BRANDON, Man. – Looking to diversify? Start talking.
Brian Olsen believes farmers need strong social relationships with their families and neighbors to have the self-esteem it takes to make major changes.
“Sometimes we get so caught up having to make this payment or that payment … that we forget what life’s all about,” said Olsen, a farmer from Cardston, Alta., who has helped with many community development projects.
“We forget that we need to be buoyed up.”
Olsen spoke to a recent conference here about the mind-set needed for change.
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Coffee row isn’t always the best place to get encouragement, Olsen said. For one thing, wives don’t usually hang out there.
He suggested support groups of four or five farm families meeting once a month to talk about “interesting and fun stuff” might be more constructive. Olsen tested this idea at Lethbridge Community College and found the families became close friends and got together more often.
“If we can develop our little social thing, we can buoy each other up and feel better.”
Olsen said low self-esteem can be a problem for farmers who find themselves behind the times. It’s easy to keep doing things the same way, he said, because “sameness means security.”
He compared apathy to circus elephants. Old elephants need only a soft rope and a stake anchored loosely in the ground to keep them from running away because they’re conditioned to believe in their shackles.
Olsen challenged farmers to challenge themselves: “Plow the fields of your mind and seed a new crop.”
When looking for change, Olsen told farmers to remember:
- Focus on things within your control. “To be successful, you’ve got to realize if you can’t control it, you can’t do anything about it.”
- Keep your values and families at the root of decisions.
- Slow down, look at the opportunities around you, get a vision, and then take action. “Don’t accept your future, create it.”
- Use technology as a tool. “Quit fighting it. You might as well learn it.”
- Stay positive, and don’t give up. “It’s normal to feel discouraged, but it’s a sin to stay discouraged.”
