I helped my grandpa put up hay every summer when I was young. My role changed over the years, from fetching cold beverages for the crew to actually throwing bales or loading them onto the conveyor when I was strong enough. It was hard work and I remember it always being so hot. But when the hay was ready, everyone pitched in to do the work because we couldn’t risk a summer rainstorm getting the bales wet before we got them in the barn.

The proverb, “Make hay while the sun shines,” likely originated in medieval England when farmers needed many days to cut, dry and gather their hay. They didn’t have modern equipment or weather forecasting tools to help them, so they took advantage of windows of opportunity presented by hot, dry, sunny weather to accomplish their work.

In just over a week, smack in the middle of dropping off my two oldest daughters for their freshman year of college, I will travel to Reno for the American Meat Science Association’s Reciprocal Meat Conference (RMC). Why in the world did I commit to professional travel during such a crazy time?Because it’s time to make hay.

My passion for developing talent in our industry, especially women, is no secret. I’ve written about it a fair amount in this blog. Much of that passion is driven by my affinity for the industry and by the experiences I have had along the way. But some of it stems from my desire to make the industry I love somewhere that my daughters might want to work in the future.

I have had the honor and privilege of collaborating with some of the most talented, experienced female leaders in the U.S. meat and poultry industry over the past several months to bring to life the Women’s Meat Industry Network (WMIN). WMIN has a bold goal of attracting and retaining the best talent for our industries by focusing on mentoring, networking and professional development to help women thrive.

Why now? The business case for inclusion and diversity in the workplace remains robust. (This recent report from McKinsey provides a great research-based perspective.) But also, people are re-evaluating their careers post-COVID. If you haven’t heard about “The Great Resignation” you should read up: It is real and will likely have a dramatic impact on industries up and down the food supply chain. Wouldn’t it be wonderful if instead of having a talent exodus, we could attract more talent to our industries?

WMIN will be officially launched at the RMC during a panel discussion sponsored by Kemin titled “Ten Things I Learned the Hard Way That You Won’t Have To.” Let me be clear: This session is not just for women. Everyone can benefit from topics like “Burnout and Resilience Coexist” and “Put the Oxygen Mask on Yourself First.” We will also tackle the importance of understanding “small p” politics and how the “lattice” to success looks different for everyone.

I also hope that you will consider joining WMIN, either as an individual or an organization. If you would like to learn more, please contact me and I will get you all the information you need to make an informed choice.

I hope to see many of you in Reno. If you are thinking about traveling and gathering with colleagues, take advantage of this window of opportunity while it’s still open. Let’s make some hay.

Making hay while the sun shines

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