn and the more I love what we do. Life is about learning lessons. Sometimes we learn from the mistakes we make and sometimes we learn from the mistakes others have made. But the most important thing is that we learn something. I'm sure that when I head to the field after work today I will learn another lesson...and that's just fine with me. I could spend the rest of my life in the field, and I'm sure there'd still be lessons to learn!