Growing up as the fifth generation on our family farm near Lansing taught me lessons that have shaped my entire approach to technology and innovation. The farm is where I first learned to solve problems creatively, work with limited resources, and appreciate the importance of reliability in systems.
Roots in the Soil
There’s something uniquely grounding about agricultural work. The seasons don’t wait, and nature operates on its own schedule regardless of your plans or preferences. This has instilled in me a deep respect for working with natural constraints rather than fighting against them.
When I approach technology problems today, I bring this same mindset—understanding the inherent constraints of a system and finding solutions that work with them rather than trying to force approaches that look good on paper but don’t match reality.
Innovation Born from Necessity
On a farm, innovation isn’t some abstract concept discussed in boardrooms—it’s a daily necessity. When equipment breaks down during harvest, you can’t simply call a timeout. You need to find creative solutions quickly with whatever resources you have on hand.
This experience taught me that the best innovations often come from immediate needs and hands-on problem-solving. You learn to value pragmatic solutions that actually work over theoretically perfect but impractical approaches.
The Rhythm of Maintenance
Perhaps the most important lesson I carry from farming into my technology work is the value of maintenance and incremental improvement. Farmers understand that you don’t just plant once and expect harvests forever—you must continually nurture, maintain, and improve your systems.
This translates perfectly to technology. Too often, organizations implement new systems without planning for ongoing maintenance and evolution. Just as a farmer knows that soil needs constant attention to remain productive, I approach technology systems with a focus on sustainable maintenance patterns.
Bringing Rural Insights to Technology
Rural communities have unique perspectives that are often overlooked in technology development. Having a foot in both worlds allows me to bridge this gap, bringing rural insights into technology decisions and ensuring that the solutions we build work for all communities, not just urban centers.
As we continue developing new technologies that shape our future, I believe we need more diverse perspectives at the table—including those from agricultural backgrounds. The problem-solving approach cultivated over generations of farming has much to offer our increasingly complex technological landscape.