“Can you be a leader if you don’t hold a title in an organization?” I was asked this question not long ago and my answer was yes. Each day it is my responsibility to be a leader for agriculture to ensure the next generation can return to our farm. My passion is agriculture and I make it a priority to tell agriculture’s message on a daily basis. Whether it is talking to a stranger in the grocery store or responding to an online news article, it is my responibility as a farmer to tell our story. By doing this, I am representing agriculture and setting an example for others to follow.
Leadership is finding your strengths and using them to move your organization or cause forward. You don’t have to hold an office to be a leader, you can lead by promoting your cause on a daily basis and letting your passion for your cause be your motivation.
Each leader has their own strengths, some are good at surfacing ideas, others are good at bringing opposing sides to a consensus, others are good at communicating. Whatever your strength may be, use it on a daily basis to benefit agriculture. We don’t have to be the President or Vice-President of our local Farm Bureau to be an effective leader, we can use our leadership strengths in everyday life to ensure a positive future for the next generation in agriculture.