by Ty Higgins
For many people involved in agriculture, the motivation to get the work done, whether it’s work, books, or a job in the city to satisfy the farming addiction, is inherent. What can be hidden through that day-to-day work is the personal effort it takes to actually live, lead, and show up every day.
AgriMinds Summit, coming up on March 24th and 25thth In Marysville, it is the first and only agriculture program that focuses solely on the individual and not the operation.
“Just look at who is running all these businesses and who is taking the responsibility and accountability for making decisions and making sure their teams are performing well,” said Casey Bohle, CEO and founder of AgriMinds. “I really wanted to create a space where we could look at the person who is doing all this work and support them to give them the energy to move forward.”
During this time of year you don’t have to look very far to find an organization offering some type of professional development. For Bohle, it all starts with personal development, which can look very different depending on the individual and their goals.
“Personal development just looks at what a person needs, not necessarily as a professional and what your job involves, but who are you? What are you carrying? What are your responsibilities and how are you managing them mentally?” Bohle said.
The idea for AgriMinds came from a mentor in Bohle who said that the person you are best placed to serve is your past.
“So, when I was looking at all the different areas I wanted that were available to me, both in my personal and my professional life, this was it. I needed something that didn’t teach me about the markets, that didn’t tell me how to sell more or how to better lead teams in a professional capacity,” Bohle said. “I also need to figure out how I can manage being a parent and my mental load. How do I make sure my personal relationships aren’t draining me? They’re also getting the best of me.”
Bohle admits that she didn’t feel like she could talk about that aspect of her life with her peers at work and that talking to her spouse or family about it wasn’t an option because everyone was emotionally or financially invested in those conversations.
“I didn’t feel like there was a safe place to be like, hey, I’m struggling at home, or hey, I’m struggling at the office without raising red flags,” Bohle said. “I wanted a place where I could say, hey, I’m under a lot of stress, but I also want to be a better leader because I know what I’m showing is having an impact on the people around me. I wanted to be able to look at the human aspect, not just what is my job title and what are my job responsibilities, but who am I as a human being and how am I performing in all areas of life?”
What started as a personal need has turned into a program that aims to give attendees greater clarity about what matters most in their work and life, tools to set boundaries, protect their time, and prioritize well-being and connections that remind them you’re not alone in this.
As registration began for the AgriMinds Summit, Bohle noted how diverse the audience would be.
“We have people coming from all over the country and the types of people participating are really interesting,” Bohle said. “It’s a healthy mix of both male and female and I believe the youngest person is 15 and I’d say the oldest person is probably in their mid 60s.”
Attendees can expect conversations about fatigue, stress, time management, competency and confidence, as well as a framework for decision making and problem solving.
According to Bohle, many participants recognize the need to stop for a second and check in with themselves and to reset and recharge.
“They just need a second to stop and clear out the clutter and just check in with themselves and figure out what the right next step is,” Bohle said. “Sometimes it’s in their personal life, sometimes it’s in their professional life and sometimes it’s both. It’s really the commonality among all the people who come in that they’re looking for a place to slow down for a second, breathe and then be confident about what their next step is.”
To learn more about AgriMinds Summit and register, visit here kaceebohle.com/summit.
