Day 4: Dream Big, Stand Tall, Speak Strong, and Know When to Sit and Listen

Hello Everyone!  For those of you still reading, Thanks! For those of you reading for the first time, thanks to you too! I hope you enjoy!

After a very unique post, I am following it with one carrying a more serious tone.

I keep talking about how life is just so interesting and it's important to live each day to the fullest.  I feel like I have done all the living for this day that I can.  I've now been up for 18 hours, driven three hours to college, had two classes, a three hour lab, and an FFA meeting.  I feel like this day has been seized, and by "I feel," I mean both figuratively and literally.  I'm exhausted. 

I feel that there are many things in life that you simply cannot afford to not do.  One of the short lists is just the title of this blog.  Dream Big, Stand Tall, Speak Strong, and Know When to Sit and Listen.  You may be thinking, "So much wisdom from a 19-year old..."  In the last nineteen years I have done a lot.  The clubs and committees I have gotten to work with, the leaders of different groups, and many other notable events with which I have been able to participate are numerous and nice to reminisce about.  The key is 1, what's this about? and 2, how does this apply to other people?  Well, I'm going to talk a little about  myself past, present, and future.  In my elementary years, I was a child who found it far simpler to talk to adults than my own peers.  That changes over time.  But what it did was allow me the opportunity to learn certain skills at a very young age that have helped me thus far.  One thing the youth of today seem to do less and less of is actual conversation - especially with elders. 

As a middle school student, I was one of my 4-H club's youngest presidents.  I was an eighth grader.  after that, I held offices in Key Club (one of the world's largest student-run service organizations), holding various club offices including president, and a year as a state lieutenant governor.  I was a student council officer, a class representative, a representative to my town's Hometown Competitiveness team's Youth Pillar.  I was also a marching drumline section leader my senior year of high school.  These very different types of leadership positions gave me the opportunity to deal with adversity in every respect I could imagine, and some that I couldn't.  I had the opportunity to network with many people with substance and status within our community and state, and meet people in other places.  This very thing is the type of thing I am doing here at Purdue.  As a member of Farm Bureau and FFA, I am getting the opportunity to lead and make a difference in the world of tomorrow, today.  A third organization I have gotten involved with in my time here is Agriculture Futures of America (AFA), but I will be speaking about that during the end of this week and weekend, as I will be at a conference in Kansas City, MO. 

Again, where am I going with all of this information?  Well, I got where I am today because I'm a dreamer and a planner.  I have known for my whole life that I wanted to be a leader, so I started way back then, planning and trying to make sure that I was learning the things that I was going to need.  Being a leader can be hard.  I'm not saying I am Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., or Martin Luther, or Abraham Lincoln.  That's not what I'm trying to say.  What I am saying is that in order to lead, you have to be dreaming.  If you're not dreaming, wishing, wanting, hoping for something in the future, then what are you working for??  If you're ever satisfied with just life as it is, you're holding yourself back.  Never settle.  Stand up, use your voice, and work toward your dreams.  Only you make your destiny.  One of the biggest keys to final success is realizing that there will be older people who have been where you are and done what you're doing that will want to try and "help" or give advice.  If you want to be one of the successful people, you must know when to step back, sit down, and listen.  As crazy as someone may seem, they have probably already tried and figured out what doesn't work.  Always with a grain of salt, accept advice and help, knowing full well that what works for one person may not work for you, but it's one way of doing things. 

Life is about working hard to try to earn or achieve something.  If you're not working for a goal, why work?  Always move forward.  Always use your voice to respectfully put yourself out there.  Don't just be a face, but be a friend, an acquaintance, be someone.  The world remembers people who put themselves out there.  If you spend your life on the sideline, you won't ever get any field time.  Life's a game, but if you never try in practice, when game time comes around you won't even have a shot. 

I close the same way as I began because I feel that this is THAT important.  Always remember to Dream big, stand tall, speak strong, and know when to sit and listen.  It could change your life in ways you never expected.  Even better, it could change the life of someone else. 

Until tomorrow, goodnight!

Here is a link to Holly Spangler's blog that started all of this! http://farmprogress.com/blogs-30-days-five-things-five-things-7778

Day 3: A Few Life Lessons I Learned from a Pig

Hello!

This post title is definitely strange, I know that.  What is surprising is how much you can learn from a pig.  Our local hog market has a whole poster on one of the walls that says something to the effect of, "Everything I Needed to Know in Life, I Learned from a Pig."  If you're not a pig person, which most of you aren't, I'm sure you may be able to relate with respect to some animal...

