Feeding the Future...Slower?

The facts have been in front of our faces for a long time, yet sometimes it seems they don't sink in until it becomes personal.

Since I was in high school, I have tried to keep up with what is currently happening in the field of agriculture- policy changes, how weather is affecting the current crops, trends in the cattle market, international initiatives, and how the challenges of our food system are being tackled, etc. So I nerd out and do a lot of reading.

But I have never wanted to just be a spectator of the agriculture industry. Finally being able to take first steps toward that goal by buying a little chunk of land with outbuildings and some potential is exciting for Lance and I. As we think about our plans for starting our very own agriculture operation, discussing inputs we will need to buy, what equipment will be most useful and cost effective for us, and how our operation will function, it's a little nerve racking to read some of the articles I read about trends in agriculture today.

For centuries, agriculture has marched to the beat of "more efficiency."  This has been, and still is out of necessity. The whole idea of agriculture was born out of the nomadic people of old needing a less taxing lifestyle than expending countless calories, constantly chasing their food. And so we began to cultivate and domesticate. And a few herbs and berries and the occasional livestock animal turned into aqueducts and tillage equipment and technology. When we were finally not chasing our food anymore, not everyone needed to be involved in food production which led to the development of many great things like philosophy and art and engineering and Iphones. Agriculture is the reason for so much progress that we can't imagine life without today.

But today, many consumers call for farmers to step away from efficiency. In March, Whole Foods announced it will begin using slower growing breeds of chicken for meat production. These slower growing breeds will take 23% longer to reach market weight. (Read more details here)

To those in agriculture production, this is a bit scary. Now I know not everyone shops at Whole Foods and I would like to believe there is a place at the table for all types of agriculture. But between the articles I read and some of the comments I see on blogs and videos of what affects food decisions for shoppers, its a little nerve racking to think this could be the beginning of a total change in the market. Will the cattle my husband and I plan to raise even be profitable if the consumer wants them to grow 23% slower?

Doing things in a less efficient manner is a bit of a mind boggler for many in agriculture production. There are so many pieces of the puzzle to consider- all the way from large scale things like environmental impact and using the least amount of resources to produce the most food (aka efficiency), to more personal, yet make or break things, like trying to balance our own checkbook. Not to mention the fact that this planet has a growing population that I don't particularly want to see go hungry.

So farmers/ranchers, how do you make production decisions with consumer decisions in mind? 
And fellow food purchasers- do you want slower growing food?

How To Answer the Toughest & Most Important Question in an Interview

7 Seconds- that is how fast we form a first impression about someone. And the only thing scarier than that? That impression is what we form all other opinions about that person on. Yikes - sure makes a person reconsider not brushing their hair this morning! 

So how do we ensure that the first thoughts that cross people's mind (especially an interviewer's mind) about us are good- or better yet- great? Well we can do a few things to get a good head start- the typical hygiene and dressing for the situation are definitely at the top of the list. But who wants to be judged solely on their appearance? Not me, that's for sure! That's why I have put together a formula for how to answer a question that is almost guaranteed to be in any interview, and that I have always struggled to answer intelligently.

As an almost 25 year old, when interviewing for jobs I dread the "tell us about yourself question." I think this is probably a common sentiment for many mid-westerners who don't enjoy talking about themselves, as well as a challenging question for many of us as it is so open ended. 

When answering this question in high school, I always felt like I was reaching for things to say- "Hi I'm Lexi and I like FFA, my favorite class is English, I have a little brother and sister, and my parents work at the Natural Resource Conservation Service and at the Elementary school....that pretty much sums up what I can definitively tell you about me." 

Now the situation is reversed. I have far too much to explain for one little question without sounding like a deranged lunatic who bounces from job to job on the slightest whim.  How do I possibly fit where I am from, where I went to college, what I studied, valuable internships and organizations,  and the four jobs I have had since graduating into a one minute answer that paints an accurate picture of my experience? That's a pretty tall order. 

Add in the fact that I often have to explain what my major even is (Horticulture = ornamental plants, fruits, and vegetables), followed by the journey I took to work as a high school agriculture education teacher, an administrative assistant, a communications specialist for a hospital, and finally in client care at a veterinary diagnostic lab, and I usually am looking into some pretty confused faces after only one question. I don't know about you, but confused is not the first impression I like to leave in interviews.

Which is why I have come up with a formula to answer this question without traveling down 15 different rabbit trails. So- here it is:

#1: Who you are and where are you from?

If they don't say my name when they ask the question, I always start by stating who I am. This can save confusion for interviewers, especially if they are a on a panel and weren't notified the order that applicants would be coming in. You may see a sudden shuffle of papers indicating that they had someone else's resume in front of them. Save them the confusion and say who you are. Then let them know where you grew up or where you consider home. This can help form instant connections with your interviewers, allowing them to place you in their mind and improves their likelihood of remembering you.

#2: What defines you?

This can be a starting point for your career path or something that has always stuck with you throughout every job you have had. Maybe it is a passion, character trait, or value that has guided you. For me, I always start with my involvement in FFA. I joined the National FFA Organization in high school and have been passionate about it ever since. It is where I learned the field I wanted my career to be in, and the organization that led to my personal development, preparing me for a wide variety of careers. For me, this is a nice transition into my college major and first job after college, which were a direct result of joining the FFA and wearing the blue corduroy jacket. 

