May 29, 2025 • 24 mins
Farm life means constantly juggling seasonal pressures with family needs while battling self-imposed time constraints. Jesse and Dr. Leah explore the mental and physical toll of the farming mindset that everything must be done immediately and perfectly.
• Spring brings overwhelming task lists: side dressing corn, spraying, preparation for hay season, and equipment maintenance
• The self-imposed pressure creates physical symptoms like back pain and sleep disruption
• Farmers struggle with delegation because they want everything done their specific way
• Effective communication requires explaining not just what to do but why it matters
• Farm kids experience both the rewards and stresses of agriculture intensely
• The pressure to continue multi-generational farm legacies creates significant mental burdens
• Farmers consistently undervalue their own time and expertise compared to other professionals
• Children are statistically likely to leave farming if they only see stress and constant work
• Taking time for family and personal wellness must become a priority
• "The work will always be there, but your kids may not"
If you found value in our podcast today, please like and subscribe. Hit that subscribe button. It will help us more than you know. Also, if you could share it on your social media and tag some friends who you think might get some value out of this or just need to hear that they aren't the only ones.
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:15):
The Farmer's Greatest Asset Podcast.
We believe the farm's greatestasset is the farmer their
knowledge, experience, mind andhealth.
Welcome back to the podcast.
(00:39):
I'm Jesse.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
And I'm Dr Leah.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
It's actually Wednesday morning, it's a little
dreary out, so here we aresitting down getting something
on the podcast for you guys.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Nothing like keeping it to the very last minute.
We've been doing that a littlebit too much lately.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
This is how we roll on the farm, though, babe, isn't
it?
Speaker 2 (01:02):
though Isn't it Putting out fires and trying to
build the parachute on the waydown.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
All right, that's how the farm goes, though this week
we were trying to do it all atonce with side dressing, corn
post spraying corn, foliarfeeding corn.
It's hay season that's got tostart.
We're going to start choppingtriticale, hopefully pretty soon
.
It's ready to go, just waitingon the chopper to show up.
Going to put that in aharvester.
(01:32):
Trying to get that fixed andset up.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
It's just going from one thing to the next not to
mention the county fair iscoming up in a month and a half,
so henry's tied up with hisshow cattle orthodontist
appointments gotta pick up ourbeef at the locker.
So many things it never ends.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
It's just kind of how things roll on the farm.
I don't, I don't, I don't thinkwe're, uh, the only ones that
roll that way, and I guess it'sputting it out there that we're
all doing the same thing.
You don't have to feel likeyou're the only ones running
ragged.
So I've been complaining latelythat my back hurts.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Your neck hurts.
You're not sleeping.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
And I'm blaming it on .
We got a new mattress anddecided to go with a more firm
mattress, so I don't think themattress is helping, but I've
been blaming it on the mattressall the stress of trying to get
it all done in this littletimeframe that I think it needs
to get done in.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
So why?
Why do we put that pressure onourselves?
I and I can point the finger atyou and I I have, you know,
three of them pointing back atme because I do the same thing
with other stuff.
So why do you think that we, wedo that?
Where's that coming from?
I, I, it seems.
(02:58):
Maybe it is very unique tofarming families, but we don't
know that because that's theonly life that we've lived,
because we've both grew up infarming families.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Yeah, but when you were doctoring did you always
have to do one more thing beforeyou left the office?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
No, I had about 10 things I had to do before I left
the office and the majority ofthe time it was, you know, the
kids were little and I tried tobe home between five, 30 and
nine, so I would actually get alittle bit of time with them,
which is crazy to think.
So I would go back and, whilepeople were in labor, if I was
(03:35):
up, I just go and work on morestuff then.
So I think it is less.
It is more of the pressure,pressure that we put on
ourselves, because it is allabout the mindset and how you
look at it.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
It is, I guess, to me the path I was going down when
I asked you when you weredoctoring is there always one
more thing you got to do?
Yes, there always is.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Always.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
And it doesn't matter if it's on the farm or if
you're a physician working inthe hospital.
In the hospital you had asupport staff.
You had nurses in your office,you had nurses on labor and
delivery.
You know the nurses in the OR.
All that to do some of theother support stuff.
Farming's pretty unique in thatwe wear every single hat.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
But I think it's because we choose to.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
You're right.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
We do so and that is the generational.
You know I got to cut back, cutpenny pinch and do it all on my
own and if I don't do it, um,it's not going to get done,
right, right.
And and I've also seen, youknow, as we've had employees,
that mindset is it's still thereand I'm not pointing at just
(04:49):
you.
I do it here with the kids andyou know I've hired housekeepers
and I've done it with them,like they don't do it how I want
them to do it.
