President’s Podium: The Power in Community

When most people find a topic they have in common with others, they quickly build a community. I’m one of those car guys. I enjoy looking at cars from the past, whether it’s a Model T, ’50s hot rod, ’60s muscle car, or the ’80s cars that were new when I was a kid. It doesn’t matter if they are restored or a daily driver; they catch my eye. I also grew up on tractors, and I love seeing older ones. From John Deere, Oliver, and International, working in the field or restored, there is something about them I enjoy. If there is a car show or a tractor show, or even an auction that has them, I like going, talking to people, learning new things, and being a part of that community. Even though I think that the desire to share and build a community is human nature, there is one topic that we treat exactly the opposite.

Call it what you want: mental health, mental wellness, depression, or just plain old stress. Everyone experiences it, yet nobody experiences it in the same way. For some, stress is a minor inconvenience in their day. For others, it consumes their life. And for almost all, it’s something that isn’t talked about.

Maybe the reason we don’t accept this as a common experience is because we all experience it differently. I get it, what I deal with daily is different than what you deal with daily. I see the issues in the agricultural economy daily, keeping an eye on legislation, markets, and trends, but my livelihood isn’t at stake like it was when we were raising pigs. Earlier this year, the RMFU Foundation faced funding freezes, and that weighed on me as President, but not in the same way it did for our staff and those who rely on the services those grants support.

More times than I can remember, something went wrong with equipment or a pig’s health. I never hesitated to call my friends and neighbors and ask them if they had dealt with the issue. Commonly, they had an idea, knew someone to ask, or we brainstormed and figured out a solution. That is the power of community. The tribal knowledge that is present in our community of friends and family helps us overcome problems. Yet when we wake up and struggle to face the day, we see it as our problem to deal with alone. It shouldn’t be.

Life for everyone has been turbulent and stressful lately, and especially for those in agriculture. Between the narrow (at best) profit margins in commodities, changes and uncertainty coming from Washington DC, conflict between various groups in the country and around the world, what is commonly a busy and stressful harvest time this year could seem overwhelming. Just as you rely on your community of friends and family when your combine breaks down, rely on your community when you need support.

It’s also important to check in with our community and provide support to people who may need it but don’t seek it out. Grabbing a drink, having a backyard BBQ, or even calling or texting can help reset someone’s thoughts from all that’s wrong to what is going well.

Stay safe during this busy time of year, take care of yourself, check on those in your circle, and take a few minutes to breathe and enjoy life. I look forward to seeing you this fall at county conventions or in Cheyenne at the RMFU convention. Let’s catch up on all the struggles we are facing and the hope we have for the future.