Hart Communications

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  • A.S.K.

    I was walking behind a young man in a sports complex and on
    the back of his shirt were the big letters: ASK.  So of course I did.

    I asked him what ASK stood for or was I just supposed to ask
    him a question and he would answer?  He
    smiled and then kindly explained that it stood for Audacity, Service and
    Kaizen.

    You see, he was a basketball coach at a college, and I knew
    that whatever those letters were, it would be some sort of motivation tool or
    leadership tip and I would not regret asking him for an explanation.  I also knew that whatever those letters stood
    for, it would let me capture a glimpse into his leadership style.

    Audacity.

    Do I have the audacity to continue to improve?  Do I have the desire to be the best? To
    conquer fear? To take the next logical step in my career path, even though it
    means a commitment to more work, but a really great reward?

    Audacity is a challenging word that inspires me daily.  When I think about audacity it makes me think
    of daring to be better.  Daring to put in
    the extra work. Daring to write about a subject that may not be well
    received.  Audacity also means to take
    that step of faith, even if I can’t be sure of the outcome. Trusting that God
    will take my effort and courage to move forward, and work all things together
    for good.  

    Service was the next word. For anyone to succeed in life,
    they need to learn how to serve.  For
    some of us, this is as natural as pushing open the screen door on your way out
    of the house. But for others, they have to be reminded to push instead of pull
    or they have to be told when to push and when to pull.  But if you’re not willing to serve anyone or
    at anything, don’t be surprised when you find yourself isolated and devoid of
    influence.  Those who are not willing to
    serve will look behind them and see few willing to follow. 

    And that last word is one I had to look up, Kaizen.  It sounds like some middle eastern religious
    doctrine or maybe even a yoga pose.  But
    really, it’s the definition of slow, incremental improvement.  It seems this is something I need to be
    reminded of lately.  My all or nothing
    mentality takes over when I only have twenty minutes for a workout instead of
    an hour. If I can’t get my whole workout in then I might as well sit down and
    have another cup of coffee…..and maybe another muffin.  But if I took the Kaizen approach, I would
    seize the moment and take a twenty minute walk and while it would be a small
    step forward, it would still be incremental improvement.  Strength doesn’t come from exercising once a
    month, but a consistent practice of training and it may be slow, but it’s much
    more beneficial than a sporadic regime.

    What do you need the audacity to do?  Are you facing an attractive challenge, but
    you just can’t muster up the audacity to take a step of faith?  Or maybe you need to exercise your service
    muscle?  Or like me, you need to get out
    of the all or nothing mindset?  Now you
    have one word to remind yourself of what you need to do.  Just ASK.

  • If you only knew…..

    If you only knew…..

    Let’s take a moment and fill in that blank. 

    If you only knew…. what I’ve been through in the last week.

    If you only knew… where I started out.

    If you only knew… what I witnessed when I was a child.

    These are all statements that we either say in our head or
    out loud when confronted with someone who questions us, doubts our ability or
    even offers up some constructive criticism.

    Recently I saw on a social media site that many women find
    it difficult to receive an honest compliment. While they may say thank you to
    the person, deep down inside they are thinking, ‘NO! I’m not THAT! I’m not the
    person you think I am, I don’t deserve that kind word! Please stop saying that!’

    But why? Why do some folks find it difficult to receive a
    kind word from someone?

    Other than the fact that it’s easy to listen to the negative
    self talk that plays like an unending loop our heads, I think there is one
    underlying factor:

    We are the only ones who know everything that we’ve done,
    everything we are thinking, our selfish intentions, our manipulative mind and
    our self-seeking motives.  No one (except
    God) knows what’s going on in our head. 
    And honestly, sometimes we don’t know either, but that’s a different
    blog for a different day.

    So, when someone comes along and pays us a compliment, all
    we can think is, ‘Are you kidding? You have no idea that I was just critiquing
    your entire outfit thirty seconds before you walked up here.’ 

    Can I get a witness? Am I alone here?

    Add into that a critical parent or an abusive boss or a
    manipulative spouse and you have a woman (or man) who has a hard time believing
    anything nice about themselves.  It’s
    easy to believe the bad and oh so difficult to believe the good stuff about us.

