2020 was the strictest parent I ever had, it felt like a test I didn’t study for, and it was the year where a holiday for me was spending time in the guest room.

While 2020 left us with any one of a number of ‘feelz’ (not to mention public health, social, and economic challenges), it did provide us with unique opportunities to connect and re-connect with colleagues and friends to talk about things that matter for agriculture. Here’s some reflections on past connections that I’ve made and ones that I continue to cultivate; now “virtually”.

The most important story is your story. Share it.

The one where I talk about love and corporate ag with Rob Sharkey on SharkFarmer Podcast. Life is a path… You may not have a choice where you begin but you always have a choice how you continue.

The one where Kevin Folta and I chat about communicating ag in the attention economy on the Talking Biotech podcast. We are all biased. We need to fight our primal urges to “win” today’s conversation or gather attention with today’s post based on personal bias and, instead, demonstrate trustworthy behavior through productive engagement.

The one where registered dietitian Amber Pankonin, of Healthy Under Pressure, and I chat about how can preserve our sanity while working from home. Spoiler alert: Work-life balance is best viewed as an ongoing process and not a goal. Some days are diamonds, some days are stones. Go easy on yourself.

The one where I let my skeletons dance … I share the good, bad, and the ugly of my unexpected path through agriculture at the Advancing Women in Ag conference in 2018. Spoiler alert: It didn’t always go well.

“Study the science of art. Study the art of science. Develop your senses – especially learn how to see. Realize that everything connects to everything else.”

~ Leonardo da Vinci ~