Women in Agriculture | Women in Farming Magazine

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<umbBlogPost id="75430" key="cfe7aa44-e908-4593-b5d1-e064c827ce49" parentID="75420" level="5" creatorID="8" sortOrder="1" createDate="2018-10-10T15:58:41" updateDate="2018-10-16T13:38:02" nodeName="Goat Gal Darcy Lipskey" urlName="goat-gal-darcy-lipskey" path="-1,1069,1057,72426,75420,75430" isDoc="" nodeType="1053" creatorName="NS" writerName="NS" writerID="8" template="1046" nodeTypeAlias="umbBlogPost" isPublished="true"><PostDate>2018-10-10T00:00:00</PostDate><blogHeadline>Six Generation Beef to First Generation Goats </blogHeadline><bodyText>Although we want to do it all, we female farmers have a hard time trying to place more eggs in our basket when it comes to our own farming operation. In other words, we tend to spread ourselves a little thin when taking on more responsibility on the farm. Darcy Lipskey came pretty close to conquering various different animal operations in her upbringing. She grew up on her family’s beef feedlot and cash crop farm as the sixth generation family member of their growing operation. Growing up alongside her father and grandfather’s feedlot, she started her own Angus cow/calf operation. Ultimately leading into starting her own goat farm, Lipskey jumped over a few hurdles to get to where she is now.
<img style="width: 302px; height: 403px;" src="/media/316120/darcy-5.jpg?width=302&amp;height=403&amp;mode=max" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/1769ee7aaebb471799cf783d88fa787e" />
Not Playing Second Fiddle
Although Lipskey loved being close with her family members, she didn’t want to play second fiddle. She wanted to raise her own stock on her own operation. She became actively involved with 4-H and FFA to further her education. While taking active leadership roles in both organizations, Lipskey worked to participate in public speaking and judging event contests – shaping who she is today. Lipskey studied crop and soil sciences while serving the Michigan FFA Association as a state FFA officer her freshman year of college at Michigan State University.
With the goal and dream in mind of becoming an agronomist, Lipskey is now employeed with Star of the West Milling Company as an agronomy consultant. She works in the local community by serving as a board member for their small livestock association at the county fair, remains an active FFA alumnus, and takes on the township clerk position for her township. In any free time she has, she works with her family farm, tending to dry edible beans, wheat, corn, soybeans, and alfalfa. 
Beef to Goat 
Lipskey has a large background in beef steers (family owning 400 steers) but that did not keep her away from getting involved in the boer goat industry. In 2015, a young girl in her 4-H club approached her, asking who might be able to find her a good goat to show at the fair. She quickly realized that most of the goat breeders she knew were sold out or had already created a wait list for interested purchasers. After wait lists and calls, she was finally able to find this young girl a goat.
“I didn’t know much about them [goats] other than what the breeder was helping me with to get her started. Fair week came and she did really well…Grand Campion well! So she decided that she wanted to do it again – can’t say that I blamed her,” Lipskey said.
Since the connection was already made with her goat-breeder in 2015, Lipskey thought “why not” when the next year came around and her own goat farm was suggested. “What is it going to take to raise my own goat herd?” and “how do I go about kidding?” are two of the many questions she had when starting this process. After one visit to her breeder, she came home with four ladies that would start her herd and another goat for her young 4-H club member. 
Lipskey’s kidding started shortly after (this past winter), with a goal to add them to her already-attained well-rounded farm. She understands the need in the area for 4-H and FFA members to be able to access quality boer goats for exhibiting at county and state level shows. Lipskey has a passion for family, expanding her own operation and helping the community she resides.</bodyText><tags>Women in Agriculture,featured</tags><seoTags>featured,agriculture</seoTags><closeComments>0</closeComments><introduction>Growing up on her family’s beef feedlot and cash crop farm as the sixth generation family member - Click "read more" to hear the rest of Darcy's story.