    But remember, others don’t see all that ugliness that you
    see and feel inside.  People like
    offering you a genuine word of encouragement. Take it. Soak it up.  Use it to propel you forward into your next
    project or getting through your next difficult circumstance.

    And when you receive the compliment, kindly thank the person
    for offering you encouragement. They want to bless you, let them. When you
    refuse or sidestep a compliment, It’s like someone offering you a cold beverage
    on a really hot day and throwing it back in their face. 

  • Flowers and Queens

    District dairy shows used to be a big deal in a lot of
    states.  In most areas of the Midwest, a
    district show will consist of maybe 50-75 head and it provides a great place
    for younger exhibitors to get their feet wet. As in several areas of life, what
    used to be formal is now more casual and the formality and the pomp and
    circumstance of the show has gone by the wayside….in some places.

    Last week I covered the Ohio District 12 Holstein Show at
    the Auglaize County Fair in Wapakoneta, Ohio. We had arrived early and were
    sitting ringside visiting with friends. I sat and watched the ring steward,
    Gregg Topp, get things in order.  He
    gathered up the wheelbarrow and shovel to keep the ring clean, he made sure the
    announcer was making the correct announcements and that the judge had arrived
    and knew how the show would flow that evening.

    Samantha, the Auglaize County Dairy Princess arrived for her
    duties to hand out ribbons and like any good princess will do, she introduced
    herself to those administrating the show and familiarized herself with the
    awards that she would be handing out.

    Lou Brown, a local dairy farmer and the man in charge of the
    district show, walked up and handed Samantha a beautiful wrist corsage to wear
    and thanked her for attending the show. Now this was not a big state fair where
    the queen is treated like royalty being brought in on a six-horse hitch or
    paraded around in a cool corvette.  There
    was not a lot of glitz and glamor at this particular show. But that night, this
    busy dairy farmer thought enough of the fair princess and the Ohio Holstein
    Queen to call a flower shop and order flowers just for these young ladies to
    wear, at a district show that would have maybe 50 head and take 2 hours to
    complete.

    As I watched this whole thing unfold, I witnessed a sweet
    exchange between a dairy producer and a very appreciative dairy princess.  You would have thought someone gave her a
    million dollars.  Samantha’s face lit up
    and she couldn’t thank Lou enough for his thoughtfulness. 


    Throughout the show I would catch her looking at her corsage
    and then she would say to the Ohio Holstein Queen, Kinley Topp, “That was so
    kind, that just made may day. I can’t believe they bought flowers for us.” And
    Kinley agreed it was a very generous gesture.

    That sweet gesture was a great reminder to me that every day
    is an opportunity to make an impact. 
    Saying a kind word, waving at an acquaintance, being present at an event,
    they are all small things that seemingly make no difference. But don’t be
    fooled, in this crazy world, filled with the need for immediate acceptance and
    validation, those small things can be the difference between life and death.

  • Who Can Stop 87?

    Who
    can stop an 87-year-old farmer? Not me and I’m not even going to try.

    I
    think it’s in a farmer’s DNA to just figure it out.  When something breaks down, they figure it
    out. When they run up against an obstacle, they just figure it out. When planting
    season is delayed by six weeks, they aren’t happy, but they figure it out and
    keep going.

    I’m
    always amazed at the confidence it takes to look at a problem and take a step
    out of bounds on the way to solving the problem.  If you were to drive down the road and visit
    farm after farm after farm, they might all look the same on the outside, but on
    the inside, they all have signs of a man who decided to ‘fix’ a problem or
    ‘customize’ a piece of equipment.

    While
    to the everyday farmer, that is just part of their job. But to those on the
    outside looking in, it takes a tremendous amount of courage to step up to the
    plate and take swing at a 90-mph fastball with a ‘customized’ bat. You not only
    have to know how to solve the problem, you have to believe you can do it.  I think the belief is where many of us fall
    short.

