In agriculture, we often hear the saying, “Farming (or ranching) isn’t just a career; it’s a way of life.”
For some, this profession influences everything – how you dress, the music you listen to, how your home is decorated, the sports you watch, how you teach your children and grandchildren important life lessons, and where (or if) you go on vacation. (Ahem, an association meeting in Sun Valley? Family getaway, anyone?)
Now, I'm not saying all farmers drive Ford pickups or that all ranchers wear Stetsons, but farming and ranching are unique in that they aren’t just jobs you do for a paycheck; they’re an integral part of who you are.
I recently came across a quote by Alex Hormozi, a popular entrepreneur, investor and philanthropist, that illustrates this perfectly. He said, "Imagine you talk to the creator of the universe before birth and pick the person you get to become. You say, 'I want to be the most courageous.' The creator replies, 'Well then, I will give you monsters to terrify you so that you can conquer them.'
You say, 'Well, I want to be patient.' The creator says, 'Then I will make you work harder and longer so you can learn to wait.'
You say, 'I want to be wise.' The creator replies, 'Then I will give you failures that will crush your spirit so you can learn the value of judgment.'
You then say, 'Sounds like a rough life. Can you give me a good life?' The creator replies, 'Just like we measure a blacksmith by the strength of his steel, I measure you by what you are at the end, not the fire and the hammer it took to make you. A good life isn’t a life that’s easy; a good life is a life that makes you into a good person – and that, my son, is a hard life.'"
It's safe to say that no year in agriculture is the same. This year alone, many of you have faced serious challenges – water curtailment, devastating fires on grazing allotments, low commodity prices, high interest rates, the threat of bird flu to the dairy industry, labor shortages and hotter-than-usual temperatures – all forcing you to adapt and innovate.
So what constitutes a “good life” in agriculture, one might ask? Is it free from market swings, noxious weeds, pests and diseases, calves that get scours and bulls that never return from the range? Is a good life free from bad investments or poor partnerships?
This message suggests that a good life isn’t necessarily one that’s easy or free of difficulties but one that shapes you into a better person through the trials you experience. While we may wish for ease, deep down we know it’s through these hardships that true character is formed.
This month, I invite you to reflect on the challenges you’ve faced and how they’ve refined you and your operation. In my own life, I wouldn’t go so far as to say I’m grateful for those tough moments, but I’ve learned to appreciate them and the person I’ve become because of them.
Agriculture isn’t easy; it has a way of molding and stretching a person, but that’s what makes this way of life so rewarding. And that, my friends, is truly a good life.
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