There’s a certain pride that comes with doing work that matters.
For a long time, much of the conversation around agriculture happened without farmer involvement. Consumers grew further removed from where their food comes from, and too often, what filled that gap wasn’t accurate. Today, more producers are stepping forward to show what really happens on a dairy. How animals are cared for. How much thought goes into each decision. How seriously they take the responsibility of feeding people, and I personally love to follow them as they do.
I saw that firsthand early on working with dairy producers through the National Dairy Board. One of the first farmers I met outside my home state was a producer from California who made a lasting impression on me. He was thoughtful, forward-looking, and committed to moving the industry ahead. Together, we worked to help farmers share their story more openly and more directly.
At the time, there was very little positive representation of dairy online and it didn’t take long to find criticism or misinformation. We believed the best response wasn’t to argue. It was to show the work. So we did. We started something that looks completely different than it did 20 years ago. Not by arguing, but by listening, and sharing.
In football, I learned quickly that if you want to be heard, it’s not what you say. It’s what you do.
Talk doesn’t carry much weight on the field. Trust me though, there is plenty of talk taking place. I still remember my introduction to the NFL. Ray Lewis, Hall of Fame linebacker for the Baltimore Ravens, knocked me flat on my back as I was attempting to drag across the middle of the field to get open for a pass. He proceeded to stand over me and told me not to come back across His middle. I’m paraphrasing. Not sure his actual quote would make the edit. But I remember thinking at the time that he meant it. Despite getting knocked flat on my back and getting a good look at the bright lights at Giant Stadium, I got back up, jogged to the huddle, and went back to work the very next play.
Not every day, nor every play is going to be our best. What matters though, is getting back up and going back to work, despite them.
Not every voice needs to be loud. But the voices grounded in real experience matter. They help people understand what this industry is truly about. How a family farm business is truly run. No click-bait highlights or a catchy headline; just the truth. And when that truth is backed by consistent work, it carries weight.
In my opinion, that’s what ultimately earns respect. In football and in farming. And especially with the people we’re trying to reach...
Let the work speak for itself.