    Earlier
    this spring my 87-year-old father was told his kidneys were not working and if
    he wanted to continue to live, he would have to be on dialysis.  While he processed the thought of having to
    drive to a facility, be hooked up to a machine three times per week for four
    hours a day, he realized he didn’t like that option. So, like any normal
    farmer, he started thinking of ways he could ‘customize’ his treatment. He
    began looking on the eBay for a dialysis machine that he could buy and put in
    his home.  And when he found one, he
    started a search for a dialysis technician who could come hook him up to the
    dialysis machine and supervise his treatment.

    When
    he told me this, my mouth dropped open and I couldn’t process the thought of an
    87-year-old man who would take on such a project. But then I realized, this is
    the farmer in him. He sees a problem and figures out a way to solve it.  He had no qualms about buying the machine or
    the fact that it takes a very learned person to operate it. He just knew he
    would have to take that first step and believed that it was possible.

    I
    want that kind of belief.  I want it now
    and I still want it when I’m 87 years old, I want to believe that I can get
    over an obstacle. I want to believe there is a solution and I want to have the
    confidence to get up every morning and take a run at it.

    Yes,
    I know the One who can solve all problems and can fix anything. But the hope
    and belief required to know there is a solution needs to come from us.

    My
    dad did not buy that dialysis machine, but he did find a solution and will be
    having home dialysis so that he can continue to keep his life moving forward.
    Afterall, his wife of 62 years depends on him to drive her to the school for
    her volunteering obligations, monitor the farming activity, and do the taxes. #NeverWasteAMoment

  • Creativity and Passion

    Entitlement is the archenemy of creativity, passion and
    joy.  When I read this recently, it was
    in the context of a woman whose parents moved her from an exclusive private
    prep school with every amenity imaginable, to a public school with little to
    nothing to offer this advanced student who was used to being academically
    challenged.

    This author described the numerous extracurricular
    activities that she was involved with at the prep school.  Sports of all kinds, Fellowship of Christian
    Athletes, social clubs, student government and a rigorous academic program that
    would prepare her fully for college. 

    The public school that her parents transferred her to,
    because of convenience was, as she described it, had lackluster academic
    standards, rampant drug use, racial tension, campus violence and a total lack
    of civility.  But there she was, dropped
    in the middle of this public school as a sophomore in high school. My heart
    sank as I thought about this young woman having to not only move schools, but
    to move to a school that sounded so atrocious, not unlike many of the public
    schools in our society today.

    Walk into some of our smaller schools and you can cut the
    apathy with a knife. In fact, that lack of pride, and expectation of the worst,
    is fed to the students on a daily basis by a staff who feels as unappreciated
    as the struggling administration trying to keep the doors open.

    I read this author’s story further and found that instead of
    lowering into the standards of the school, she was able to rise above it and
    pull others up as well.  She decided to
    stop with the entitlement mentality that nurtured her expectation that she
    deserved more because of her privilege, and instead she began to build programs
    that enriched the lives around her.  This
    was a place where she established a community of students who set goals and
    accomplished them. While she could have thrown herself a pity party, she hosted
    a leadership gala instead, where her peers could learn how to make a difference
    in their own communities.

    The mindset of this young teenager is inspiring.  To decide to make a difference in her little
    corner of the world instead of wallowing in her lonely, narcissistic state of
    being, is something for all of us to emulate.

    When we decide to get to work on making things better around
    us, what we can accomplish is nothing short of amazing. The creativity and
    passion that we are born with, are just waiting to be tapped into and can provide
    the horse power to achieve great things. But it will never happen if we decide
    we are owed a successful life. You were created to work, earn, and enjoy, not
    sit and soak.

