What I Learned From My Visit To Peaceful Farm

Upon arriving, I sat in my rental truck for a few moments to gather my notebook and put a few items back in place. This was my first work trip as part of my new role as product manager at Farmers Friend. I was a little nervous, but not too much. This was a high profile farm and I had read both of the author’s books. The principles he had shared were ones that had impacted my thinking over the past seven or so years. I played it cool though, and tried not to manifest my enthusiasm for this opportunity to visit. 

It was about eight in the morning if I recall correctly. I walked up to hear the sound of a weedwhacker going. Once he noticed I had arrived, he set his work aside and greeted me. He was the only one present. Over the course of my visit, I never felt rushed and he expressed mutual interest in my questions. He shared many things he felt could be improved, some new ideas he was thinking about, and generally how he ran the farm. 

About midway through our meeting, a young college worker arrived. He took a moment with that person to get them started on their task. Then returned and we continued our conversation. I spent about four hours with him in total. Here are my takeaways after visiting. 

Takeaway #1: Lean principles bring peace to farms

Lean farming is a system that continually improves value, removes waste, and shows respect for all living things. When a farmer focuses on these three principles, peace will take the place of chaos. In my time with Ben, he shared that he was obsessed with how to make things easier. In short, lean is about fixing what bugs you.

Takeaway #2: Lean is also about being curious

People who are curious ask a lot of questions. They are interested in trying new ways that will be better. They like learning about new ideas, people, and cultures. This is one of the ways they show respect for all living things. Ben was curious. He would ask me questions. Would you like to try this tool? What do you think about this tool? Would you like a cup of coffee? What is an example of something that you have done to implement lean at home?

Takeaway #3: Making change requires intentional focus

Ben’s farm was not always orderly, as he tells the story. It required a lot of effort–mental and emotional. He is a tool guy and he likes tractors. Therefore, Ben has to guard against his desire for the new thing and limit how much he tests. He has a rule that he tries to sort out one thing every day. He is very intentional about making changes on his farm, focusing on doing things that add value and removing things that create waste. 

Ben’s farm is the most orderly and peaceful farm I have visited yet. You may be thinking, “I’m doing pretty good! My farm is peaceful.” Or, you might be thinking, “I sure would like a little more peace on my farm!” In either case, why not be a little curious and pick up Ben’s book, “The Lean Farm: How to minimize waste, increase efficiency, and maximize value and profits with less work,” at www.farmersfriend.com.