In a world where labor shortages are felt in every corner, I often tell my children half of success is showing up. Add hard work to the equation, and they’ll find success in whatever they do in life.
Finding people who truly know how to work hard is becoming harder and harder. While plenty of worries grace my shoulders, one thing I don’t worry about is my kids’ work ethic.
Like most farm kids, my two sons and daughter have learned how to work hard simply by working side by side with older generations on our family farm. They have also learned how to be leaders.
This certainly holds true for all my kids, but it is especially true for my 16-year-old daughter, Cassie, who is a quiet leader. Sandwiched between two brothers, nobody told Cassie she couldn’t do something simply because she was a girl. She is competitive, determined and always willing to outwork everyone.
Our entire farm crew cheers when Cassie shows up to help — whether we are vaccinating dry cows, feeding calves, genomic testing heifers or moving cattle. They know when Cassie works, she has come to lend a helping hand and do all that is asked of her, plus more.
Cassie brings that same skill set everywhere she goes. Earlier this year, I watched her bring those farm kid, tough-as-nails traits to her high school varsity basketball team. What Cassie lacked in buckets made, she made up with steals and rebounds. She would leave the game with bruised elbows and bloody knees, as she went after every loose ball. Win or lose, Cassie brought the same A-game mentality to every single game.
Brave and courageous — her middle school basketball coach described Cassie as having the heart of a lion. Not that long ago, Cassie received the Panther Pride award from her high school basketball team, which basically embodies the same heart of a lion motto.
Farm Kid Tough
Week-after-week, Cassie showed up, never complained and did everything asked of her. Her coach said what Cassie illustrates is hard to instill in people. Her ability to work hard, even when faced with adversity, is something most people don’t have in them. When the going gets tough, most people don’t get tough, they give up. Not farm kids such as Cassie.
Remember, when the going seems tough, don’t give up. The younger generation is counting on you to showcase that you, too, have the heart of a lion. Be brave and courageous, even when milk prices drop, feed prices rise and the next chapter of your farm seems like an uphill battle.
Continue putting one foot in front of the other and working hard. Success will follow.
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