But have I ever specificallysat down and told them this is
exactly how I want it done?
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Which is why we need to create procedures for
everything.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Which is why we definitely need like the farm
needs an operating system.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
It is unique in farming that we do just want to
do it all ourselves.
Is that because that's the wayour parents tell us we got to do
it?
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
I think some of it stems from the time and money
scarcity that is very apparentin farming, because everything
is highly seasonal and you dohave short windows of time where
you can get stuff done.
And then we try and create allof this other busy work because
(05:44):
we pride ourselves so much inbeing a hard worker, so we have
to be busy and working all ofthe time that we inundate
ourselves with work.
Not that it doesn't need to bedone and not that it isn't
important, but there is this I'mthe only one that can get it
done the right way.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Right.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
So if we don't allow other people or employees to do
it, how I've seen it with youand I is we're doing better
about delegating to people, butwe're still unhappy with the
results.
It's not done the way that Iwant it done.
You know it's not parked whereI want it parked it's not.
You know the shed isn't waythat I want it done.
You know it's not parked whereI want it parked it's not.
(06:26):
You know the shed isn'torganized how I want it.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
And that comes back on me and it's, you know,
extreme ownership.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Well, and it's a lack of communication, effective
communication.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Right.
So I got to take ownership ofit because I haven't told them
this is how I want it done ABCDin this order or the corn on
corn, the side dress rate I want100, want 100 pounds on corn on
corn and 75 on not corn on corn.
And I need to explain the wholething, not just say, well, go
(07:15):
to that field and do 100 poundsand then go to that field and do
75.
Because that actually bit me inthe ass last year when I was
just trying to delegate, go tothat field and do 75 pounds and
go to that field and do 100pounds.
I felt like I told him everyspecific field and every
specific rate, but I didn'texplain why.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
So if I could explain , this is what you do and this
is why I want you to do itshould make more sense why I
want you to do it should makemore sense, and I learned that
too, how the importance of thatwhen I was in medicine because I
would have my nurse or my MAand the more I explained my
(07:56):
thought processes to them.
You know, like this patient'scoming in with this problem, we
need to work them up for a, band C, and this is why I this is
why I look at those things andthe more, the longer they worked
with me and the more Iexplained what I was doing and
why I was doing it.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
They were becoming proactive.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
They were, and so the patient would come in.
They already had all the labwork done.
And and I, I could just be like,oh, you know, just tweak it a
little bit, because you knowpatient care is very
individualized.
It's not actually that muchdifferent than field
prescriptions.
You know, like, what you'redoing in each field, so you can
look at it from the sameperspective, like, okay, this is
(08:37):
my standard, this is why we'regoing to tweak it for this field
, but give them those nuancesthat you know and it will only
upgrade your entire farmingoperation instead of the do this
there, do that there, becausethen you just become, you know,
a general and they're just,they're your little underlings
(09:00):
who and that's not as enjoyableof a relationship, right, and I,
I think that where thebreakdown really comes is when
you are under that time pressure, like there's so much time
pressure you, you stay in yourhighest self and you do very
(09:20):
well.
When it isn't like we have 10days of work to get done in four
days before it rains and then,oh, we had a little spot shower
and now we have more fires.
The key will be what is goingto then help us in our operation
(09:40):
when we have that time pressureand really like who's putting
the time pressure on?
Speaker 1 (09:46):
me right.
I'm putting it on myself.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
The one thing we have no control over, you and I, is
the weather, and it is thebiggest limitation to us.
We allow something to have somuch control in our life that we
have no control over.
So how do we take back thatcontrol?
By realizing, you know what.
(10:13):
God's got it, we don't we allwe can do is our very best
because we love you, babe.
But and I'm just as guilty youare a different person when you
are putting these timeconstraints on everybody.
I know On yourself and it justis home and I came home
(10:35):
yesterday and was in a hurry.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Nobody knows my time schedule and I want you to know
it.
Read my mind.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Well and you didn't even call ahead and let them
know like I need A, b and C doneand it did not go well when you
got home need A, b and C done,and it did not go well.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
When you got home, I called ahead, but I did not say
exactly what was going on againand why.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
So it's almost like you go to I want everybody to do
this on my time right now, andyou should know, and it's the
you should know part of thatLike there is a huge.
You should just know.
But we are here trying to getour work done here and living
our lives here, and then it'slike the tornado comes through
(11:23):
and, sweetheart, I am old, I'm,I'm pointing a finger at you and
I have three pointed back at me.
I can't even tell you how manytimes I have done this to the
kids.
Probably 10 times for every onetime you have done it.
It's just an example that we'reusing because I am just as bad,
(11:43):
if not worse, that I am likewhy isn't this done?
And blah, blah, blah, blah,blah.
