Farmers, Take Care of Your Health
Tim Hammerich
News Reporter
Farming is a tough job, and taking some time to relax and recharge is hard to fit in the schedule, especially during the growing season. But dairy farmer Greg Bethard received some valuable advice early on that he says has helped him lead his employees and identify growth opportunities.
Bethard… “A good piece of advice from a friend of mine that first summer when we were struggling. He came to visit me, another fellow dairyman, and he saw that I was very tired and overworked. And I thought the way to fix our problems on a dairy was to work harder and work more hours. And he said to me, he's like, 'you know, Greg, it's really hard to lead people when you're tired'. And I owe it to all my colleagues here and all my coworkers and to this business to show up every morning with a good night's sleep, ready to go to work with a fresh mind and a fresh attitude. Cause it is really easy to get negative some days and kind of fall down in the hole of negativity. Granted, some days you'll come here, you'll find me in a foul mood like anybody else. But, I'm trying to keep myself out of that and keep myself focused on growth and opportunities. Because you never know what they're, they're everywhere out here. If you just sit around and look, it's amazing how many opportunities are out here.”
In a business with a never ending to do list, it’s important to keep in mind that staying healthy and rested is fundamental to your long term success.