Patio Pondering: A Peek Behind the Curtain

This morning I enjoyed coffee on the patio with my daughter and son-in-law. They made the trip to northeast Indiana for a bridal shower and to spend time with us before harvest, and more importantly, before the birth of their first child.

As we sipped our coffee, we talked crops. They were getting rain back on their farm in Nebraska, and we discussed what the Pro Farmer Crop Tour might uncover as it started today.

After they left for the Cornhusker State, I thought back to our conversation. The crop tour gives agriculture a glimpse of what the U.S. corn and soybean crop might really be, pulling the curtain back on the Wizard behind the levers of the Great Oz.

I’ve written about this before, usually in the context of leadership, but how often do we face the consequences of someone playing the “I know something you don’t know” game? It could be a manager at work, a busy-body in the office, a person in your personal life, or even decision-makers setting the prices that impact your bottom line.

Every year, the Pro Farmer Crop Tour stirs debate. Some say it’s good for the industry. Others grumble, “It’s just trespassing,” or “They’ll report whatever USDA wants.” Personally, I watch for the trends, what’s different this year compared to the past, and for the field pictures that give the regular guy a peek behind that velvet curtain in Emerald City.

Where have you been on the wrong side of “I know something you don’t know”? And more importantly, how are you working to change that environment where you are?