I am similar to Inge on this; where is that fine line between constant postings across a host of media, and getting off the computer and putting action to soil?
This is a question, not a challenge, but a challenge I am really facing myself.
Yesterday I had the privilege of being at a luncheon with our State Governor and the Commissioner of Agriculture and watched a well deserved farm family get recognition as Maine Farmer of the year. I will be honest, I was a bit jealous as it would be a
boost to my already enlarged
ego to be recognized for my commitment to agriculture, but here is the thing. The people that get these awards are active; not just on the internet, but in joining promotion boards,
local committees, funding lobbying efforts and the like. There is merit to all that, and it shows commitment for sure, but there is only so much time in the day.
There is 24 hours in a day. Period.
I have a wife, a farm, 4 young daughters and am active in church, a international mission, the local soil and
water conservation district, and a local children's camp mission, but I cannot say I am busier then another person, it is just that that is where I choose to allocate my time. Now the percentage's of time on those endeavors is not equal; some I spend more time on then others, but it is no different then say a person who spends 18 hours a day gaming. That is their choice, but it is still 24 hours in the day.
I try not to be judgemental, but where is the fine line between sharing, joining like-minded action groups, and promotional boards, versus just being more active on my own farm accomplishing real-live things?
Yesterday, as we were sitting with some friends who have a successful and very large
dairy farm, just before they announced who the recipient was, the lady turned to me and said, "It is probably you Travis", in jest of course. To which I said, "Oh they do not even know I exist." That is probably only partly true, the Commissioner of Agriculture knows who I am and my farm's long 9th generational history, but since I choose to promote farming through helping others quietly on the internet and a FEW committees, its subdued background stuff and not name-making. But that is me, as many can attest I am on here using private messages to encourage and motivate, not in flattery but in honesty and respect. You get better results when it is personal, and I have found committees change that dynamics.
So its frustrating, an obscure average farm in Maine, trying to be uplifting and encouraging to others, trying to show others through changes on the farm itself, that it takes more then discussion of theory, but making things actually happen. There is no recognition for that sadly.