I’ve been lucky to attend countless agricultural conferences and meetings as an editor. An agenda full of intriguing sessions is key to gathering magazine content, but interactions during the less structured parts of the day are when the most enriching conversations often take place.
Mealtimes are a prime time for dialogue. After visiting the buffet line, your next move includes a scan of the banquet hall with your lunch plate in hand, searching for a seat. This decision can set the stage for the next 60 minutes and mean the difference between polite chitchat or an invigorating conversation. Both can be nice, but the latter makes the hour pass much more quickly.
I hit the jackpot when I sat down at a table with a few wonderful people at a conference last fall. One of the women worked in the aquaculture industry in Asheville, N.C. Soon we were deep in conversation about the devastation experienced in that area after Hurricane Helene. Houses were literally washed away, along with roads. Small business owners were forced to shutter their stores with no opening in sight. Schools were closed and left parents scrambling for childcare so they could still work. Hurricane Helene battered the area in late September, and at the time of this conference in mid-November, the city was still under a water boiling advisory. Residents could not drink, cook, or even bathe with the water in their homes.
We were just enthralled by her every word. The destruction. The misinformation being shared in the media. The heartwarming way people came together. Hurricane coverage was on the news, of course, but this firsthand account was unforgettable. It was not a conversation directly tied to agriculture, but I am very glad I chose that seat on that day.
A few months later, I was at a workshop with the intent of gathering information for an article. The workshop was interactive and informative, but it did not provide the content I hoped for. However, my table mates more than made up for that. As members of a farm team, I enjoyed their viewpoints throughout the day, and afterward, we had a good conversation about their farm, their custom manure application business, and their goal of making their business the best it could be. I left this meeting thankful for the opportunities I’ve had to meet interesting and inspiring farmers.
Most “seats” we choose in life are a longer term commitment than the lunch hour. This includes the place we work and the people we work with, the organizations we join, and the leadership positions we embrace. These decisions influence our personal happiness and fulfillment, but they also impact the difference we can make in the world around us. No one can be everything or do everything at once. We must choose our lane carefully and find the best places to invest ourselves during each stage of life.
In terms of environmental impact, farming is often placed in the hot seat. But from our front-row seat of agriculture, we see the many ways farmers and food processors are already working to protect the environment. In this issue alone, several articles feature sustainable farming practices, from cover crops to anaerobic digestion. A farm can’t implement every single recommendation thrown its way, but each owner can choose the ideas that fit best. I’d advise putting more thought into this than one would when selecting their lunch seat, but sometimes it’s difficult to know how a practice is going to work — or not work — on your farm until you try it.
As for those more temporary day-to-day decisions, like picking a seat in the lunchroom, on a plane, or in the doctor’s office waiting room, you can certainly keep to yourself. Sometimes, though, a simple hello can launch into an engaging conversation that warms your heart, makes you laugh, or motivates you to try something new. That’s when you know you picked the best seat in the house that day.
Until next time,
Abby
This article appeared in the May 2025 issue of Journal of Nutrient Management on page 4.
Not a subscriber? Click to get the print magazine.
