Directors’ Perspective– Planning, Prioritizing, and Outlook HOW ARE YOU PLANNING TO INSPIRE, GROW AND IMPROVE YOUR PERSONAL LIFE AND BUSINESS IN 2020 AND BEYOND? HAD THIS QUESTION BEEN ASKED OF THESE FOUR DIRECTORS A FEW MONTHS EARLIER, THE ANSWERS MAY HAVE BEEN A LITTLE DIFFERENT. TRUE TO A FARMER MINDSET, THE REALITIES OF 2020 HAVE ADJUSTED THEIR PLANS, BUT THE OUTLOOK REMAINS GROUNDED AND LOOKING AHEAD TO THE FUTURE.
Laura Braun
Growing up, I was blessed to have all four of my grandparents in my life. In fact, I was twenty years old before losing the first of them. Because of this, making sure my grandchildren know me is a priority in my life. This is one of the reasons I choose a healthy lifestyle. Making right food choices, maintaining a healthy weight, getting regular physical exams, and staying active are important steps in making sure I will stay healthy and fit as they grow up. Another priority for me was to make sure my children, all six of them, grew up knowing they could choose any path they wanted for their lives, including working with us on the farm. One of my daughters is a physician. One is a successful land surveyor with licenses in over twenty states. Another is a passionate teacher of seventh grade science. Recently, after going off for several years to work at another farm, our son decided he wanted to come home and join our operation. Just as we were settled into one plan for our farming operation’s future, it was time to change course. We were so happy to hear this news, even though it would require us to make a plan for greater growth. Several factors placed us in the solid financial position necessary to take on this new adventure. These factors include strategic marketing, sustainability practices, and a relatively conservative business philosophy. It has been an extraordinary experience to serve on the GreenStone board and to participate in the decisions that have made the association a strong and nimble financial partner through the changes not only in my operation, but in the grander scheme. As we have seen in recent events, the old Hebrew saying is true: “man plans and God laughs”. But because GreenStone has a strategic plan based on solid priorities, while not always easy, it is more than possible to move through uncertainty and capitalize on new opportunities. View Laura Brauns profile video: www.greenstonefcs.com/LauraBraun
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Summer 2020 — Partners