Because I want it done and Iwant it done my way.
And why aren't you doing it onmy time?
Our poor children?
Speaker 1 (11:57):
They're in a unique situation because they're
homeschooled, so they're also avery important.
They have a vital role in thefarm, so they get a lot of our
frustrations.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
They are definitely living real farm life.
You know, for many kids thatgrow up on the farm, they leave,
you know, they get ready, theygo to school, they're gone all
day and they are not as involvedin the farming operation, daily
(12:30):
operations, the dailyoperations.
So they don't feel and see allthat pressure.
And and we can talk too abouthow, when the next generation
comes about, they don't.
They don't know everythingabout farming, really, like if
if they are involved in thefinancial talks, if they are
(12:52):
involved in the banking talks,if they're not involved in all
of the stress that's happeningduring the day, they're only
getting little tidbits.
And why I feel like we have somany kids leaving the farm is
because, number one, they onlyfeel what's happening.
(13:14):
They don't understand and know,because they aren't privy to
the information.
And it really detracts them fromwanting to even have it be part
of their life.
So I think that's one of thereasons, and how can we, as an
(13:35):
agricultural community, changethat?
Well, the first thing thatanybody can do is to start
really looking at why we aredoing it ourselves, like, why
are we choosing to continuethose, those generational
thought processes, and how canwe make it better?
(13:56):
That is what we are working on.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
We're trying to do right.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
We're trying to change that.
Then the number one thing islike we realize what we're doing
and we try and stop ourselvesfrom doing it, Um, because it's
not building our family.
It's just kind of breaking usdown a little bit.
A lot bit and we're sharing itwith all of you because we
(14:23):
really struggle with this duringour busy times.
We think it's unique toagriculture and it is Because
agriculture is every componentof our life.
Like when I sit and think about, what else would we talk about?
I mean, I don't even watch thenews anymore, so what else would
(14:46):
we talk about?
Um, but our business and andour kids.
I think that is similar forfamilies nowadays.
It can be used for any familybecause their kids are involved
in so many things and they areworking.
They are also running theirkids around to ball games or
(15:07):
dance.
Gymnastics, whatever it is Everylittle thing that kids are
involved in, and it's reallyaffecting families.
So how do we take back that?
How do we have extremeownership?
How do we take back thatownership of this is what we are
choosing?
How do we do the best with whatwe're choosing and are we
(15:31):
making the choices that are bestfor all of us, or are we just
making the quote-unquote easychoices?
Speaker 1 (15:39):
or are we doing the societal norm?
Speaker 2 (15:41):
don't do it, because the neighbor's doing it but it's
such human nature to want tofit in and and belong well, and
when your kids wants to do thetravel ball, we, you know, you
do that.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
We, henry shows cattle, we do that, we've done
travel volleyball, I mean, it'sone of those things you just
you're like okay, we're gonna dothis for our kids or make it
work and you make it workbecause family time is is too
important well.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
And then you have the other side of it, right when
Lizzie was playing volleyballand now she's like I don't think
.
I want to do that and all I canthink is I want you to get out
of this house, because our kidsare here all of the time and I
don't want them to see thattheir whole life has to be work
(16:34):
because it has.
Look at what it has been for usand what we have created.
How do we keep our us frombeing just work all of the time?
And I think that you and I aredoing well and doing better with
it.
You know we have these seasonsof strain.
I think we're so much betterthan we used to, like I don't
(16:55):
feel burnout to that point likeI used to be.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
We're getting better.
It's nothing like when you weredoctoring.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Oh God.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
That's a whole other level of burnout for both of us.
You learn and grow through allof it and we're getting better.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
We could do a whole podcast episode on how, like,
how big of a shit show that was.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
We were crazy busy.
That's the way we roll.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
But there's something better out there.
I feel it.
I know you feel it too.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Well, and that's what we're working on Personal
growth and being better andrealizing that family time is
more important, our health ismore important.
Our health is more important,our mindset is more important.
So when you get all thosethings, get everything aligned.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
And it's really about creating the life you truly
want, not dealing with what youthink you have.
You have Like I don't want oursprings to be like it has been
the last couple of days.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
It actually hasn't been bad.
It's just the the actual workhasn't been bad, it's just I've
been putting a time constrainton it because I feel like, well,
the corn's at V4.
It's got to go and it's time toget the side dressing done and
we got to get the chopping.
We got to get everything readyso the chopper can show up and I
want to go to the lake thisweekend.
(18:16):
We've got to get it all donenow and that's on me for
creating that time constraint.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
How do we justify somebody else helping us so we
can enjoy more of our time?
And that is why farmers feellike we have to do it all,
because we feel like there hasto be a justification for that
financial, financial spend is ismy family time worth that money
(18:45):
?