1. Never cease to be curious.
-If you have ever even observed a pig, full grown or in its infancy, they are some of the most curious critters I've ever dealt with in my life.  Do not take it that I feel you should test your curiosity the same way pigs do!  The best example I can think of is when nursery pigs are moved to a finisher and the first thing they do is go push on the waterer on the wall and try to wrap their head around how that shiny silver gadget works, or when they push and chew around on the feeder that's bigger than the last one they used, and has bigger paddles.  (I find this entertaining, but I'm sure a few of you are shaking your heads at me right now.)  Long story short, always question things.  The what, why, and hows in the world are meant to be questioned! (I think)

2.  Every meal is worth celebrating!
-As humans, we eat... all the time.  We do this so habitually that we often forget to sit back and say, "Wow, Isn't it great that we have an ample, safe food supply?" or "Dang my mom can cook (or dad)!"  or even "IT'S TIME TO EAT AGAIN!!"  <- Face it, we all have those days.  A pig is always thrilled about eating.  We have finishing hogs and nursery pigs in big buildings where they more or less have an unlimited buffet whenever they feel so inclined to eat.  This allows them to eat what they want, avoid overeating, and avoid malnourishment.  Pigs eat better than most humans due to regulated mandates on feed quality.  We must insure that there is a perfectly balanced ration available for our animals.  Sows get fed at certain times in the day.  You would not believe how happy they look when they see that pickup pull up in the morning.  You would think it was a revival or something the way they get so happy and start to bark.  After you have given them feed and walk back through the building the only sound you hear is the smacking of their mouths as they eat... I'm amused by things that other people can't understand, but pigs understand what it means to appreciate a meal and show you. 

3.  Stubbornness is often wasted energy...
-It is inevitable that when it is time to either move pigs to a new place or load them on a truck, that they are typically less than willing to go.  This is why we have to be careful when trying to move pigs.  Often they will decide they don't feel like going where you want and therefore make the decision to run or to try to charge you.  Pigs are dangerous, friends.  In the end the pig loses because if we just let them run in circles thinking they're getting their way, they usually end up going where we intended.  Let's be honest, if they don't go now, they will in time.  Humans are much like this.  We get bull-headed about not wanting to do things that we inevitably have to do, and thus eventually either pick up our pride and do it, or suffer the consequences of not.  If we take this lesson from the pig, just do it the first time...

4.  Learn to love those who you like least. 
-When pigs get grouped into pens or pastures, or however an individual houses them, the first few days are spent with high tension as the pigs decide who thinks they are in charge and who they think they don't like.  After these few days are over, they calm and to some degree settle into a pecking order.  Whether they're happy about who else is with them or not is insignificant.  This is how life is with humans and every creature on this planet whether in captivity or wild.  Whether we like it or not, we will be placed in situations for short periods (and sometimes long periods) of time where we don't like who we have to work with, talk to, live with, etc.  We have to learn to cope with the dead truth that no matter how much we don't like who this person is, or what they are, or a situation in general, it's only a matter of time until we will all be able to move on and the current state will improve.  If possible try to find something you like about the person/people/situation, and you can prevent yourself from being miserable.  (It's the state of mind.)

Thanks for reading!  Please continue to read on!

Day 2: "Take Me Home, Country Roads"

Happy Monday morning everyone!

Sorry for now falling two days behind in my blog.  This weekend, I made the trip from Purdue to Indianapolis to watch my high school marching band compete in state finals (they came in fourth in their class) and then another two and a half hours home to enjoy the weekend there.  Well, things got busy, and after leaving home at 4:20 this morning to go back to Purdue, I'm writing as I wait for class to start.

My title for the day 2 blog is "Take Me Home, Country Roads," referencing John Denver's well-known hit.  Driving home from school for me is roughly three and a half hours of (mostly) two lane highways lined with corn fields, soybean fields, and cattle.  On Sunday afternoon, I finally got a chance to go down to the farm and check on what is still in the fields that I either planted or side dressed and see the baby pigs in the farrowing house.  It was just a calm feeling.  Every time I take that turn off of 56, my nerves calm, my head clears, and I just feel better about life. 

People in large cities have retail therapy, Starbucks therapy, and normal therapy to make their life more peaceful.  When you live in a more rural area, you not only have a peaceful visual therapy of the countryside, you also, depending on time of the year, have some aroma therapy.  Everyone from town hates it, but many times getting stuck behind that slow moving tractor is a missed opportunity to take in a breath of fresh air and calm down.  It's like God is telling you, "Hey, you're doing too much right now.  I put them here to get you to chill."  It works for me... Not to mention, I've been the guy on the tractor being followed by irate drivers.  That can get a little nerve-wracking.

I spent most of my time at home catching up on local news, eating non-food-court-food (my mother is a great cook), talking to my family and girlfriend, and visiting the farm.  I don't have pictures from the visit with my family, but here are some from the farm.  Genuine Southern Indiana Fall beauty.  I can honestly say that walking my double crop soybeans, and driving every field lane that wasn't too wet for my pickup, gave me the time to gather my thoughts, make sure my priorities were still where I need them to be, and rekindling that excitement for the future.  I feel like life is based on perspective, and therefore you can make each day what you want it to be.  After a re-focus, I'm more excited than ever for what's in my future both near and distant.  I can't remember the country artist off the top of my head right now, but they sing a song about how life "makes them want to take a back road."  As you can tell, it did wonders to ease my mind, and as long as you take Craig Morgan's advice and, "...Just smile and wave, or tip your hat to the man up on the tractor," it may do you some good.  Take it all in. 