</introduction><articleImage>75429</articleImage><pageTitle>Six Generation Beef to First Generation Goats - Goat Gal Darcy Lipskey</pageTitle><metaDescription>Darcy Lipskey started her own Angus cow/calf operation. Ultimately leading into starting her own goat farm.</metaDescription></umbBlogPost><umbBlogPost id="75433" key="fed822e2-f6ea-4b5c-821e-b2a629452aec" parentID="75420" level="5" creatorID="8" sortOrder="2" createDate="2018-10-10T16:46:26" updateDate="2018-10-16T13:37:28" nodeName="Managing the Millennial Mindset" urlName="managing-the-millennial-mindset" path="-1,1069,1057,72426,75420,75433" isDoc="" nodeType="1053" creatorName="NS" writerName="NS" writerID="8" template="1046" nodeTypeAlias="umbBlogPost" isPublished="true"><PostDate>2018-10-10T00:00:00</PostDate><blogHeadline>Managing the Millennial Mindset</blogHeadline><bodyText>The average young person that enters into the workforce today will change jobs more than 11 times before the end of their career. Everywhere you turn, employers are talking about how to manage their Millennial workers and keep them engaged and loyal to their workplace. In agriculture, we have a shortage of skilled new workers available, that is a problem in and of itself, but keeping the young workers we hire is an important part of helping organizations be successful in the long-term. 
In 2016, the Millennial generation (individuals born between 1980-2000) became the largest generation in the workforce at 56 million participants. Falling closely behind them at 53 million were from Generation X (individuals born between 1964-1980) and then, 41 million Boomers (individuals born between 1946-1964). There are around 3 million Traditionalists (born before 1946) still at work.
 <img style="width: 465px; height: 185px;" src="/media/316123/managing-millennial-photo2.jpg?width=465&amp;height=185&amp;mode=max" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/99a6aee71af845ebb232216b5b08e22a" />
With multiple generations working together, each one of us has different cultural and life influences the way that we interact with each other in the workplace. Oftentimes Millennial workers tend to value work-life interaction, relationships with co-workers and their leaders, as well as a more informal work style. While Boomers tend to place the meaning for their life in their work by building the perfect career, oftentimes with the same employer, millennial workers are often thinking more about how their job fits into their life. They might even build multiple careers at once. Even with the different view of work that the Millennials hold, they are the most educated generation of our time. They also deeply desire to make an impact on the world with their life, and work is a part of that larger purpose. 
But how do you make sure that you start off on the right foot with these young employees? In his book, "Not Everyone Gets a Trophy," author Bruce Tulgan gives some recommendations on how to choose the person who is the right fit for you organization and how to keep them there. 
Tulgan says, get them on board with the right message. Be up front from the beginning about all of the expectations of the job. Let them know all the things that it will entail, both the good and the not so good; for example, long hours, limited leave during the holiday season, or the perk of a bonus for good performance. Help them understand that your place of business wants to retain them.
 <img style="width: 302px; height: 360px;" src="/media/316122/managing-millennial-photo.jpg?width=302&amp;height=360&amp;mode=max" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/47a99d32ea36400991aed6a3b55b7d61" />
During the interview process, there are many ways to provide a more accurate reading of the person up for the job. Use the interview as an opportunity to really get to know your potential hire as much as possible. 
<ol>
<li>1. Try a probationary hiring period. </li>
<li>2. Create an internship. </li>
<li>3. Organize a job shadow experience. </li>
</ol>
During the interview itself, ask questions that will help you gain insight into the behavior of the person. Ask scenario questions that fall in line with the work that the person will actually be doing, such as, "if you were in x situation, how would you respond?" This kind of interview will allow you to understand the person's behavior and you can get a better idea of what to expect when they start the job.
Managing the Millennial mindset is all about understanding and communicating with your young workers to ensure that they can make the biggest impact possible in their role, and that they find greater meaning with their work.  
 
