Consistent hustle and teamwork are building blocks of success

The fields have been harvested, Thanksgiving dinner has been enjoyed; and in most places around the state, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas. Perhaps more than any other time of year, winter is full of traditions. For our family, one of those traditions is watching Purdue Boilermaker basketball. Boiler up! Hammer down! OK . . . I don’t want to turn this page into a debate of your favorite team. If you root for the Indiana Hoosiers or Notre Dame or anyone else, that’s fine. But we love to watch those Boilers hustle, share the ball and play team defense. During games when they’re not shooting well or can’t find opportunities for fast-break baskets, hustle and teamwork can keep them competitive in the game. And, really, that’s true for any team in any arena. As president of the Indiana Corn Growers Association, I often think about how to apply that principle to our team. What it comes down to, I think, is taking advantage of every opportunity to have an impact on those who write the policies that affect our industry. Many times, this means getting to know those lawmakers and policy-writers personally. Recently, I attended a roundtable meeting at the C.W. Mount Building in Tipton, Ind. The Peters Farm, a multi-generational family farm from Tipton County were the hosts. Bill Peters, Jenny Mundell and Brady Peters represented the farm. The roundtable featured Indiana Lt. Gov. Suzanne Crouch and Indiana State Department of Agriculture Director Bruce Kettler. Others attending included Tipton County Commissioner Nancy Cline, who is also on the Indiana Soybean Alliance board, State Sen. Jim Buck (R-Kokomo, Dist. 21), and many farmers from around the area. This meeting didn’t dig too deep into policy, but it did give those of us involved in agriculture a chance to connect with decision-makers. Crouch and Kettler told the attendees that Indiana is all about agriculture. Anything that can be done to help agriculture will also help the state’s economy. More and more businesses are working from home as the economy becomes more digital, and farm businesses are no different. Rural broadband needs to reach to all corners of the state for ag businesses and others to succeed. To help, though, new internet technology is evolving; there are better resources and opportunities with fiber optics. Crouch and Kettler said the COVID-19 pandemic affected all businesses – farmers were not spared. Some of the issues coming out of the COVID crises include supply chain problems, rising inflation, more labor shortages and complications with the H2A worker regulations. Although bushel prices for most crops are strong, profit margins have been tight due to higher costs and interest rates. Much like the rest of the state, agriculture is vital to Tipton County’s economy. Tipton County is among the most productive farm areas in the country. Cline and Buck said, at the local level, the challenge is balancing city and rural community development. Good communication can help find solutions that benefit both communities. Ultimately, everyone involved in the roundtable meeting wanted to hear from as many people as possible to help find those solutions. For us, consistent hustle and teamwork means going to the meeting or talking to someone new even when you don’t feel like going. I promise you, though, that you’ll feel better about making the effort. At that point, you’ll know you’re contributing to a winning team.