Byron's Babbles

This past week I’ve had the incredible pleasure of being at the World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin. As you know we raise Jersey dairy show cows and so that is the place to be the first week of October. There will undoubtedly be posts about things I learned and my thoughts about applying what I learned to education, but for now I want to focus on something we (my wife was able to make the trip with me this year) did while in Wisconsin. One of the things I like to do is visit people I work with in the “real job” part of my life. I always say if I am within three hours of visiting someone I work with, I’m going.

I stayed true to this yesterday. We went up to Tomah, Wisconsin to visit a National FFA Mentor Teacher Ambassador I have the honor of working with in the work I do with the National FFA Organization. We spent the day with Emma Huber who teaches agriculture at Portage Community School District. Emma’s family has a cranberry marsh (farm). Before yesterday, I knew nothing about cranberry production/harvesting. This was the weekend for harvesting the cranberries and my wife and I were able to spend the day taking part in all the operations associated with harvesting cranberries. It was actually quite the family affair, with family members coming from other states to take part. We also learned all about cranberry production. Needless to say, it was a glorious day, I learned A LOT, and we got to know Emma, her husband Josh, Emma’s mom, and the rest of the family and friends.

I love days like yesterday! As a curious learner and person who believes that relationships trump all – yesterday was truly was, as I said earlier, glorious. I have had the opportunity to visit several of the Teacher Ambassadors on their home turf or in their schools. This is important to me and one of my core values, “Listen, Hear, Learn, & strive to be better.” This is part of what I call “loving” those we serve. To be loved we must be understood and appreciated. I blogged about the line, “There is no point in being loved if you are not understood…And once loved and understood to be appreciated.” in The Life Impossible by Matt Haig in Living In Our Own Context.

Visiting those we serve in their home work or personal interest environments can offer substantial value to our relationships. In other words, getting to know them on a personal level. Here are some key benefits:

1. Building Trust and Rapport: Meeting people in their own space fosters a deeper connection, showing that we care about them as individuals, not just as colleagues or clients.
2. Understanding Context: Home visits provide insight into the circumstances and challenges that our teams or constituents face, enabling us to make more informed decisions and policies. We agriculture teachers understand better than anyone, as ag teachers make regular visits to students as part of their Supervised Agricultural Experience Program. It really is all about building the relationship.
3. Gathering Feedback: Engaging directly with those we serve allows for open dialogue and immediate feedback, which can lead to better understanding of needs and expectations.
4. Demonstrating Commitment: Our presence in our friends and colleagues’ environments signal that we are committed to supporting them and valuing their input.
5. Identifying Opportunities: Being on-site allows us to observe firsthand areas for improvement, innovation, and potential collaboration that might not be visible from a distance.
6. Inspiring and Motivating: Seeing how our efforts impact individuals’ lives can reignite our own passion for our work and inspire those we serve.
7. Encouraging a Culture of Openness: It sets an example of transparency and approachability, encouraging others in the organization to follow suit.

As a rabid learner and relationship guy, these visits are an important strategy that deepen connections and enhance my effectiveness as a leader. Make no mistake; visiting these ambassadors is a “get to,” not a “have to.” I love it!!!