And like, Ooh, that kind ofhurt a little bit saying that
because we all want to say yes,but is that how we are acting?
Speaker 1 (18:57):
We actually do it right.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Right.
So we want to say yes, myfamily is more important to me
than the farm and the financialsof the farm, but there is, I
mean, at least for both of us,at minimum.
I'm sure there's probably evenmore five generations ahead of
us that are counting on us tocontinue the legacy, and that
(19:25):
pressure is bigger than anyonecould even discuss Like I feel.
I can feel that in my chestjust talking about it.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
We're very proud to say we're fifth, sixth, whatever
generation farmers.
But it's also a burden that wecarry Make sure it continues.
So it's finding the balance ofhow to deal with it and make
everything work.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
Farmers devalue their time Right when you think of if
you really got paid the way aCEO should get paid.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Right, how many farmers actually take a paycheck
?
Speaker 2 (20:08):
So we can also talk about the indentured servitude
of children in farmingoperations.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
How many farmers pay their children for their work?
Speaker 2 (20:20):
What is your time truly worth?
I know what I pay professionals.
We send our payroll to theaccountant and I get that bill
and I was like I think thatprobably took them like maybe
five minutes.
We have two employees.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
She didn't have to do it.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
So I'm like, okay, that is.
But if you look at it like it'sprobably five to 10 minutes of
their time twice a month,literally, and we're paying that
much money, um, but I pay itbecause I don't have to do it.
Then so when I think, when Istep back and I and I think,
(20:58):
wait a minute, what, what is mytime worth?
What?
What is my value on the farm?
When you think of how much, howvaluable I would say, your time
as the CEO and my time as theCFO truly are, if we had to,
like, bring somebody in to takeyour spot and and I think the
(21:22):
reality is that we as farmersknow we could never cash flow
that, so we don't even thinkabout it.
We don't even think about howwe can change things within our
operation to make your timevaluable.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
So the moral story is don't always have to do one
more thing, you don't have to doit all, and family time is it
is worth it.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Your time is worth it as a farmer and the work will
always be there, because thekids are not going to be there
forever.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Right.
The work will always be there.
The kids kids may leave at anypoint and, statistically
speaking, your kids are allgoing to leave.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
So, and statistically speaking, your kids are all
going to leave.
I mean, really like kids farm,kids are leaving the farm faster
than they can faster than wecan put them out.
Enjoy the time.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
So are we going to lake?
Yeah Right, we will see so.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
I know it all depends on when the choppers are coming
, cause we don't have completecontrol over all of that.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
So farm life, things change in a hurry.
You know I'll come home fridaymorning.
Be like, let's go.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
That'll never change you know that used to bother me
so much.
Just like I want to leave intwo hours and then you and when
the kids were little I would belike I don't have any of the
laundry done like I like.
I guess let's throw in a couplelike I like.
(23:13):
That's one load of laundry canwe have enough clothes to leave
for a few days?
And one load of laundry for meand our children.
And it was another time thingtime constraint, constraint.
Is there a pattern here, babe?
Speaker 1 (23:25):
There is.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
I'm just as guilty of it, hon.
I really am In different wayswith different things.
Like when I leave, I don't wantto walk into a mess when I come
home, so I want the house cleanbefore I go, and that's
something that I put on myself,like I want things picked up
because I don't want to walkinto work.
Now, is it really ever 100%when we leave?
(23:49):
Rarely, but that's the one morething Always.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
One more thing.
So again, time with family timewith your spouse, everything
that is worth it.
Your own time is worth it.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Well, your time is valuable.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Right, everybody's clock is ticking.
Sometimes we don't know whenit's going to quit ticking.
So I've said that for the lastcouple of years.
Now it's time to enjoy life,it's time to enjoy your kids,
because the work will always bethere.
So thanks for listening.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
If you found value in our podcast today, please like
and subscribe.
Hit that subscribe button.
It will help us more than youknow um also if you could share
it on your social media and tagsome friends who you think might
get some value out of this orjust need to hear that they
(24:48):
don't.
They aren't the only ones.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
They're not alone.
So it's a good day.
Have a great day.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Bye.
The Farmer's Greatest Asset Podcast.
We believe the farm's greatestasset is the farmer their
knowledge, experience, mind andhealth.
Welcome back to the podcast.
(00:39):
I'm Jesse.
Speaker 2 (00:40):
And I'm Dr Leah.
Speaker 1 (00:42):
It's actually Wednesday morning, it's a little
dreary out, so here we aresitting down getting something
on the podcast for you guys.
Speaker 2 (00:52):
Nothing like keeping it to the very last minute.
We've been doing that a littlebit too much lately.