Dr. Lauren Ledgetter Griffeth is an Extension Leadership Specialist at the University of Georgia. She is a former 4-H member who loved spending summers picking squash, blueberries, and peas with her grandmother in their garden. Lauren specializes in women's agricultural leadership and she and her husband are partners in a local vegetable business. Connect with Lauren on Twitter: @laurengriffeth. </bodyText><tags>Women in Agriculture,farm gal,family farming,fun</tags><seoTags>women in agriculture</seoTags><closeComments>0</closeComments><introduction>Everywhere you turn, employers are talking about how to manage their Millennial workers and keep them engaged and loyal to their workplace.</introduction><articleImage>75431</articleImage><pageTitle>Managing the Millennial Mindset - Pink Tractor</pageTitle><metaDescription>Everywhere you turn, employers are talking about how to manage their Millennial workers and keep them engaged and loyal to their workplace.</metaDescription></umbBlogPost><umbBlogPost id="75446" key="c63d4a6a-1d1f-43b2-b92c-4ecec7cbbead" parentID="75420" level="5" creatorID="8" sortOrder="3" createDate="2018-10-12T12:44:08" updateDate="2018-10-16T13:39:58" nodeName="Bringing That Tractor Back to Life" urlName="bringing-that-tractor-back-to-life" path="-1,1069,1057,72426,75420,75446" isDoc="" nodeType="1053" creatorName="NS" writerName="NS" writerID="8" template="1046" nodeTypeAlias="umbBlogPost" isPublished="true"><PostDate>2018-10-12T00:00:00</PostDate><blogHeadline>Restoration Tips from the Pink Tractor Community</blogHeadline><bodyText>October is recognized as Breast Cancer Awareness month. Many of you in the Pink Tractor family have been touched directly or indirectly by this horrible disease. While many of us walk to raise awareness and funds, these ladies show their support with hours and hours of painstaking labor and talent to restore tractors. 
It doesn't matter if it's your first restoration project or twentieth, everyone could use a few tips and tricks to help them along the way. We wanted to share some tips for anyone that plans to take on this kind of project. Who better to ask than our loyal Pink Tractor community to share some of their tips? 
Pink is more than just a color to the Watson family. Heather Watson and her husband Jorden from Bristol, Virginia restored their 1958 Allis Chalmers D17 diesel in honor of Heather's mom who was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2005. She is now 13 years cancer free and the restoration of their tractor "Pinky" is a symbol of the fight and survival.  
Heather's Restoration Tips: 
<ul>
<li>Don't skip steps </li>
<li>Don't be afraid to make it different</li>
<li>Buy a shop manual for the one that you are restoring so you will have the specs and information that you need </li>
</ul>
<img style="width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="/media/316126/img_8935.jpg?width=240&amp;height=180&amp;mode=max" alt="Before" data-udi="umb://media/ba9dc666610d4d87aedd57255e6fd0d9" /> <img style="width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="/media/316125/img_4514.jpg?width=240&amp;height=180&amp;mode=max" alt="After" data-udi="umb://media/cceb34d7ed024e58ac61b6398c73cad1" />
Kim Weinkauff from Wanatah, Indiana took great pride in restoring her 1960 John Deere 630. Below are photos of the tractor before restoration, after it was sandblasted, and the finished masterpiece. 
Kim's Restoration Tip: 
<ul>
<li>Patience is key! Always keep in mind that this is not an overnight project. The finished restoration is worth the wait! </li>
</ul>
<img style="width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="/media/316127/7.jpg?width=240&amp;height=180&amp;mode=max" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9cc7f5bdda8c40ffab6cc22128d03bda" /> <img style="width: 240px; height: 180px;" src="/media/316128/8.jpg?width=240&amp;height=180&amp;mode=max" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/19c77106556c4346b835111279335472" /><img style="width: 482px; height: 271px;" src="/media/316129/9.jpg?width=482&amp;height=271&amp;mode=max" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/1b9a2e2b2bcd4d559cd82f872d2ef926" />
Tammy Starr of West Salem, Ohio had seen other pink tractors for sale and she could have bought one, but she was glad she didn't. She knew that restoring her 1947 John Deere M would end up being the most meaningful project to her. Everything she learned throughout the restoration and the initial finding her John Deere M would always have more meaning to her in the long run. 
