“Hey, guys, it’s time to get up - your father’s already out”; that’s my
Mom’s daily reveille! Living on a dairy farm with six brothers and
sisters, the question isn’t who does what, but rather what needs to be
done.
Family and community are the greatest influences on my
development as a person and leader. Every day on the farm there is an
organized synergy that ebbs and flows with the years and family members’
personalities, but each day is the quintessential definition of
cooperation, respect, teamwork, and leadership. Whether it’s the cows
getting out, the milking machines failing, the grain feeder jamming, all
members work together to get the farm “mooing” again. From my family, I
learn to problem solve, prioritize, and seek help when needed. My
family, much like my community, struggles and celebrates together.
In my town, leaders are quiet individuals, committed to causes and
traditions that date back generations. I grew up observing inclusion,
collaboration, and outreach. Benefit dinners and barn raisings are not
exceptions, but norms. No one is left out, no one goes hungry. The
community steps up to meet residents’ needs.
I discovered that at times people need help and leaders step up.
Whether serving food for the American Legion, visiting nursing homes, or
sponsoring a child, I reach out. Quietly, persistently, diligently I
choose to lead, because those at home and in my community not only show
me how, but also expect it of me.
Next fall, I will be taking my experiences to a new community called
college and yes - I will be searching for the perfect wake up “ring
tone” to replace my mom’s reveille.
Brooke Connor