There are several memes about cattle people that make the rounds every so often. A favorite is one with a producer sitting on a porch swing, all by himself, looking down and dejected, and the caption reads, “I hate it when I’m at a party and nobody wants to talk about cows …” If you can relate to that line, perhaps you need a hobby.
For some individuals, having a hobby sounds like a luxury that only people with “extra time” or “lots of employees” can enjoy. Nearly all farmers and ranchers live on the main farmstead, so regardless of the time of day or night, and wherever they look, they see work that needs to be done. They have to force themselves to do activities other than farm or ranch work, and even when they are doing family activities, doing community work or helping in the neighborhood, there is a long list of important tasks running through their mind that they need to be working on next. This is not only a trait of agricultural businesspeople, but also affects nearly all entrepreneurs who own and run a small to medium-sized family business.
This attitude about work leaves little room for what most people consider hobbies. Activities outside of work provide benefits that go far beyond taking it easy for a few hours. Some families have developed their own mini-vacation spots right on their property where they can slip off to on short notice, or camp out for several days. They develop them over time, adding small amenities and details as their plans develop. As they gain greater appreciation for the respite that this activity provides, their dreams catch a wave of enthusiasm that expands their vision for what could be.
These locations may be fishing ponds with a small building, weekend cabins, hunting lodges, duck blinds and a host of other facilities that start very small and grow into fully outfitted accommodations that can host a dozen people or more. Every one of them started with a dream, a set of plans and the initiative to see it to completion.
Photo by Matt Dixon.
Others have family traditions of fishing or hunting trips to the same location year after year, challenging themselves to outdo the last year’s success – and stories about the one that got away. Regular trips to the same location allow a buildup of anticipation for everyone to experience their favorite parts, and for each person to develop their own favorite pastimes for the duration of the time together. These traditions can continue from generation to generation, helping everyone appreciate how the scope of the time together has grown over the years.
Not everyone likes to travel for time off, nor do they have a passion for the activities that are a part of those endeavors. Many hobbies can be enjoyed with a few tools and a small workspace. Woodworking, metalwork, small engine repairs, auto detailing, restoring old farm equipment and other hobbies create useful results that others can enjoy and help hone important skills that bring satisfaction and a sense of personal accomplishment their regular work may not provide. Some are gifted singers or musicians and perform in a band, allowing others to enjoy their unique skills. Families often find they share an interest in a particular hobby or talent and gain the added benefit of enjoying quality time together as they engage in this activity.
Showing livestock develops key skills in fitting animals for show, presentation, focus, paying attention to details and sharing a competitive drive to succeed. Competition teaches the joy of working hard and accomplishing challenging goals, along with the occasions where there is a need to accept losses in a gracious manner with an attitude that the next opportunity holds great promise.
Other hobbies maintain and grow physical fitness through regular exercise or competitive sports, and may grow into high-level competitions that offer travel opportunities with extreme challenges. Someone who takes up cycling, running or swimming to improve their health may realize they enjoy it more than they expected and eventually participate in Ironman competitions.
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It's never too late
The opportunities for hobbies are endless, and so are the benefits. The mental and physical distraction from intense work challenges and the chance to develop and master unique skills provide their own type of relaxation, even if the activity is physically demanding. Many find that the ability to focus on something they have complete control over and that provides consistent results is helpful to their mental well-being when their work responsibilities don’t consistently deliver in those two areas. Agriculture is unpredictable, and hard work is essential to success, but it doesn’t guarantee an expected outcome.
It is unfortunate that some individuals either choose to not engage in a hobby or other outside activity, or perhaps intentionally avoid them. Many times, these individuals get to the point in life where they want to slow down, or perhaps it is time to step back and let the next generation take over more and more responsibilities, only to find out they have no idea what to do with their time. They have not adequately planned for their future, nor do they even know what they might be good at doing. One of the best gifts the elder generation can give to the next generation is a comprehensive succession plan, and a big part of that plan is making sure the elder generation can transition their main daily activities outside of the business.
For the stalwarts who have delayed or completely avoided finding activities outside of the business until later in life, there’s still hope. They need to deliberately consider the things they like to do best and how those can be diverted to enjoyable activities that are not a part of their regular work. Family members can provide suggestions and encouragement and may even help fund those endeavors and create the free time to enjoy them.