Speaker 1 (01:00):
This is how we roll on the farm, though, babe, isn't
it?
Speaker 2 (01:02):
though Isn't it Putting out fires and trying to
build the parachute on the waydown.
Speaker 1 (01:11):
All right, that's how the farm goes, though this week
we were trying to do it all atonce with side dressing, corn
post spraying corn, foliarfeeding corn.
It's hay season that's got tostart.
We're going to start choppingtriticale, hopefully pretty soon
.
It's ready to go, just waitingon the chopper to show up.
Going to put that in aharvester.
(01:32):
Trying to get that fixed andset up.
Speaker 2 (01:36):
It's just going from one thing to the next not to
mention the county fair iscoming up in a month and a half,
so henry's tied up with hisshow cattle orthodontist
appointments gotta pick up ourbeef at the locker.
So many things it never ends.
Speaker 1 (01:57):
It's just kind of how things roll on the farm.
I don't, I don't, I don't thinkwe're, uh, the only ones that
roll that way, and I guess it'sputting it out there that we're
all doing the same thing.
You don't have to feel likeyou're the only ones running
ragged.
So I've been complaining latelythat my back hurts.
Speaker 2 (02:16):
Your neck hurts.
You're not sleeping.
Speaker 1 (02:18):
And I'm blaming it on .
We got a new mattress anddecided to go with a more firm
mattress, so I don't think themattress is helping, but I've
been blaming it on the mattressall the stress of trying to get
it all done in this littletimeframe that I think it needs
to get done in.
Speaker 2 (02:37):
So why?
Why do we put that pressure onourselves?
I and I can point the finger atyou and I I have, you know,
three of them pointing back atme because I do the same thing
with other stuff.
So why do you think that we, wedo that?
Where's that coming from?
I, I, it seems.
(02:58):
Maybe it is very unique tofarming families, but we don't
know that because that's theonly life that we've lived,
because we've both grew up infarming families.
Speaker 1 (03:08):
Yeah, but when you were doctoring did you always
have to do one more thing beforeyou left the office?
Speaker 2 (03:13):
No, I had about 10 things I had to do before I left
the office and the majority ofthe time it was, you know, the
kids were little and I tried tobe home between five, 30 and
nine, so I would actually get alittle bit of time with them,
which is crazy to think.
So I would go back and, whilepeople were in labor, if I was
(03:35):
up, I just go and work on morestuff then.
So I think it is less.
It is more of the pressure,pressure that we put on
ourselves, because it is allabout the mindset and how you
look at it.
Speaker 1 (03:50):
It is, I guess, to me the path I was going down when
I asked you when you weredoctoring is there always one
more thing you got to do?
Yes, there always is.
Speaker 2 (03:59):
Always.
Speaker 1 (04:00):
And it doesn't matter if it's on the farm or if
you're a physician working inthe hospital.
In the hospital you had asupport staff.
You had nurses in your office,you had nurses on labor and
delivery.
You know the nurses in the OR.
All that to do some of theother support stuff.
Farming's pretty unique in thatwe wear every single hat.
Speaker 2 (04:21):
But I think it's because we choose to.
Speaker 1 (04:24):
You're right.
Speaker 2 (04:27):
We do so and that is the generational.
You know I got to cut back, cutpenny pinch and do it all on my
own and if I don't do it, um,it's not going to get done,
right, right.
And and I've also seen, youknow, as we've had employees,
that mindset is it's still thereand I'm not pointing at just
(04:49):
you.
I do it here with the kids andyou know I've hired housekeepers
and I've done it with them,like they don't do it how I want
them to do it.
But have I ever specificallysat down and told them this is
exactly how I want it done?
Speaker 1 (05:03):
Which is why we need to create procedures for
everything.
Speaker 2 (05:06):
Which is why we definitely need like the farm
needs an operating system.
Speaker 1 (05:12):
It is unique in farming that we do just want to
do it all ourselves.
Is that because that's the wayour parents tell us we got to do
it?
I don't know.
Speaker 2 (05:21):
I think some of it stems from the time and money
scarcity that is very apparentin farming, because everything
is highly seasonal and you dohave short windows of time where
you can get stuff done.
And then we try and create allof this other busy work because
(05:44):
we pride ourselves so much inbeing a hard worker, so we have
to be busy and working all ofthe time that we inundate
ourselves with work.
Not that it doesn't need to bedone and not that it isn't
important, but there is this I'mthe only one that can get it
done the right way.
Speaker 1 (06:05):
Right.
Speaker 2 (06:05):
So if we don't allow other people or employees to do
it, how I've seen it with youand I is we're doing better
about delegating to people, butwe're still unhappy with the
results.
It's not done the way that Iwant it done.
You know it's not parked whereI want it parked it's not.
