“Reading and Greeting”

“Tomorrow will be another day” said the farmer as he reflected on a very wet seeding season. I admired his tenacity, hope and sense of optimism as we closed off our conversation. “Our lives are shaped by the people we meet and the books we read” someone once said.

What are you reading this summer, and whom do you plan to greet with your friendship?

I’ve got a few ideas for you. Authors trade books with authors, so this column is a fulfillment of promises made to share good books with people who want to be life-long learners who make positive choices to move ahead, even in cool, wet climates!

School has just wrapped up for summer, but you may have some simmering notions about what you will do differently next year to encourage better relationships between students and their teachers. Nellie Jacobs, a former teacher and mother of four has written “Grading the Teacher” to give practical tools for evaluation of the teacher, and ways to have great feedback. Her book is available at www.gradingtheteacher.com

“How can we recognize good teaching and positive classroom experiences? What should we be looking for and what questions should we ask of our children, their teachers and administrators? What are our responsibilities to our children’s education, and what must children do or learn to do to ensure that their experiences are good? And, most importantly, what can we as parents do if we suspect there is a problem with the teaching that our child is receiving?”

Teachers may want to review this book as a part of their professional growth. I’d like to give all teachers a high grade for their dedication and commitment to helping students grow and learn. Give teachers your support this summer when you greet them in your community.

“How can we have fun and not spend much money ?”

Prairie Pathfinders Inc. is a non-profit organization founded by four women who have walking and hiking in Manitoba as their main goal. Walking down my lane gets boring, but now I have two great books “Manitoba Walks” and “Manitoba Picnic Perfect” from www.prairiepathfinders.mb.ca

From easy family hikes to challenging treks on rugged terrain, “Manitoba Walks” is your detailed guide to exploring the history and natural beauty of Manitoba. It features fifty of the best day hikes; full-colour illustrations and fully-detailed maps.

But you live in Saskatchewan! Great, celebrate the centennial by seeing some new sights with Robin and Arlene Karpan’s guide books that are available at www.parklandpublishing.com. “In 2001, during the drought years, there seemed to be a lot of doom and gloom” said Robin Karpan, so they were inspired to create something light called “Western Canadian Farm Trivia Challenge” which is a fun collection of farm stuff for entertainment on long car trips, or your next meeting. By the way, the wettest year on the Canadian prairies in the last 56 years was 1951. It was also the coolest year that same year.

Many farm parents use the summer months to encourage their children to find meaningful work. Choices that we make to design our lives need to be intentional and well-thought out. “Meaningful Work…the Entrepreneurial way” by Judee Regan (www.worldofwork.com) is a very helpful guide to career and personal life management. Judee’s website has some pretty cool ways to help assess whether you are stuck with your work choices, and how to move forward. Through her Circle of Choice process , Judee helps people become aware of their current reality, their dreams of where they want to be, and the choices to have movement and action, not just wishful thinking.

I’ve met many farm parents this past year who are looking for tools to help their families make meaningful life decisions. I highly recommend “Meaningful Work” as a good start to “approaching how you want to live your life”.

Grainews’ theme this month is “pre-harvest planning”. You’ll spend hours getting the swather and combine ready to insure the machines hum along for harvest. How much time can you intentionally carve out this month to absorb new ideas and fine tune your life and friendships? Enjoy reading to help you see “tomorrow as another day” in a positive way. Greet your friends, and spend time with them this month having fun and fellowship before the stress of harvest hits. See you reading at the beach!
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Elaine Froese’s new book “Planting the Seed of Hope” is a collection of her last 10 years of Grainews columns. Elaine is a certified farm family coach and professional speaker who farms near Boissevain , Manitoba.

“Mom, Help me Find a Job!

“It isn’t what you did for me; it’s that you believe in me.”

Moms believe their children can accomplish anything, it’s part of the mommy code of life. We’re about to celebrate and honour mothers…in less than two weeks.

It’s also the time of year when students are trying to find summer employment, and high school seniors are desperately ducking the question of “What are you doing in September?”

Moms may be even looking for more income opportunities as the cash flow crunch hits harder on many frost-bitten farms this year.

Finding a job, landing a workplace opportunity, is about “choice not chance.” That was the 2005 theme for the National 4-H Careers Conference held last month in Winnipeg.