Tammy's Restoration Tips: 
<ul>
<li>It's important to tear the tractor down completely. That's when you can evaluate what kind of shape everything is in. </li>
<li>Take lots of pictures during the tear down, those come in handy when reassembling. </li>
<li>Place all small parts (nuts and bolts) in plastic sandwich bags and label what part of the tractor they came from so you're not second guessing yourself on where things go. </li>
</ul>
<img style="width: 0px; height: 0px;" src="/nothing.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e681e133eb7e4e77add5faf3a356e330" /><img style="width: 227px; height: 200px;" src="/media/316130/11.jpeg?width=227&amp;height=200&amp;mode=max" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/fa56ee10498949a7880c5a4cde1c6d41" /> <img style="width: 264px; height: 198px;" src="/media/316131/13.jpeg?width=264&amp;height=198&amp;mode=max" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/2a60e40004ea44ba9cc1e9f9c96bffe5" /><img style="width: 495px; height: 371px;" src="/media/316132/img_0511.jpg?width=495&amp;height=371&amp;mode=max" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e681e133eb7e4e77add5faf3a356e330" />
When Casey Opell was five years old she took a liking to a 1949 Massey-Harris 22 that was in her great uncle, Donnie's shed. Her father, Brent Opell decided to go ahead and buy the tractor for Casey. The restoration soon began with the help of her dad and her uncle Denny. 
In 2011 after the restoration had been completed, Casey and her father went to different shows to look at other restored tractors. Even though the restoration was complete, it didn't take much convincing from Casey for her dad to be on the hunt for the perfect shade of pink. Once all was said and done, Casey was so happy with the end result she had her eighth grade photos taken with her restored beauty. 
Casey's 4-H project which entailed replacing the pilot bushing or as the family called it "getting rid of the growl" on the tractor was entered in the 2018 Illinois State Fair this past August and Casey received an award of excellence for her work. 
The latest trip for the restored beauty was to the American Thresherman Association's 59th Steam, Gas &amp; Threshing Show in Pinckneyville, Illinois where Casey proudly wore her exhibitor ribbon and displayed her Massey Harris. You could say she was tickled pink to be there. 
<img style="width: 244px; height: 343px;" src="/media/316133/casey-cropped.jpg?width=244&amp;height=343&amp;mode=max" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/852b0338c04c4aeeaa797993c63593ba" /> <img style="width: 227px; height: 345px;" src="/media/316134/state-fair-award.jpg?width=227&amp;height=345&amp;mode=max" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/8a417377faec4faeb880a6d447ffea40" /></bodyText><tags>Women in Agriculture</tags><seoTags>women,women in agriculture,tractors</seoTags><closeComments>0</closeComments><introduction>It doesn't matter if it's your first restoration project or twentieth, everyone could use a few tips and tricks to help them along the way.</introduction><articleImage>75443</articleImage><pageTitle>Tractor Restoration Tips - Bringing That Tractor Back to Life</pageTitle><metaDescription>It doesn't matter if it's your first tracgtor restoration project or twentieth, everyone could use a few tips and trick...</metaDescription></umbBlogPost><umbBlogPost id="75451" key="adcf0e91-92c4-4d52-8623-563994c8df59" parentID="75420" level="5" creatorID="8" sortOrder="4" createDate="2018-10-16T11:35:28" updateDate="2018-10-16T14:09:52" nodeName="Management by Mind Reading" urlName="management-by-mind-reading" path="-1,1069,1057,72426,75420,75451" isDoc="" nodeType="1053" creatorName="NS" writerName="NS" writerID="8" template="1046" nodeTypeAlias="umbBlogPost" isPublished="true"><PostDate>2018-10-12T00:00:00</PostDate><blogHeadline>Management by Mind Reading</blogHeadline><bodyText>"Hi there. Jolene Brown here. One of my all-time favorite comedians is Lily Tomlin and she has a funny quote that I think directly relates to those of us in family business. She says you know when I was little I always wanted to be somebody. Now I guess I should have been a little bit more specific. You know what she's saying is that if the expectations