by Loren krUSe
I v what have you learned and what will t know a guy who spends his With a new year coming soon, editor in Chief acation days traveling the world loren.kruse@meredith.com o ride the biggest, scariest roller you change to improve your market-coasters that engineers can build. ing performance in 2009? I am hope-
I can’t imagine that the pit of his ful this special issue on marketing
stomach or sensors of his mind will equip you with more tools and
could be any more stimulated than
the ride you took in the grain market
from late June to mid-October. ‘One concept you may have never fully
To recap: Corn and soybean fu-
tures fell more than 50% from 2008 thought about is to consider your
highs of $7.62 and $16.50, respec-
tively. Wheat fell only 47% during farming operation as a team’
that same period but slid 61% from
its 2008 high of $13.00. That’s more
like a barrel in a waterfall than a ideas to reach your goals. follow the golden rule
front seat in a roller coaster! One management idea you may “Be kind. Be firm. Be tough.
never have fully thought about is to Be fair. Truly love people. Give second
so, how’d you do? consider your farming operation as chances. Live by a clear value system.”
As you emerge from the roiling a team. I challenge you to think that
waters of 2008, which included pro- way after hearing Bill Polian, presi- communicate what’s
longed excessive moisture to devas- dent of the Indianapolis Colts, speak important
tating flooding, how do you assess on “Building a Winning Team.” “People care about winning and get-
your performance as a marketer of “In team sports, your success ting things right. The mission of the
grain in the past year? Do you want depends on how everyone performs,” Colts is simple: Be good citizens. Be
to savor it like a long- awaited Super Polian told ag business leaders in profitable. Be champions.”
Bowl victory or would you prefer a October at the National FFA conven-
do-over if you could? tion executive breakfast sponsored grow yourself and others
For many of you, the answer might by the Agri Council of American “Make yourself an expert.
be yes to both questions. Perhaps Business Media. Peyton Manning is a perfectionist. He
you sold too much too soon in the knows that taking care of little things
year. Or perhaps you simply couldn’t your farm, your team helps take care of the big things.”
pull the trigger on many bushels as So, think about it. Is your business
prices soared amid the uncertainty a team? For most of you, your spouse watch spending
of your crop size and condition in is definitely on the team. Many of “The bottom line is the most
June and early July. you farm with family members and important line, but expense is the line
Some of you are smiling wide and have employees. Count your lender you most control. Treat your budget
counting yourself as real smart or and tax adviser as key team mem- like it is a rainy day every day.”
real lucky or both. You are the ones bers. Include agronomic and market-
who stuck to your seasonal odds ing consultants, too. keep pounding
selling plan and priced a big chunk As a senior leader of your farm’s “Persevere through hard
of inventory or expected produc- team, here are five of Polian’s ideas times no matter how difficult things
tion in April through June. Cheers to for building a winning team. Apply are. It prep ares you for winning.”
you, for it is often hardest to make them to your farm’s success.
the right decisions at the right time
because of intense emotions.
References:
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