Grab a pencil, and write down some of these tips for career development:

• Buy a copy of What Colour is Your Parachute? 2005 Edition by Richard Bolles. This is the classic tool for helping you chart your path, and understand the basics of aligning the way you are wired to the work that will suit you! Many people have benefited from Bolles’ common sense approach to testing things out.
• Check out www.youthpath.ca. This is the website that the 4-Her’s learned more about. It’s a government site with lots of helpful information including financing and budgeting.
• Don’t give in to what Cheryl Richardson calls “Future Shock”. Knowing where you will be in September may be overwhelming. Work at your plan in small steps, and keep collecting information and talking to people. Moms suffer future shock when they fret about their children’s futures. If you are a believer in Jesus Christ, you will know the blessings of casting all your cares on Him!
• Make yourself business cards. Networking is the key to mining your contacts for new opportunities. Many jobs are filled by word of mouth, and being at the right place at the right time. This is what is known as the hidden market. Build up your optimism and resilience by making lots of connections, and remember to say thank-you to people for sharing their time and expertise with you!
• Ask clearly for what you need. If you need a certain wage, don’t beat around the bush about it. Remember also, the non-taxable benefits that you might have working for a farmer. You might get fuel for your vehicle, meals, a place to board your horse, beef for the freezer, and many other benefits. Dick Wittman has produced a great compensation worksheet for farm labour. Email Wittman at dwittman@lewiston.com and ask about his guidebook Building Effective Farm Management Systems. “If you don’t ask for what you want, you’ll simply have to take what you get,”says author Beverly Kaye (Love it don’t leave it…26 ways to get what you want at work.)
• Know what your definition of success is. Money doesn’t buy happiness, although someone also said “let me be the first to test that theory out!” You might view your summer job or work as a stepping stone for experience and experimentation. Seventy percent of adult learning happens by doing.
• Activate your thinking to possibility thinking. Give yourself an “A” and read the Art of Possibility by Benjamin Zander and Rozamund Stone Zander. You have a choice to control what you can control and apply for scholarships, leadership training, and volunteer in your community.
• Focus on what is truly important…finding meaningful work. Get rid of time-wasters that are distracting you from the most important task. Saskatchewan farmer Murray Friend said “Hard times make people re-think what they’re doing and find a better way.” Find some time and space to do some reflective thinking about your needs and desires.
• Bust away all the excuses. If you are feeling overwhelmed, start organizing with a binder, a pencil and small steps. Create a story board for your life, and map out your thoughts on paper.
• Confined to the country ? Copy success. Read about what other rural entrepreneurs are doing. Borrow books from inter-library loan. Attend a tele-conference or webinar on the internet. Contact www.farmcentre.com for webinar listings about farm management.
• Get smart with your finances. Are you frugal? Do you know what your money style is? Read Your Money or Your Life by Joe Dominguez and Vicki Robin. Assess your real living costs, do some financial updating.

Moms tend to be the CEO’s of their family, the chief emotional officer. Everyone breaths a sigh of relief when that first great job offer becomes a reality. We all need to work at seeing job changes as an opportunity and not a threat. So join the 4-Her’s and learn to do by doing. Get to work on finding gainful employment that suits the way you are wired.

And remember to thank your Mom for always believing that you could do it !

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Elaine Froese speaks to farm audiences about human resource issues.

Have you got a hope ?

“Happy Easter, Happy Spring…Happy Everything” read the brightly coloured card, complete with coloured eggs nesting in fresh straw. We celebrate Easter early this year, and some old timers say that spring will be early.

I’ve listened to pain filled personal stories of several farm folks this winter. It seems the common theme would be “I need to find some hope for the future.”

Why do very few people participate in the Good Friday service, a gathering which focuses on the ultimate sacrifice that the Son of God made on our behalf ? The death and resurrection of Jesus Christ is a historical fact, and a living hope for Christians. The faith -filled believers who gather on Easter Sunday to celebrate Christ rising from the dead have got a hope. They have the hope of eternal life after their death, and the hope now of a vital, growing relationship with a loving God, His Son, and the comfort of the Holy Spirit.

Have you got a hope ?

Perhaps it is time you asked God for a sign of His love and care for you.

I was walking along the beach after a huge rain storm had whipped up gigantic waves. My son found balls of all sorts: ping pong, soccer, baseball, tennis, and even a deflated basketball. I found something white and fuzzy, with sand drenched fur. It was a stuffed toy sheep, and it brought tears to my eyes.

Just the day before I had shared my faith story, noting how Jesus as the Good Shepherd, was really special in leading me to understand that I could have a personal relationship with Him. (John 10, NIV). The odds of finding a sheep on the beach are pretty low, and the physical gift of a sheep in the sand was a sign to me that Jesus is real, and He cares about me.

