Because I can.
It suddenly occurred to us that the Farm Bill is finally over and we should have something to say about that, so click here for an overview of the 2008 farm bill. Also, I kind of figured I should write a big blog post with a brilliant meta-analysis of the entire process and its result.
But when I sat down to reminisce a little and think about how the whole farm bill played out, I spent a lot more time thinking about all of the good people I met over the past two years than what ended up in the actual bill. So the farm bill can wait. Right now I'm going to write the blog post I want to write, and I'll get to the policy wonk world later. This might be boring to some, but I have this platform (small as it may be) and there are many out there who deserve some sort of recognition, so I'm going to use it.
And what better place to start than right here in the home office? They may not like me mentioning their names, but hey, our staff listing is already on the internet.
I have had the misfortune of working in at a nonprofit that didn't have a top-notch administrative staff, and it was miserable. That is not the case at the Center for Rural Affairs. Amber Bridges, Tris Darnell, Hayley Hallstrom and Kim Kaup are the four people who make sure the Center for Rural Affairs doors remain open, and they deserve all the thanks they receive. Anything good that we accomplished in this farm bill is in large part due to them.
Amber Bridges makes sure I get paid, which means she's just about my favorite person in the whole wide world (I suspect she does this for others in the office as well, but I haven't bothered to find out). Additionally, she is a master pizza eater- if you need that slice to disappear, she'll make it happen; moreover, if your house is ever hit by a hurricane she'll come remodel, for free. However, with her around you should always remember to lock your office door when you leave. Always.
Tris Darnell makes the trains run on time. If you ever need an action alert to go out the door in a timely fashion, I strongly suggest you subcontract with her. If you have a problem with the temperature in your office give her a call, but be prepared for withering scorn. If you need a pool installed in your front yard or two tickets to the Bon Jovi concert, she's your contact. A pressing need to get a little concrete poured? Maybe considering a passive solar collector for your office? You know who. She never fails and never gives up.
Hayley Hallstrom keeps the books and tries to keep everyone happy, which is no easy task when you're in charge of the money. She does an admirable job. Not only that, she is an acknowledged master of dutch oven cooking and pop-up camping trailer packing techniques, important knowledge for family harmony (trust me, I have childhood experience). Her infinite patience while answering asinine questions about the Center for Rural Affairs budget is a testament to the human spirit.
Among (many) other talents, Kim Kaup has a sixth sense for booking me into Super 8 motels, often next to 100,000 head cattle feedlots. Memorably, she once booked a colleague of mine into a motel/funeral home, and another time she sent us to a motel whose aged owner had a very short robe and a very small dog. I kid you not. She is, how would I say, a wise steward of Center for Rural Affairs resources- which is why she's also doing double duty as our fundraising data management expert. Along with Tris, she also makes sure the various egos of Center staff are kept firmly in check.
In all seriousness, Amber, Tris, Hayley and Kim are the heart of our
organization. They ensure the rest of us can do our jobs. Most
importantly, they make me laugh and I am proud to call them my
friends.
It is my fervent belief that nearly all nonprofit organizations do not do a very good job of self-promotion, and perhaps more important don't do a good job of promoting other, like-minded nonprofits. There's a lot of room in the nonprofit advocacy world, and many great organizations, and all too often we don't do a good job of complimenting our partners. Which is a shame, and we here in the home office are trying to rectify that (See the "featured ally" box on the front page). I'll talk up a few of the truly good organizations we worked with in my next post.
New direction
After returning from a trip to Ohio to pick up my wife and 2 of my 6 children who were visiting their Grandma recovering from hip replacement I was overcome with the following thought.
Since I can remember I have wanted to be a farmer. To put it into perspective, this is from a person who grew up in the suburbs of CT. Every chance I got I was outdoors playing and working begging local farmers to let me work on their farms. I would even work for free many times just to be there helping them. This surprised each of the local farmers they loved the help and paid me in wisdom and conversation.
Fast forward, high school I was working at the lumber yard and local golf course and although I tried to get into the VO-AG program I was clearly an outsider and not welcome in that group.
I was accepted into several very good forestry schools. However, I was convinced by adults at the time that it was better to apply myself to a sold business career where they all were sure I had a bright future and they assured me I could "buy my own forest", I took the advice. Spent my time in college focused on business ventures to make money. I was good at it. Very good at it.
I have been very fortunate to have run and owned serveral successful distribution companies. I have a wonderful wife we have been married 24 years and have 6 amazing children that have been a fantasitc blessing in my life.
I have a successful manufacturing business here in NC and we have been blessed. Yet, I feel that there is a part of me that is untapped potential. When I am honest with myself, I would say that I have been successful in my business ventures that have been "interesting" and "Challenging". However, they have not been what I love, or what I have a true passion for.
I can't help but wonder, what level of success (not financial) I might achieve, if I was doing what I truly loved, working side by side with my family.
As I go about my day to day life here in NC, sure there are farms and I drive past them at 5:30 AM going to work and 7:30 PM coming home from work, I do not really see them, or maybe I don't dare really look.
Back to the trip to Ohio, I had time to look and see farms and farmers. I think that I had convicned myself that they were not really in existance any more. Yet here they were, one after another, many Amish farms with families working and laughing and living.
What I had convinced myself was no longer possible was all around me.
I do not regret the choices I have made for moment. It may be that it was the path I needed to take to get me to this point. It may be that my experience in business is just what is needed to be successful at farming today. I see unlimited potential for developing aggressive and creative strategic business plans to capitalize on the assets of the farm. Opportunities to not simply grow and sell the raw "material" at wholesale. But to convert it into products that can be marketed locally and worldwide.
New direction, an interesting opportunity. To recognize that you have reached a point where you have a chance to make a decision. Some would say that this is a crazy thought, after all of my years building businesses and a reputation in manufacturing and distribution to become a farmer! Indeed. This is how long it took me to learn all that I needed to, so that I could bring my unique knowledge and experience to farming when it is needed most.
I think that there are many great farmers out there that know all there is to know about their respective crops and land yet they are struggling because they do not know how to develop a strategic business plan to turn that knowledge and those products into profit. That is where I can help.
I have the love for the land and the energy to work longer than most. I have worked 14 hour days most of my life at businesses I was mildly interested in. Imagine if it was something I loved? Imagine if I was doing it with my wife and children, who by the way, have a love of the outdoors and work until the work is done.
I am not sure why I posted this here. All I know is that I am at a point in my life where I am looking to move in a new direction and make a difference doing something I love with my family.
Something tells me that there are a lot of farmers at the end of their rope and do not where to turn. They have the land, and the knowledge but they do not know how to tap the market. I would welcome the opportuntity to talk to some of you and see if there is a way that we might be able to move in a new direction together.
Mike
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