While everyone else spends fall and winter looking at pictures of the beach, here are some of fall on the farm.  If you're lucky, maybe it'll take you away somewhere peaceful and maybe, JUST maybe, it'll make your day.  Sorry if you found this post not absolutely focused, but I hope that does not discourage you from reading more of my posts.  Remember, I'm new at blogging...  I'll improve...in time.

Enjoy the photos!

Day 1: Who am I and How did I get into Agriculture?

Good morning readers!

I'm very excited to be writing my first blog of this 30 Days Series!  I figured I would begin with something simple.  Who am I and what's my story?

I'm a college freshman at the Good Ole Black and Gold, Purdue University.  No, I'm not going to talk about football this year...  So my story begins with a cool night in October, 1994...  Sorry, I'm not starting there.  I have grown up in the small(ish) town of Jasper, Indiana.  I had the same pleasures of growing up in a relatively close-knit family and town - the types of things we get in a small town.  With our town being the county seat of one of Indiana's "most agricultural counties," I was surrounded by agriculture.  My young curious eyes always quickly shooting to the shiny machinery in the field, on the road, and the changes going on around me.  With season changes came changes in the fields. 

In middle school, I made friends with the girl who is now my girlfriend of nearly four years.  She is a farmer's daughter (though this was a fact unknown by me for nearly two years).  Three years ago, I got the opportunity to start working for on the farm.  The first week changed my life forever.  See, until this time, I had begun following agriculture markets, land prices, and policy very closely.  Up to this point, I knew that that childhood interest had sparked what I hoped could lead someday to a career.  The day I started working on the farm, the world slowed down a little.  From feeding sows, cleaning pens, selling pigs, planting soybeans, harvesting wheat and rye, baling straw, fixing tractors, being able to walk a field and know that I had planted it, and knowing my work was going to help feed or fuel someone, somewhere.  I fell in love, with it all.  I can be absolutely honest in saying that I am never happier than when I'm on the farm.  It's not even my farm! (Maybe in a few decades if things go well!!)(Fingers Crossed).  I only wish that everyone in the world could find something that makes them as happy as working on the farm makes me. 

When I started working, it was under the understanding that if I didn't like it, I could leave, no hard feelings.  I have no plans of ever leaving for good!  Since that summer, I have spent three more years on the farm.  I learned a lot, and to this date, have not lost the will to keep learning.  This drove me to Purdue.  After looking at numerous colleges, I decided on Purdue University with a major in Agricultural Economics, and I have since picked a concentration of Farm Management.  What does a kid from town plan to do with an Ag Econ, Farm Management degree?  Well, aside from being an Ag-vocate, I hope to sell seed, whether through a Co-Op, or independently, and in time buy into the farm.  I have high hopes of doubling or tripling the size of the farm, and in time, becoming a politician.  Tom Vilsack, I'm out for your job!!  Actually, that statement is not necessarily true...  Though, not entirely false... 

The key to later success is to start laying the groundwork today.  Any day you don't move forward is the equivalent to a step backward (at least, this is how I keep myself moving forward every day). 

I hope you have enjoyed reading my first installment of "30 Days," and that you continue to read my posts!  Orion Samuelson says every week, "If you eat, you're involved in agriculture."  Take this quote, and as you go on your way, think about how agriculture impacts your life.  My posts may not all be entirely agriculture related, but either way, I hope you will continue to read on!

My Introduction to 30 Days: of Life Through the Eyes of a Future Farmer

Hello readers!

My name is Samuel Ebenkamp, a freshman student at Purdue University majoring in Agricultural Economics, Farm Management.  Through this series, I intend to share with everyone a little bit of how life looks from the eyes of this young future farmer!

The idea of "30 Days" came from a well-known blogger, Holly Spangler (Check out her blog, My Generation).  This series of blogs allows people from all facets of agriculture the chance to challenge themselves to writing daily (which will be a challenge in itself), and to use our knowledge, thoughts, and personal experiences to teach others about our own lives - however diverse they may be - and how agriculture is helping to write our story. 

I have a list of topics on which I plan on writing.  These vary greatly and include topics such as my work on the farm, the future, college, ag in America, how students can prepare for a future in agriculture, and many other topics.  Life Through the Eyes of a Future Farmer is the title I decided to use for this series.  I feel that it is very fitting, seeing as I am an aspiring future farmer, as well as someone who feels a need to share the good news about agriculture with all of his friends, family members, and other acquaintances. 

We in agriculture see life a little differently, and I want to share this view with all of you.  I hope you enjoy this blog series!

Samuel Ebenkamp
Future Farmer