are not clear we just might end up someplace else. So last week I was visiting with a wonderful farm family and two of the next generation had the very same complaint. The daughter said "well Jolene I cannot do anything right but I don't even know what I'm supposed to do". And then her brother said "you know Jolene if Dad would just tell me what he expects I'd be glad to do it". And that's when Dad chimed in and he said "well I believe that everybody who works here should exactly know what is expected to them. I should not have to waste my time spelling it out." And that's when I had to chuckle and I said to dad - so dad how is this management by mind reading working for you, and then he started to laugh too. Because what I know in today's environment agriculture is so diverse. Even with those young people that we raise from babies onward, and they're now adults, they have different education, different friendships that may have, different standards and different goals. And they also come from different perspectives along the way. I think it is foolish for me to assume as a manager that everybody else understands what I believe to be right and wrong, or good or bad, or acceptable or unacceptable."
See more in the video below...
<?UMBRACO_MACRO macroAlias="YouTubeIframe" videoId="jmzntNPY_Z0" />
Jolene Brown is a farmer, professional speaker, author and champion for the family owned business. She's from West Branch, Iowa, USA, and travels worldwide sharing leading-edge best practices that have the power to increase productivity, profitability and peace of mind. Her passion combined with her fun-filled spirit and valuable information brings humor, hope and helpful ideas to the people of agriculture. Jolene's books, "Holy Crap! I Married a Farmer!" Joy-filled Lessons Connecting Our Sisters in Agricultureand Sometimes You Need More Than a 2x4! How-to-tips to successfully grow a family business are available online at <a href="http://www.jolenebrown.com/">www.JoleneBrown.com</a>.  For more information and to check out her speaking availability, contact her at <a href="mailto:Jolene@JoleneBrown.com">Jolene@JoleneBrown.com</a>.
Full Rights Consent.  Jolene Brown LLC, West Branch, Iowa, USA, maintains full rights to utilize the content and/or format of all materials submitted by her for the www.PinkTractor.com website in any future speaking, writing, audio, video or electronic format.
Copyright © 2018 Jolene Brown, LLC. All Rights Reserved</bodyText><tags>featured,succession,tip</tags><seoTags>family business,Jolene Brown,Dr Phil of Agriculture</seoTags><closeComments>0</closeComments><introduction>Hi there. Jolene Brown here. One of my all-time favorite comedians is Lily Tomlin and she has a funny quote that I think directly relates to those of us in family business.</introduction><articleImage>75452</articleImage><articleImageCaption>PinkTractor.com - Management by Mind Reading</articleImageCaption><pageTitle>PinkTractor.com | Management by Mind Reading</pageTitle><metaDescription>Hi there. Jolene Brown here. One of my all-time favorite comedians is Lily Tomlin and she has a funny quote that I think directly relates to those of us in family business.</metaDescription></umbBlogPost><umbBlogPost id="75449" key="7b410dfc-a98d-49e3-9459-895bb5bb5f6f" parentID="75448" level="5" creatorID="8" sortOrder="0" createDate="2018-10-12T14:20:31" updateDate="2018-11-06T08:34:20" nodeName="Harvest & Appreciation" urlName="harvest-appreciation" path="-1,1069,1057,72426,75448,75449" isDoc="" nodeType="1053" creatorName="NS" writerName="NS" writerID="8" template="1046" nodeTypeAlias="umbBlogPost" isPublished="true"><PostDate>2018-10-12T00:00:00</PostDate><blogHeadline>Harvest & Appreciation</blogHeadline><bodyText>"Hi there. Jolene Brown here. You can tell by the setting and the sounds that the seasons on the Brown farm have certainly changed. And that means the marathon of harvest has just begun. In my over four decades of being married to my farming husband I have learned something and that is, during peak times there are personality changes. Now peak time for you might be planting season. It might be when you get in a whole bunch of new critters onto the farm. It might be when the fruits and vegetables need to be picked and packed and sent to market. We all have our peak times. But what is especially important to use on our farm, is harvest. And what I mean by personality