 #3: Where have you been?

The most important piece for this is to keep it SHORT! You will get the chance to expand later. I have found it is ok to leave out pieces of your journey, especially if you like to be involved in a large variety of things and/or have had a long list of jobs in varying fields. I focus on things that are important to me or that helped develop me the most into the person I am today. I state a few of the things I was involved with in college, followed by why I enjoyed my time at my two favorite internships (Gieringer's Orchard and the Center for Engagement and Community Development), followed by my first real job- being an ag teacher. I usually delve into this one just a little bit (my responsibilities and what I liked about it) because it made a big impact on me. I then skip on to my job as a communications specialist and describe the useful skills I acquired there.

#4: Wrap it with a bow.

This used to be the hardest part for me. When I ran out of things to say to answer their question, I would just sort of trail off, end with a super lame "so, yeah." or start to ramble down a rabbit trail because I didn't know how to end my answer. Placing a "bow" on it allows you to present a poised and polished demeanor while giving a definite end to complete your train of thought, not leave them wondering if you were going to tell them about the time you spent in prison, the time you switched jobs 5 times in 6 months, or some other red flag. My "bow" of choice is a statement similar to my "addend #2," describing how my passion has tied together each organization and job I have held and how I hope to continue that passion in the position I am applying for.

 #5: SMILE :)

Remember that first impression that is made in only 7 seconds? Make sure you don't come off as a grump! Smile, make eye contact, sit up straight, and fold your hands in your lap so you don't fiddle with them. Even if you don't feel confident in the interview, fake it til you feel it and remember an interview is just a conversation. They want to find the best candidate for the position, and you want to focus on feeling out if the position aligns with your goals and strengths. 

And that's it! Set the stage for a great interview and first impression by tackling the first question with ease. This is your chance to tell your story, so put your best foot forward by being prepared. Nailing the first question will leave you feeling accomplished and set you up for a smooth rest of the interview. Remember, no one has a story that is perfect. Sharing who you are authentically helps the interviewer to relate to you- after all, they are people too! 

What question do you struggle with in interviews? Do you have an interviewing secret or tip? I would love to hear it! 

Where Does It Start & Where Does It End?!

Life at best is a mess these days! Just a few things we have going on?

• Getting hitched- I tied the knot with the most amazing man I have ever met. It was cold. It was windy. We were thankful for the friends and family who joined us to celebrate and showered us with love on such a happy day for us.
  

  
• And now we're expecting- August will be bringing us a baby Wright. As I enjoy telling people who ask what it is, we don't know, but are hoping for a baby, not puppies. I have been so grateful for an incredibly easy pregnancy thus far and am hoping the heat isn't too unbearable this summer.
  
  

  
• We've been through a few jobs- Lance has opted to take his leave from the feedlot gig and return to landscaping and day working for local farmers/ranchers. I have been through a whirlwind of job searching and trying to find the right fit. I spent a few short months working at Barton Community College as an administrative assistant, enjoying the flexible summer hours which allowed me to tag along to Lance's ranch rodeos and check wedding planning things off my list. In the fall, I found a position as a communications specialist at Clara Barton Hospital where I got to really pursue my passions for writing and learning, writing newsletters and press releases, managing their social media accounts, and designing flyers and logos for their events. I loved the chance to get more experience in this area and having the freedom to be creative! Now, I am just learning the ropes at my newest job at the KSU Vet Diagnostic Lab and researching the best ways to continue to get closer to my dream job or ways to pursue my passions outside of 8-5.
  

  

  Always enjoy watching a ranch rodeo- especially when my hubby is in it! Photo credit to Hall Photography. 
• If you can't tell from our job changes- we moved! Lance and I are now happy residents of the rural Leondardville area and are looking forward to making our house and 20 acres home. We've made a little dent in the short three weeks since closing- ripping out carpet, sanding & staining the wood floors underneath, tin repairs to outbuildings, spraying the obnoxious weed population, and planting our first tree. And or course the dreaded task of getting everything put away and organized. I have been lucky enough to have some supper from Nelson's Landing twice so far and can definitively say the chicken fried steak is armed and dangerous for those attempting to avoid weight gain.
  

With all these changes happening in just an 8 month time frame, you could say it's been a bit of a whirlwind and has left me feeling a lack of direction. This led to a conversation with a friend I have a lot of respect for and who has allowed me to pester her for advice- Brandi Buzzard. (You can check out her blog for some great insight on agriculture topics as well as a glimpse of her experience in married and rural life.) 

One of the outcomes of that conversation has been to invest time in exploring exactly what my goals are for my career and setting achievable steps to reach those goals. Now that I no longer work as a communications specialist, my creative writing outlet has vanished, which brought me to realize I want to continue to develop my skills as a writer. Returning to this blog as an outlet is my solution (hopefully) to keep me on track with this goal, as well as get me back in the habit of staying up to date with friends and current events . I hope you will help keep me accountable and provide your own input in these conversations :) Deciding what to write about has been a constant source of confusion for me on this blog (which is why I often don't update it), so I am going to utilize one of my favorite life strategies and just go with the flow. If it's on my mind or is something I have been noticing/discussing with others a lot lately, then that's what I will write about.

Until further notice...

-Lexi