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August 2007 Issue
The power of one
by Darrell Anderson
So often in recent weeks, I have overheard folks minimizing their potential impact on our industry.
They make statements such as, “I’m only one small breeder – I can’t make much of a difference,” or “I’m only one small voice – no one really cares what I think.”
Well, I am more convinced today than ever before that there is enormous power in each of us to accomplish great things and to impact those around us.
The loss of one of our great young swine breeders in recent weeks demonstrated this power of one.
Our entire purebred hog family was rocked by the loss of Jason Shipley – son of Randy and Sandy Shipley of Newark, Ohio. This young man obviously had utilized his abilities to make an enormous impact in the industry in a relatively short period of time.
We all should be grateful that Jason was given the chance and given the training to exercise his power of one. In fact, many of us are beneficiaries of that action.
I also believe that Jason was taught one other very important truth – how to love people and use things, instead of using people and loving things. It’s a truth many folks need to embrace.
In my humble opinion, history has proven that God has never given anyone a dream without also including the power to achieve it. It is up to us to claim the power and make the dream a reality, or to simply claim it was only a dream.
The power of one is also clearly documented in early times.
Most of you have heard about Noah, whose story is told in the Bible. God instructed Noah to build an ark, and to bring on board two of each animal on earth, as a great flood was coming.
As you can imagine, his peers questioned his sanity and even ridiculed him.
But, by building the Ark in the face of much ridicule, he saved many people and animals from total elimination by the great flood.
He is one of our best examples of how one individual believed in what he was doing, regardless of public opinion.
I can’t discuss this subject without mentioning the impact that one Duroc breeder had on the formation of the NSR.
As some of you remember, there were many long days of discussion held in 1993 and 1994 regarding the possible formation of the NSR. At the critical final meeting, the Yorkshire and Hampshire boards of directors passed the final resolution to create the NSR. However, the United Duroc Swine Registry (UDSR) board ended in a tie vote.
It was Guy Jackson of Warren, Ind., then-president of UDSR, who was forced to exercise his power-of-one vote to decide if we would embark down the trail of uniting our breed associations as the NSR.
I think most of you would agree today that Guy’s vote was critical. It created a positive plan of action, paving the way for many new services and capabilities for our association members.
In the next few weeks, each of the four breed’s nominating committees will search for viable candidates to run for breed board elections this fall. If you are interested in helping give direction to the NSR’s activities, contact your breed president, and let him know about your desire to exercise your power of one.
From a somewhat different perspective, the power of one can also apply to your farm’s breeding program.
It could be that your fellow breeders are skeptical about that one special herdsire that might produce the set of daughters that you need to catapult your breeding program to the next generation.
Or maybe you need to identify that one special foundation female to start building your herd around.
There continue to be great opportunities for breeders in each of our breeds to develop programs that can impact not only their bottom line, but also the breed as a whole.
Should you expect some challenges along the way? You bet. In fact, I guarantee you’ll encounter some.
But remember, the rock that is an obstacle in the path of one person becomes a stepping stone in the path of another. Use those stepping stones, and prove to everyone that you have a purpose and you intend to make a difference.
You will quickly discover that one life can make a difference.
Never be afraid to try something new.
Amateurs built the Ark. Professionals built the Titanic!