Look for hope in God’s word. Read your Bible. Experience the warmth of other caring people as you share your heart and refresh your spirit at a worship service. Pray, and listen to the thoughts that prompt you to love with hope.

I had originally called this column “Easter…who cares?” There is a lot of hoopla around the Christmas season, but Easter seems to just slip by.

Make this year different.

Focus on where you are at in your spiritual journey. Practice saying thanks to God and to your family and friends for what they mean to you. Do a computer “google” search on the word “hope”. Pick up a copy of the new paraphrase of the Bible called “The Message” and enjoy the living word in a new way.

We are not without hope. We can choose to ignore the hope that Jesus gives us or we can embrace His loving forgiveness, peace and joy.

I will continue to plant the seeds of hope along life’s journey. I have nothing to lose, because I have gained everything by my faith in the eternal hope of heaven, ” a faith and knowledge resting on the hope of eternal life, which God, who does not lie, promised before the beginning of time.” (Titus 1:2, NIV).

“Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, and into an inheritance that can never perish, spoil or fade—kept in heaven for you.” (1 Peter 1:3-4, NIV).

Happy Easter, Happy Spring…Jesus is my everything!

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Elaine Froese is an encourager and professional coach who is about to launch her book “Planting the Seed of Hope…a celebration of prairie life.” It’s a collection of her past 10 years of Grainews columns.

“Harvest an Opportunity”

Learn a new skill…CASS…Canadian Agricultural Skills Program

Usually this is the time of year that I anticipate the things we need to get ready to make harvest a good experience. What do you write when there is no harvest? Well, this year may be your time to upgrade your skills and learn some things to help you manage your farm, and earn more income.

“Harvesting more cash via CASS” is my take on the new program, the Canadian Agricultural Skills Service (CASS). I’ve heard the official presentations, and basically, if you farm, don’t collect Employment Insurance, and your net family income is less than $45,000 (three-year average) you qualify to apply.

Excuse busters:

• Elaine, I hated going to school. Okay. So the classroom thing doesn’t appeal to you, but make the application anyway. Some of the learning is non-traditional and gives you the opportunity to challenge technical courses. For example, you may be a great welder, with no papers, you can take a short hands-on 100 hour course and get your certificate. The delivery of the training may be full-time, part-time, formal , informal, distance ed., or web-based.
• I’m too old. In two years you will be two years older regardless of what happens. People of all ages can be life-long learners. Look at all the resiliency you’ve learned coping with drought, frost, and now too much moisture, not to mention BSE. Farm families that pull together to create opportunity for more income have to be flexible and trainable. You are never too old to learn, and you just might surprise yourself!
• I don’t know what I’m good at. The great feature of the CASS program is the prior learning assessment which is a big name for finding out the skills you already have, marketable skills. They will give you a practical concrete idea of what you are suited for, and you will also have a customized, individual learning plan (ILP…the government loves acronyms!).
• I don’t want to move away. The CASS program is designed to be flexible and includes distance learning, and some travel which is covered by the program. You may have to leave Uncle Charlie in charge of the cows for a few days, but it will be manageable. You can still continue to operate your farm business.
• I don’t have enough money. Precisely, this is why the program is so timely for struggling farmers. The funding support of CASS is tiered at $8000, $12,000 or $16,000 maximum for training/education benefits. There are different support levels based on 3 year average family income levels.
• I’m a former PMU producer, so my income is skewed. The program has the ability to look at each situation on a case by case basis. If your income was high due to a payout, and now things are tough, ask about the possibilities!
• I’m just a beginning farmer. Perfect. If you own some farm assets, and have been out of school for at least two years, apply! One young man I know was thrilled to hear about the CASS program as he plans to upgrade with Agri-business at Assiniboine Community College, and he hopes he will qualify.
• Change is hard. Life is tough when financial resources are strained. This learning opportunity may seem like a huge stretch. Hook into the upward spiral way of thinking, and dream of the potential to get the skills you need to make more money on, or off the farm. Counsellors are with you in this program to focus on individual needs and follow-up participation. Their goal is a reasonable, achievable learning plan.
• Someone has to feed the cows! Yes, so CASS provides funding for replacement labour to pay Uncle Charlie to feed the cows for you. Travel, meal allowances, and accommodation away from home, and dependent care needs are also covered.
• Computers aren’t my thing. CASS has some financial support for computer technical support and internet connection. Get over your phobia of computers with people who are cheering for you, and want you to be financially secure with new skills. CASS doesn’t cover the cost of buying a new computer for your courses or any other purchase of capital assets.
• I just want to farm. Great. CASS endorses on-farm business training such as farm business management., accounting, crop production skills, livestock production skills, and food safety skills. They do not provide start up capital for alternative business development.
• I never finished high school. You can get your General Educational Development (GED) academic upgrading. GED training is necessary to qualify for skill training.
• I can’t read. Your learning plan may include literacy/numeracy skill training and employability skills training. Paul Overstreet has a wonderful song of hope called “Billy Can’t Read” where Billy overcomes his handicap, and has a new life!

