Episode 45: Developing & Living a Maestro-level Vision

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Developing & Living a Maestro-level Vision
Episode #45 of the Third Turn Podcast with Tim & Sid Burkey

Tim and Sid Burkey carry on a long family tradition--over about 130 years, across six to seven generations--of seeing agricultural opportunity and humbly developing it. And the agricultural experience and approach to business they share here will provide refreshing reference points for us all--whatever the context in which we lead.

Having grown up on a farm myself, the business of farming has always been a meaningful, grounding reference point, whether in my work with large corporations or small-to-mid-sized businesses. In farming, you see business dynamics and key stakeholders up close and personal. It just informs and enriches (and maybe even changes) your values and operating principles when the founders are your ancestors, your business partner is a parent or sibling, your employees are literally your neighbors, the ground itself is your resource.

And business volatility is up close and personal too. (Just a couple years ago, my dad shared mid-season that the crop was better than he’d seen in his 70 years of farming…only to have it wiped out within the week to a 10”, 2-hour deluge of rain.). Tim and Sid share with us a harrowing experience or two of their own.

This quote from our conversation says it well:

'I think the privilege of working with family has been instrumental in learning and teaching work ethic, values of fair play, kind of a second mile mindset as far as treating customers and employees and family the way we would want to be treated. Creating opportunity has been something that’s been near and dear to us, as far as value not only for our children and grandchildren, but neighbors, friends, and employees…especially a number of employees who are learning leadership and values and work as executives at other companies now or starting their own businesses.’

Burkey Farms plants, grows, develops, and harvests in ways that yield both literal and figurative, longer-term results. And an opportunity for us here as listeners, to be reminded and inspired by the seeds of their rich experience and perspective.

Additional Resources:

• Sid Burkey
• Tim Burkey
• The books they reference:
  • If God Is Love, Don’t Be A Jerk - John Pavlovitz
  • Think No Evil - Jonas Beiler & Shawn Smucker
  • Supporting Tim in his new shared passion with his son: The Milling Machine for Home Machinists - Harold Hall and Basic Lathework for Home Machinists - Stan Bray
    
    

- Kristin Evenson

With each episode of the Third Turn Podcast we host a conversation among leaders who want the world to flourish for generations beyond their lifetimes.

Listening with others in some way and enjoying in-depth conversations of your own as you reflect and choose what you would do the same or differently is a plus!

We always welcome you sharing these podcasts with others as well as sending along any suggestions for making these podcasts better.

The Third Turn Podcast is part of the Maestro-level leaders initiative, a production of Design Group International. Strategically Connected's Jennifer Miller is the producer.

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