  • It’s More than a Perfect Tree and Great Vacation

    By Melissa Hart
    It’s Monday and you have exactly one week to get all of your Christmas shopping done.  Aren’t you glad I reminded you?  Some of you are in a panic, and others are thinking you have all the time in the world to get it all done.  Either way –one week, y’all!
    Over the weekend, we went to my parents and put up their Christmas tree.  At 85, my mom still insists on a real Christmas tree, and I can’t blame her.  There’s nothing quite like the stories that are re-told about the failed Christmas tree hunts that we seem to go on every year.  I was just reminiscing with our second oldest son, Luke about that the other day.
    Luke is nothing if he’s not practical. He’s a no-nonsense kind of kid but Luke also has a very
    soft, sentimental side. This is the kid at twelve years old wanted to bring his
    friends to the fair with him because their parents couldn’t afford the price of
    admission.  This is the young man who comes
    to the rescue of any family member when their car breaks down, no matter if it’s
    day or night. He is the boy who helped me put down a new kitchen floor, fixed
    by KitchenAid mixer and when he was an adolescent I enjoyed taking him to run
    errands because he never asked for anything and we enjoyed great conversations. 

    This is the tree JW went and cut down and on the way home, it fell out of JW’s truck and broke in half.  Luke and JW tried to make it presentable before they brought it into me. It was hopeless, but we used it and it made for a great story.  

    Luke and his high school sweet heart, Jessie. 

    While he doesn’t remember those early years when we pulled the kids on the sled through the snow in search of the perfect tree, he does remember the year just he and I went and cut one down. We talked about the practicality of an artificial tree and that maybe we should all get one and stop this silly tradition of cutting one down. And then he said something I didn’t expect out of this practical young man, “It’s the whole experience of going and getting one that makes it fun.”
    That served as a reminder that maybe there were some great moments that came out of their childhood. You see, there are days when I feast on mom-guilt.  I can spend a lot of time mulling over all of the wrong things I did as a mom. So when Luke said this, a little moment of relief swept over me.  Maybe our busy days as parents and dairy farmers weren’t all spent on work and no play.  And just maybe all the time we spent working side by side served as an opportunity to deepen the bonds of family. 
    If you find yourself wondering if you’re doing the right thing by having your kids work on the farm with you this Christmas holiday instead of providing a week-long trip to Disney, rest assured that time spent together is time well spent.  Use your errand running as a time to talk with your kids about their dreams sprinkled with a little encouragement about their strong points.  Instead of loathing the thought of sitting in the bleachers for another game where they will go 2 for 10, know that your mere presence gives them confidence.  And if you’re eating pizza on paper plates instead of that Pinterest worthy meal, remember it’s better to sit down to a meal of vegetables where there is love than a a fattened calf with hatred. (Prov. 15:17)
    When you settle down and remember that less is more, it will always pay off in the long run.
      

  • Turkeys and Two More Followers!

    Such a beautiful day out there today.  As I look through my window at this noon hour, the sun is beaming through and melting the snow! This afternoon, I will have to move my work station to a different location, the sun will come through my unshaded window and I won’t be able to see my laptop.  But, that’s okay with me.  I love the sun!

    Tom Turkey is being harvested today.  We bought a homegrown turkey from Ezra Yoder and Bobby will go pick it up today.  My mom always loved fresh turkeys for Thanksgiving, so I had the chance to follow in her footsteps and went right to the source.  Hopefully it will be as good as last year.  Everyone enjoyed it, but honestly, I can’t remember what I did to make it so great.  Did I brine it?  Or not?  Did I put it in the oven? Or in the roaster?  What seasonings did I use?  I have no idea. So, I will pull up Pioneer Woman and find out what she does and then I’ll copy it.

    My nephew, his wife and new baby will venture to Michigan from Iowa for the holiday! We rarely get to see them, so I’m excited especially since I haven’t seen this new little great neice! The house will be overflowing with family and I can’t wait!  And of course I had to count my Fiestaware to make sure I had enough plates and…I DO!

    It’s time to get back to the real work that is waiting for me.  The Ohio Holstein News is going out in a week and then the Michigan Dairy Cattle News.  And in between those, we are working on the Brown Swiss Bulletin and The Angle. This is making my head spin, I better quit now.

    Oh…and I’m almost celebrating an Instagram milestone of having 998 followers.  Just two more and I’m up to 1K!  Yeah, I know, that’s not very many compared to all of those influencers out there….but hey, it’s a round number, we might as well celebrate….when it actually happens.

    Have a great Tuesday!