You know the shed isn't waythat I want it done.
You know it's not parked whereI want it parked it's not.
(06:26):
You know the shed isn'torganized how I want it.
Speaker 1 (06:29):
And that comes back on me and it's, you know,
extreme ownership.
Speaker 2 (06:35):
Well, and it's a lack of communication, effective
communication.
Speaker 1 (06:40):
Right.
So I got to take ownership ofit because I haven't told them
this is how I want it done ABCDin this order or the corn on
corn, the side dress rate I want100, want 100 pounds on corn on
corn and 75 on not corn on corn.
And I need to explain the wholething, not just say, well, go
(07:15):
to that field and do 100 poundsand then go to that field and do
75.
Because that actually bit me inthe ass last year when I was
just trying to delegate, go tothat field and do 75 pounds and
go to that field and do 100pounds.
I felt like I told him everyspecific field and every
specific rate, but I didn'texplain why.
Speaker 2 (07:36):
So if I could explain , this is what you do and this
is why I want you to do itshould make more sense why I
want you to do it should makemore sense, and I learned that
too, how the importance of thatwhen I was in medicine because I
would have my nurse or my MAand the more I explained my
(07:56):
thought processes to them.
You know, like this patient'scoming in with this problem, we
need to work them up for a, band C, and this is why I this is
why I look at those things andthe more, the longer they worked
with me and the more Iexplained what I was doing and
why I was doing it.
Speaker 1 (08:12):
They were becoming proactive.
Speaker 2 (08:14):
They were, and so the patient would come in.
They already had all the labwork done.
And and I, I could just be like,oh, you know, just tweak it a
little bit, because you knowpatient care is very
individualized.
It's not actually that muchdifferent than field
prescriptions.
You know, like, what you'redoing in each field, so you can
look at it from the sameperspective, like, okay, this is
(08:37):
my standard, this is why we'regoing to tweak it for this field
, but give them those nuancesthat you know and it will only
upgrade your entire farmingoperation instead of the do this
there, do that there, becausethen you just become, you know,
a general and they're just,they're your little underlings
(09:00):
who and that's not as enjoyableof a relationship, right, and I,
I think that where thebreakdown really comes is when
you are under that time pressure, like there's so much time
pressure you, you stay in yourhighest self and you do very
(09:20):
well.
When it isn't like we have 10days of work to get done in four
days before it rains and then,oh, we had a little spot shower
and now we have more fires.
The key will be what is goingto then help us in our operation
(09:40):
when we have that time pressureand really like who's putting
the time pressure on?
Speaker 1 (09:46):
me right.
I'm putting it on myself.
Speaker 2 (09:50):
The one thing we have no control over, you and I, is
the weather, and it is thebiggest limitation to us.
We allow something to have somuch control in our life that we
have no control over.
So how do we take back thatcontrol?
By realizing, you know what.
(10:13):
God's got it, we don't we allwe can do is our very best
because we love you, babe.
But and I'm just as guilty youare a different person when you
are putting these timeconstraints on everybody.
I know On yourself and it justis home and I came home
(10:35):
yesterday and was in a hurry.
Speaker 1 (10:39):
Nobody knows my time schedule and I want you to know
it.
Read my mind.
Speaker 2 (10:43):
Well and you didn't even call ahead and let them
know like I need A, b and C doneand it did not go well when you
got home need A, b and C done,and it did not go well.
Speaker 1 (10:56):
When you got home, I called ahead, but I did not say
exactly what was going on againand why.
Speaker 2 (10:59):
So it's almost like you go to I want everybody to do
this on my time right now, andyou should know, and it's the
you should know part of thatLike there is a huge.
You should just know.
But we are here trying to getour work done here and living
our lives here, and then it'slike the tornado comes through
(11:23):
and, sweetheart, I am old, I'm,I'm pointing a finger at you and
I have three pointed back at me.
I can't even tell you how manytimes I have done this to the
kids.
Probably 10 times for every onetime you have done it.
It's just an example that we'reusing because I am just as bad,
(11:43):
if not worse, that I am likewhy isn't this done?
And blah, blah, blah, blah,blah.
Because I want it done and Iwant it done my way.
And why aren't you doing it onmy time?
Our poor children?
Speaker 1 (11:57):
They're in a unique situation because they're
homeschooled, so they're also avery important.
They have a vital role in thefarm, so they get a lot of our
frustrations.
Speaker 2 (12:09):
They are definitely living real farm life.
You know, for many kids thatgrow up on the farm, they leave,
you know, they get ready, theygo to school, they're gone all
day and they are not as involvedin the farming operation, daily
(12:30):
operations, the dailyoperations.
So they don't feel and see allthat pressure.