change is this. Tunnel Vision... This means that all of life ceases to exist unless it can support the goal of harvest. This means sleeping and eating. It means being available 24/7. It means hurry and be there even though you don't know where you are supposed to be. It also means putting in very, very long hours. It is also a tense time because you and I know we have worked an entire year hoping that mother nature will cooperate and we will be blessed with a very bountiful harvest. But it is during this peak time that you and I dare not to forget other things that are also really important to us, and that means we might need to expand our tunnel vision just a little bit. So on your farms, please do not forget, especially during harvest those who have provided the food. They have prepared it. They have brought it out to you whenever you wanted or whenever you needed it and they came home and cleaned it up, and did the same thing day after day. A "thank you" goes a long ways."
See more in the video below...
<?UMBRACO_MACRO macroAlias="YouTubeIframe" videoId="qbY_uzZecn8" />
Jolene Brown is a farmer, professional speaker, author and champion for the family owned business. She's from West Branch, Iowa, USA, and travels worldwide sharing leading-edge best practices that have the power to increase productivity, profitability and peace of mind. Her passion combined with her fun-filled spirit and valuable information brings humor, hope and helpful ideas to the people of agriculture. Jolene's books, "Holy Crap! I Married a Farmer!" Joy-filled Lessons Connecting Our Sisters in Agricultureand Sometimes You Need More Than a 2x4! How-to-tips to successfully grow a family business are available online at <a href="http://www.jolenebrown.com/">www.JoleneBrown.com</a>.  For more information and to check out her speaking availability, contact her at <a href="mailto:Jolene@JoleneBrown.com">Jolene@JoleneBrown.com</a>.
Full Rights Consent.  Jolene Brown LLC, West Branch, Iowa, USA, maintains full rights to utilize the content and/or format of all materials submitted by her for the www.PinkTractor.com website in any future speaking, writing, audio, video or electronic format.
Copyright © 2018 Jolene Brown, LLC. All Rights Reserved</bodyText><tags>featured,succession,tip</tags><seoTags>family business,Jolene Brown,Dr Phil of Agriculture</seoTags><closeComments>0</closeComments><introduction>Hi there. Jolene Brown here. You can tell by the setting and the sounds that the seasons on the Brown farm have certainly changed. And that means the marathon of harvest has just begun.</introduction><articleImage>75450</articleImage><articleImageCaption>PinkTractor.com - Harvest & Appreciation</articleImageCaption><pageTitle>PinkTractor.com | Harvest & Appreciation</pageTitle><metaDescription>Harvest is a time to say "Thank You" and also embrace personality changes that occur naturally that helps us get the job done.</metaDescription></umbBlogPost>

Management by Mind Reading

Hi there. Jolene Brown here. One of my all-time favorite comedians is Lily Tomlin and she has a funny quote that I think directly relates to those of us in family business.

Harvest & Appreciation

Hi there. Jolene Brown here. You can tell by the setting and the sounds that the seasons on the Brown farm have certainly changed. And that means the marathon of harvest has just begun.

Restoration Tips from the Pink Tractor Community

It doesn't matter if it's your first restoration project or twentieth, everyone could use a few tips and tricks to help them along the way.

Managing the Millennial Mindset

Everywhere you turn, employers are talking about how to manage their Millennial workers and keep them engaged and loyal to their workplace.

Six Generation Beef to First Generation Goats

Growing up on her family’s beef feedlot and cash crop farm as the sixth generation family member - Click "read more" to hear the rest of Darcy's story.

Featured Articles

Harvest & Appreciation

Hi there. Jolene Brown here. You can tell by the setting and the sounds that the seasons on the Brown farm have certainly changed. And that means the marathon of harvest has just begun.

Management by Mind Reading

Hi there. Jolene Brown here. One of my all-time favorite comedians is Lily Tomlin and she has a funny quote that I think directly relates to those of us in family business.

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