Passing the Baton in Agriculture Organizations

By: Natalina Sents Bausch

Few people have scrutinized more relay races than Mike Jay. The announcer started behind the mic at rural Iowa track and field meets in the mid-1980s while coaching at his alma mater, Columbus Community High School. Today, he travels the world calling out athletes’ accomplishments from the National Collegiate Athletic Association championships, Olympic trials, and Millrose Games.

Like the thousands of athletes Jay has seen pass the baton around the track, farmers in agricultural organizations are running a relay, but theirs may be decades-long. To keep an organization moving forward, leaders should consider these principles from veterans of track and field.