Half of the Ten Traits of a Successful Grazing Manager that Jeff Goodwin shared last week are about being a life-long learner. His survey of well-respected ranching and industry professionals showed that having inquisitive and passionate minds, being flexible and adaptive, understanding ecological principle contributed to their success. Goodwin also pointed out that “Most producers who are successful often get great ideas from their peers. They talk and learn from each other…”
That’s something that these Alberta ranchers agree with wholeheartedly. In this video, they talk about how their ranches are better because of learning from their fellow farmers ranchers.
“Its not what you know, it’s who you know,” says Greame Finn of Southern Cross Livestock. “Get to know guys who are out there doing it. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, get out there with your local association. That always helps. And Field Days – you can never get enough of those in.
Jim Madge, of Madge Farms, even says that one of his operation’s risk management tools is belonging to an ag group and learning from others.
Jess Hudson believes that learning from other producers is one of the most important things a farmer or rancher, especially a beginning one, can do. “You can go to school and get an ag degree and know a lot about the industry, but you don’t know where the wind doesn’t blow, or where the water pools, or where to put the gate…and the old guy down the road can tell me a lot of those things. So young people can learn a lot and save a lot.”
In this video, you’ll get some good ideas about how farmers and ranchers can work together to improve their mutual success. It’s 4 minutes well-spent! And thanks to Alberta Agriculture and Forestry and Grant Lastiwka and his team for putting this video together.
