“There is no greater agony than bearing an untold story inside you,” attributed to Maya Angelou.
Our minds are drawn to themes and patterns in the world around us, often self-constructed and dreamed up from a correlation that does not really exist; but, on occasion, we may stumble upon a theme or pattern that threads itself across a vast network beyond our own understanding. As the theme appears, and appears, and appears, we may begin to peel back layers and recognize it for what it really is.
While in Sacramento, our meetings with political leaders, lobbyists, and perhaps most importantly, Adam Ashton from Cal Matters, a common question often appeared – What can California agriculture do better to encourage bipartisanship and understanding amongst our political leaders? As we embarked on our journey in Minneapolis, we explored difficult conversations such as racial disparity, the school-to-prison pipeline, illegal immigration along the northern border, and a police department trying to rebuild trust within a broken community. While the thread between these topics seems distant, a common theme emerged. There is a story waiting to be told. A story that once revealed, can help foster and push meaningful change in the systems we have created for ourselves.
As we reached the final leg of our journey in Minneapolis, we began our day with a commitment to mindfulness and synthesis, reflecting on the past three days and discussing the thoughts, feelings, emotions, and stories that shaped our experiences. This was more than just a look back—it was a critical step toward evolving into better versions of ourselves and more effective leaders for those around us and the communities we serve. Leaders that have a story to be told. We focused on adopting an unassuming mindset, being reflective rather than prescriptive about who we have been and who we aspire to become. This process was about cultivating the self-awareness needed to guide our future decisions and fostering personal growth. By embracing vulnerability and openness to change, we recognized that effective leadership requires strength, vision, humility, and a willingness to learn and listen to the difficult stories waiting to be heard, ultimately enhancing our capacity to create positive, lasting impact in the lives of others.
As leaders in California agriculture, we must elevate our efforts and take on an active role in shaping the future of our industry. Progress isn’t just about vision; it’s about the willingness to roll up our sleeves and do the hard work. Every individual within our community has a critical role to play, and our success depends on the collective commitment to this shared responsibility. We have become more than Class 54, we have become a Family. A family ready to hear the stories of others and share the stories we have held in for too long.
As we look ahead to D.C., we have to ask ourselves, what other themes are waiting to be revealed to us? What are the stories that lie ahead? How will we use this to tell our story, the story of grit and resilience, the story of California agriculture?
With gratitude,
Hunter, Jarred, Hillary and the members of Class 54
