𝐏𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨 𝐏𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐧𝐠: 𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐈𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐞 𝐚𝐬 𝐀𝐠𝐫𝐞𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭

I recently watched a video where a farmer explained how their family used a grant program to upgrade older tractors to newer, lower-emission models. The backlash came fast. Some folks criticized the use of taxpayer funds, others claimed they had fallen for the “climate hoax,” and some just didn’t like seeing older equipment replaced at all.

In their response, the farmer said something that stuck with me: “It’s just unfortunate that people can’t be happy for other farmers. Instead of putting them down, we should encourage them to keep going.”

I don’t have strong feelings about the tractors or the grant. But that comment got me thinking.

Somewhere along the way, “supporting farmers” has become a blanket expectation that we must cheer on every decision, every practice, every program, simply because it’s made by a fellow farmer. But that’s not how it works in practice.

Now, I’m not talking about inhumane, unethical, or illegal behavior. I’m talking about solid disagreements on production choices—feed philosophy, housing systems, technology use, tillage system, or marketing strategies.

I’ve spent most of my career in swine nutrition, often selling against strong competitors. And let me tell you, I’ve respected many of them—their hustle, their customer relationships, their ability to close a sale. But that didn’t mean I agreed with their nutrition philosophy or product design. In fact, I often disagreed completely. That’s part of what drove me to offer something better.

Respect doesn’t mean endorsement. And maturity, at least for me, has meant getting comfortable with that distinction.

We can tip our hats to someone’s effort or their right to make their own decision without feeling obligated to applaud the decision itself.