  • Learning from the Young Ones

    If you follow some of the young bloggers out there on Instagram, you know, those chic moms who have beautiful homes, perfect wardrobes and more on the ball than I ever thought of having at age 30, then you’ve seen how they are all revealing their Christmas decor. 

    I just want to say….I’m not ready yet!  I just took down the dead ferns that were hanging on my front porch with the fourth of July swag.  I just turned the calendar from summer to fall and they are already on Christmas! They have young children, I don’t.  They are on Instagram filming a zillion stories in a day, I’m not.  Their wardrobes are complete from A to Z in their huge walk-in closets and I’m over here with my old Farmhouse closet that I’m constantly shoving clothes into because I don’t have enough room. 

    While I may sound just a little jealous of their closets, which I am, I will admit, I have learned a ton from them!  They know more about hair, make-up and shopping hacks than I ever thought about knowing at that age.  With four young kids I was just happy to take a shower twice a week without the house burning down, much less dress up in a cool fall outfit and stroll through a perfect looking park in Savannah with someone taking a photo of me! How do they do that?

    Anyway, today I celebrate the fact that I now have fall decorations on one of my porches.  I need to work on the other porch…..after I finish a few writing pieces that are waiting to be written!

    By the way, if you’re interested in following some of these great young women who have taught me a ton you can find them on Insta here:

    @celesteharned – She’s one of the aggie moms out there….love her practical take on life!
    @courtney_sheilds – Fashion and decorating and transparent!
    @nestingwithgrace – decorates in small spaces, love her look!
    @alyson_hayley – I watch her for fashion and hair.  And she’s just so cute!
    @k8_smallthings – She is my favorite and has taught me bunches about hair and she’s REAL! 
    @fresh_coast_farmgirl – I love her farmhouse that she is transforming, plus I know this sweetie personally and she’s awesome!
    @seejessfarm – This dairy girl is awesome! It’s all about dairy farming, all the time. I love her total transparency!

    Have a great Tuesday!

  • A Day at Plainfield Farm

    It’s a chilly Saturday morning at Plainfield Farms in Belmont, Ohio where they are hosting the Ohio Holstein Fall Tour! The Simpson Family has been preparing for Holstein enthusiasts to come and enjoy some great food, fellowship and take a gander at some beautiful Holsteins.
    This is where it’s all happening today at 11 am in Belmont, Ohio!
    The younger generation made the Fall Tour pre-party fun. Allie Bourne, Ben Simpson
    and Hannah Dye keep things lively!

    We came down last night and had a great meal at the Simpsons all graciously prepared by Marty Dye. It doesn’t get any better than homemade lasagna with a choice of Chocolate or Pumpkin pie for dessert.  And yes, I had a small slice of both. You can’t eat just one piece of pie….it’s only proper to sample each kind.

    Oh…there must be a Spartan Fan down here in Ohio!

    The Simpson crew was gettin’ after it this morning. 

    Have a great Saturday!

  • Snow! Before Thanksgiving!

    It’s a snowy Friday morning in my neck of the woods! I wasn’t expecting snow this early, I guess I haven’t been watching the weather very closely.

    Snow before Thanksgiving is honestly unacceptable.

    I just finished a phone call with the local Salvation Army Church as part of a story I’m working on for the MMPA Milk Messenger about the 10 Gallon Milk Challenge that has become popular this year.  I explained what it was and the Captain said that milk was in huge demand. She said someone came in just last week with crates of half gallons of milk and she couldn’t believe how quickly they went.

    It’s time people.  The price of milk in the store is at an all time low.  Why not go buy 10 gallons of milk and take it to your local food pantry or Salvation Army.  It helps the demand for milk and puts the best food we produce in the bellies of hungry people.  It’s honestly a match made in heaven…..well, maybe that’s too far, but it’s definitely one of the best ideas out there!

    Later today we will make our way to Belmont, Ohio for the Ohio Holstein Fall Tour that is set for tomorrow at 11 am, at Plainfield Farms. The Plainfield Farms Hotel has a vacancy and I hear they are bringing in a top-notch cook for dinner tonight! Can’t wait to spend some time with those Ohio Holstein breeders!

    Have a great Friday!