And and we can talk too abouthow, when the next generation
comes about, they don't.
They don't know everythingabout farming, really, like if
if they are involved in thefinancial talks, if they are
(12:52):
involved in the banking talks,if they're not involved in all
of the stress that's happeningduring the day, they're only
getting little tidbits.
And why I feel like we have somany kids leaving the farm is
because, number one, they onlyfeel what's happening.
(13:14):
They don't understand and know,because they aren't privy to
the information.
And it really detracts them fromwanting to even have it be part
of their life.
So I think that's one of thereasons, and how can we, as an
(13:35):
agricultural community, changethat?
Well, the first thing thatanybody can do is to start
really looking at why we aredoing it ourselves, like, why
are we choosing to continuethose, those generational
thought processes, and how canwe make it better?
(13:56):
That is what we are working on.
Speaker 1 (13:58):
We're trying to do right.
Speaker 2 (14:00):
We're trying to change that.
Then the number one thing islike we realize what we're doing
and we try and stop ourselvesfrom doing it, Um, because it's
not building our family.
It's just kind of breaking usdown a little bit.
A lot bit and we're sharing itwith all of you because we
(14:23):
really struggle with this duringour busy times.
We think it's unique toagriculture and it is Because
agriculture is every componentof our life.
Like when I sit and think about, what else would we talk about?
I mean, I don't even watch thenews anymore, so what else would
(14:46):
we talk about?
Um, but our business and andour kids.
I think that is similar forfamilies nowadays.
It can be used for any familybecause their kids are involved
in so many things and they areworking.
They are also running theirkids around to ball games or
(15:07):
dance.
Gymnastics, whatever it is Everylittle thing that kids are
involved in, and it's reallyaffecting families.
So how do we take back that?
How do we have extremeownership?
How do we take back thatownership of this is what we are
choosing?
How do we do the best with whatwe're choosing and are we
(15:31):
making the choices that are bestfor all of us, or are we just
making the quote-unquote easychoices?
Speaker 1 (15:39):
or are we doing the societal norm?
Speaker 2 (15:41):
don't do it, because the neighbor's doing it but it's
such human nature to want tofit in and and belong well, and
when your kids wants to do thetravel ball, we, you know, you
do that.
Speaker 1 (15:55):
We, henry shows cattle, we do that, we've done
travel volleyball, I mean, it'sone of those things you just
you're like okay, we're gonna dothis for our kids or make it
work and you make it workbecause family time is is too
important well.
Speaker 2 (16:11):
And then you have the other side of it, right when
Lizzie was playing volleyballand now she's like I don't think
.
I want to do that and all I canthink is I want you to get out
of this house, because our kidsare here all of the time and I
don't want them to see thattheir whole life has to be work
(16:34):
because it has.
Look at what it has been for usand what we have created.
How do we keep our us frombeing just work all of the time?
And I think that you and I aredoing well and doing better with
it.
You know we have these seasonsof strain.
I think we're so much betterthan we used to, like I don't
(16:55):
feel burnout to that point likeI used to be.
Speaker 1 (16:59):
We're getting better.
It's nothing like when you weredoctoring.
Speaker 2 (17:01):
Oh God.
Speaker 1 (17:04):
That's a whole other level of burnout for both of us.
You learn and grow through allof it and we're getting better.
Speaker 2 (17:10):
We could do a whole podcast episode on how, like,
how big of a shit show that was.
Speaker 1 (17:19):
We were crazy busy.
That's the way we roll.
Speaker 2 (17:22):
But there's something better out there.
I feel it.
I know you feel it too.
Speaker 1 (17:25):
Well, and that's what we're working on Personal
growth and being better andrealizing that family time is
more important, our health ismore important.
Our health is more important,our mindset is more important.
So when you get all thosethings, get everything aligned.
Speaker 2 (17:41):
And it's really about creating the life you truly
want, not dealing with what youthink you have.
You have Like I don't want oursprings to be like it has been
the last couple of days.
Speaker 1 (17:55):
It actually hasn't been bad.
It's just the the actual workhasn't been bad, it's just I've
been putting a time constrainton it because I feel like, well,
the corn's at V4.
It's got to go and it's time toget the side dressing done and
we got to get the chopping.
We got to get everything readyso the chopper can show up and I
want to go to the lake thisweekend.
(18:16):
We've got to get it all donenow and that's on me for
creating that time constraint.
Speaker 2 (18:22):
How do we justify somebody else helping us so we
can enjoy more of our time?
And that is why farmers feellike we have to do it all,
because we feel like there hasto be a justification for that
financial, financial spend is ismy family time worth that money
(18:45):
?
And like, Ooh, that kind ofhurt a little bit saying that
because we all want to say yes,but is that how we are acting?
