The Farmer’s Field: Controlling Political Winds

The topic of the week is wind. Oh. What. Fun. Thankfully, I was speaking in another state all week so I didn’t have to endure the ferocity of its never-ceasing existence.  

I read headlines from somewhere in Wyoming that winds clocked at 105 miles per hour. 

I suspect the unlucky out-of-state travelers who experienced the capsizing of a semi truck and trailer or learned their steering wheel needs to be turned so they can drive straight won’t be moving here anytime soon. 

And my guess is they will caution every person they meet to think twice before planting themselves in the big Wyo.

I’ve lived here for 53 years, and I don’t think there’s been a year when I don’t question my own decision about where I call home. This past week, I think it’s reasonable for anyone to question the same. 

It’s quite easy to forget all of the positives when you walk outside and can’t stand up straight, or when you are chasing your untethered belongings all the way to central Nebraska.  

In a sense, I’m realizing the wind, at the very least, puts me on edge, but I’m guessing I’m not the only one. 

These are the days when I need a bit more humor to keep the proper perspective. I chuckled this morning when I watched the video of the gentleman outside of the Chugwater Soda Fountain, pouring himself a cup of coffee in the wind, of which none of it had a remote chance of landing in the cup.  

Another one of my favorites is the person holding on to the stop sign – parallel to the ground.

Whenever we find ourselves getting on edge a bit, it’s important to keep the proper perspective.

Personally, I don’t think the human spirit is naturally angry, frustrated, hateful or just downright mean, but maybe the wind sometimes causes us to be this way?  

Then again, there are some people who, for whatever reason, are just more inclined to be jerks. Their demeanor doesn’t change no matter if the wind is blowing or not.

To those of us in the majority who are generally and genuinely helpful, kind, generous and reasonable, anyone who is on the opposite spectrum seems to function outside of any sense of normalcy. 

Maybe they are angry because of the wind? I think not.  

I think angry and unreasonable people are just that – angry and unreasonable – and they will always be this way until they choose differently. 

Just this morning, the attacks are already coming. They were launched by a previous senator who represented District Six. His remarks were targeted toward the newly-appointed House member for District 10, who hasn’t even been sworn in yet. 

I won’t go into details now, because this can be found on social media if one is so inclined, but let me be the first to point out the obvious – anyone can take one sentence from someone else and shape it to fit their narrative.  

However, for those of us who can think for ourselves, we understand context is everything.  

I have known the newly-appointed House member for District 10, and I can say unequivocally he is thoughtful in his actions, purposeful in his decisions and, above all, willing to listen, research and thoroughly analyze the information at hand.  

How do I know this? Because this is how he lives his life.  

Thankfully, the senator who is already throwing mud is no longer in office and carries little leverage or influence with most. 

Our elected officials, both past and current, bear an absolute responsibility to build positive camaraderie where cool heads prevail and to foster an environment to help build a better Wyoming – not a Wyoming where divisiveness, slander and manipulation rule the land. 

My point is, true leaders lead by example. True leaders edify others, even when they may disagree with them. True leaders listen and ask questions. True leaders understand there are two sides to every story, and they understand context. 

True leaders act with integrity and respect for others, even those with whom they disagree. True leaders have no need to make demands of others. True leaders have no need to make accusations. True leaders act boldly, but do so with humility, empathy and depth of understanding. 

Wyoming, we need true leaders. Anyone who acts to the contrary has no place in our state or our communities’ leadership. If we don’t like the rhetoric we see, it’s up to us to change it. 

It’s time we stop buying into lies, and it’s time we stop looking only through the lens of selfishness. It’s time we all act as true leaders, and it’s time we demand only true leaders are allowed to lead.  

It’s true. The wind in Wyoming can be horrific. Unfortunately, we don’t control it, but what we can control are the political winds – which way they blow and how hard.  

It’s time we let the hateful rhetoric blow out and winds of true leadership take hold.   

Ron Rabou is president of Rabou Farms, Inc. in southeastern Wyoming, a nationally known author, speaker and co-host of the nationally-syndicated podcast AgInspo. For more information, visit raboufarms.com.