Finding Friends in High Places in Agriculture
February 12, 2025 It’s always remarkable to me that in the professional realm the world is oftentimes quite small.
Over the years, I’ve crossed paths with former colleagues and contacts more than once in global industries like supply chain and international trade, and it is a pleasant surprise — and a reminder — of the value of relationships in the workplace and how they are ever present over the course of your career.
As I write this column, I’m preparing to travel to Washington, D.C. to meet with several industry associations with one of my Meister Media teammates. I’ve had the pleasure of meeting these folks in person already, so I’m excited to jump into some meaty conversations during our time together.
We are also meeting with the USDA to discuss a variety of topics, including the United Nations’ declaration of 2026 as the International Year of the Woman Farmer and how Meister Media Worldwide’s Women in Ag Tech (WiAT) initiative can participate in activities and outreach this year as a lead-up to 2026.
Indeed, it was our WiAT ambassador, Joyce Hunter, who not only told me about the UN declaration last spring, but also provided the contact at the USDA official who is spearheading the agency’s involvement.
You’ll note that this month’s cover story is a profile of Nancy Bohl Bormann, our 2024 CropLife® Ag Tech Awards of Excellence winner in the Educator/Researcher category.
When I was interviewing Bormann in December for the cover story she mentioned how valuable it was for her to attend Tech Hub LIVE last July in Des Moines to accept the award in person. She said she ran into some folks she already knew and met a lot of new people, some of whom she even interviewed with. For Bormann, it was a great opportunity to expand her professional network.
Our other 2024 Awards of Excellence winners — Blake Matthews of Matthew’s Land & Cattle (Precision Farmer), Lindsey Ross of Legacy Coop (Advisor/Entrepreneur), and Lanny Faleide of Satshot (Legacy award) — will also be profiled in upcoming issues of CropLife.
In March, I’ll reach my modest three-year anniversary with Meister Media Worldwide. I’ve made a lot of new work friends over the past few years and have kept up with former workmates.
As a parent of young adults who have launched their own careers in recent years, I’ve doled out a fair amount of advice along the way: Work hard, be reliable and respectful, ask questions, make a positive impact, and learn, learn, learn.
However, the most important advice I gave to them was to nurture relationships. Find people that you admire and connect with, and chances are they’ll be part of your professional realm for a lifetime.
To me, that’s friends in high places.
Let’s get growing!
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