Speaker 1 (18:57):
We actually do it right.
Speaker 2 (18:59):
Right.
So we want to say yes, myfamily is more important to me
than the farm and the financialsof the farm, but there is, I
mean, at least for both of us,at minimum.
I'm sure there's probably evenmore five generations ahead of
us that are counting on us tocontinue the legacy, and that
(19:25):
pressure is bigger than anyonecould even discuss Like I feel.
I can feel that in my chestjust talking about it.
Speaker 1 (19:39):
We're very proud to say we're fifth, sixth, whatever
generation farmers.
But it's also a burden that wecarry Make sure it continues.
So it's finding the balance ofhow to deal with it and make
everything work.
Speaker 2 (19:55):
Farmers devalue their time Right when you think of if
you really got paid the way aCEO should get paid.
Speaker 1 (20:05):
Right, how many farmers actually take a paycheck
?
Speaker 2 (20:08):
So we can also talk about the indentured servitude
of children in farmingoperations.
Speaker 1 (20:16):
How many farmers pay their children for their work?
Speaker 2 (20:20):
What is your time truly worth?
I know what I pay professionals.
We send our payroll to theaccountant and I get that bill
and I was like I think thatprobably took them like maybe
five minutes.
We have two employees.
Speaker 1 (20:36):
She didn't have to do it.
Speaker 2 (20:37):
So I'm like, okay, that is.
But if you look at it like it'sprobably five to 10 minutes of
their time twice a month,literally, and we're paying that
much money, um, but I pay itbecause I don't have to do it.
Then so when I think, when Istep back and I and I think,
(20:58):
wait a minute, what, what is mytime worth?
What?
What is my value on the farm?
When you think of how much, howvaluable I would say, your time
as the CEO and my time as theCFO truly are, if we had to,
like, bring somebody in to takeyour spot and and I think the
(21:22):
reality is that we as farmersknow we could never cash flow
that, so we don't even thinkabout it.
We don't even think about howwe can change things within our
operation to make your timevaluable.
Speaker 1 (21:40):
So the moral story is don't always have to do one
more thing, you don't have to doit all, and family time is it
is worth it.
Speaker 2 (21:50):
Your time is worth it as a farmer and the work will
always be there, because thekids are not going to be there
forever.
Speaker 1 (21:55):
Right.
The work will always be there.
The kids kids may leave at anypoint and, statistically
speaking, your kids are allgoing to leave.
Speaker 2 (22:02):
So, and statistically speaking, your kids are all
going to leave.
I mean, really like kids farm,kids are leaving the farm faster
than they can faster than wecan put them out.
Enjoy the time.
Speaker 1 (22:25):
So are we going to lake?
Yeah Right, we will see so.
Speaker 2 (22:33):
I know it all depends on when the choppers are coming
, cause we don't have completecontrol over all of that.
Speaker 1 (22:41):
So farm life, things change in a hurry.
You know I'll come home fridaymorning.
Be like, let's go.
Speaker 2 (22:52):
That'll never change you know that used to bother me
so much.
Just like I want to leave intwo hours and then you and when
the kids were little I would belike I don't have any of the
laundry done like I like.
I guess let's throw in a couplelike I like.
(23:13):
That's one load of laundry canwe have enough clothes to leave
for a few days?
And one load of laundry for meand our children.
And it was another time thingtime constraint, constraint.
Is there a pattern here, babe?
Speaker 1 (23:25):
There is.
Speaker 2 (23:29):
I'm just as guilty of it, hon.
I really am In different wayswith different things.
Like when I leave, I don't wantto walk into a mess when I come
home, so I want the house cleanbefore I go, and that's
something that I put on myself,like I want things picked up
because I don't want to walkinto work.
Now, is it really ever 100%when we leave?
(23:49):
Rarely, but that's the one morething Always.
Speaker 1 (23:54):
One more thing.
So again, time with family timewith your spouse, everything
that is worth it.
Your own time is worth it.
Speaker 2 (24:06):
Well, your time is valuable.
Speaker 1 (24:07):
Right, everybody's clock is ticking.
Sometimes we don't know whenit's going to quit ticking.
So I've said that for the lastcouple of years.
Now it's time to enjoy life,it's time to enjoy your kids,
because the work will always bethere.
So thanks for listening.
Speaker 2 (24:27):
If you found value in our podcast today, please like
and subscribe.
Hit that subscribe button.
It will help us more than youknow um also if you could share
it on your social media and tagsome friends who you think might
get some value out of this orjust need to hear that they
(24:48):
don't.
They aren't the only ones.
Speaker 1 (24:50):
They're not alone.
So it's a good day.
Have a great day.
Speaker 2 (24:55):
Bye.
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