Run for fun? Nah, I never will. However, if it is running a business, then that is always a challenge and often extremely fun. Put me down for that every time.
Even though I have no interest in physically chasing time in pursuit of a sub 10-second 100 meters, I find the Olympics to be fascinating because so many people do get that thrill.
More than 10,000 of the best athletes from around the globe unite every four years to compete in 32 different events in the summer games. It’s a true depiction of triumph and struggle. Five iconic colored rings represent five different inhabited continents uniting the world in one place, all in pursuit of a spot on the podium.
Does that sound familiar? If you have never considered yourself an Olympian, or never thought you have similar qualities in how they can be defined, then you should think about it. Today, you wear red, white and blue. The fact is, every day in the barn, shop or cab, you have a local, regional, domestic and global impact on millions of people.
Production agriculture and its industry drives economy and commerce and clothes and feeds the world. You feel stress mentally and physically, yet you continue to compete. You commit every day and every season because you are driven to do more than yesterday, uphold the traditions before you and have a desire to leave a legacy better than how you found it.
Our podium is our honor for production agriculture, our pride and our sense of unity within our communities. The medals we earn are from the contributions we make to improve our world. Farmers and ranchers are my Olympians.
We have our own version of the Olympics. We call it “pushing yield” or “rate of daily gain.” As we strive for the healthiest soil and the best genetics, we also know that the individual decisions we make within our cropping system or cattle program have a lasting impact and affect performance years down the road.
Our operations will always involve reinvestment and progress with sights on a plentiful harvest. We have a mindset much like an Olympic athlete who trains his or her entire life for a single race. We have a passion fueled by the dream of being crowned the best in the world at what we do.
Today, we are champions. We join the 592 United States athletes in spirit and in the Olympic motto, “Citius, Altius, Fortius – Communiter.” In English that means “Faster, Higher, Stronger – Together.” We have a belief that we will win. There will be no trip to France or opening ceremony, but we will compete perpetually in our back yard, honoring our everyday duty. It is our Olympic flame.
Zac Stuckey can be reached at [email protected].