Enough excuses! I want you to call 1-866-668-2277 in Manitoba or 1-866-452-5558 for Alberta and Saskatchewan to harvest the opportunity of making more money with new skills on your farm. Visit www.agr.gc.ca/renewal and hit the Canadian Agricuture Skill Service Link. Many families have a lousy crop or no crop to harvest this fall. This may be your season to take care of yourself and grow!

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Elaine Froese drives the combine near Boissevain Manitoba. She is a life-long learner who coaches families in business to be intentional about change! Elaine also mediates and speaks at conferences.

“Hidden in Plain Sight”

A wedding on New Year’s eve at Redvers, Saskatchewan led us to Sylvestre’s B&B, home of Andre and Lorna Sylvestre. Andre’s boyhood farm home is now his refuge to fix up Massey tractors, and entertain houseguests. He also helps another farmer with harvest. Lorna enjoys grinding flour for her homemade bread, picking berries for jelly, and meeting folks who find the “bald prairie” very invigorating!

So what’s hidden in plain sight at your farm? Anne Anderson, a Texan rancher and speaker shared her insights:

• dog-training and quail hunting
• country clay shoots at $100 per person!
• photo clinics on wildlife and wildscapes. Find at least five different bird species they can photograph!
• bow-hunting competition and campouts.
• outfitter partnerships to provide accommodation
• Jeep Jambouree /Chevy Suburban riding down dry creek beds.
• “In the Country Weekend Workouts”
• Mini-camps where you learn to shoot skeet, tie fishing flies, do hunter safety or host a nature camp for science teachers. A writer’s getaway…do you offer peace and quiet?
• Special species birding, observing nesting areas, migratory birds, eagles , bluebirds.
• Mountain bike trails for young professionals or family groups.

Anderson is a marketing specialist and she encourages farm folks to identify a target audience and communicate with them. The return on investment (ROI) is what the customer will pay. People in Texas would pay $110US /day to ride bike trails. Birders have huge upscale income, and baby boomers want activities that take them back to their roots.

Folks who reside in the hot and humid US might enjoy the dry air and big skies of Redvers Saskatchewan! Young professionals are seeking adventure, exercise ,and fresh air fun. Families are looking for special things that they can do together.

Steps:

1. Look at your assets with rose coloured glasses. When I visit a farm, I encourage folks to appreciate the unique architecture, landscape, and wonderful sky canopies. Your rural lifestyle is unique! Many things we take for granted, city folks are willing to pay for!
2. Remember the most receptive audiences while you look at your property.
3. Take a friend along, someone from local chamber of commerce or economic development group.
4. Research the internet to define target audiences and how they communicate through advertising. Check out retirement community newsletters, targeted publication features, travel and camera clubs, writer’s groups, outfitter associations, bike and auto clubs.
5. Find a friend or partner from your target audience without compromising your criteria for a partnership alliance.
6. Do the numbers. A rough financial performance plan with costs, what people will pay, and “make ready costs” for trail cutting, port-a-potty, and picnic areas. Make a business plan.
7. Find a mentor and guests to try out your idea.
8. DECIDE. Do you have the time , sufficient ROI and customer access?.

“Failure is due to unrealistic expectations and over zealous delivery of the opportunity, “says Anderson. She stresses the need to bridge the gap with sufficient market development and market access. You need to have a contingency plan for weather, and help people feel good about travel to your location.

Diversifying your family farm business may have minimal costs, if you can see what is hidden in plain sight on your farm. For practical helps, and great networking, plan to attend the Direct Farm Marketing Conference in Brandon, Manitoba February 25-26. Call Susan Nicoll at 204-376-3306 or http://www.gov.mb.ca/agriculture/news/direct.html.

I’ve attended several Direct Farm Marketing conferences, and always come away with new ways of looking at our business. With the farm income crunch, and the need to create fun on the farm, perhaps the best investment you can make on the farm is learning for you! Call me when you find a real pair of rose-coloured glasses!

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Elaine Froese farms very close to the Whitewater Bird Refuge area. Boissevain now has an annual bird festival to celebrate this wonderful natural resource.