Oh, The Things You’ll Learn

When my boys were young, I read them Dr. Seuss book, “O the Places You’ll Go.” I sometimes give new graduates a copy of the book (with a check) on graduation day. It reminds me of the things we all learn along the way.

One outstanding way to learn is through reading. “Those who do not read of the advancements taking place in their own field of endeavor have no advantage over those who cannot read.” Dr. T.L. Senn.

When we notice folks doing the same thing they’ve done for decades, we might wonder why they haven’t adopted more modern ways. In Texas, we often have a saying “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.” Both sayings above have merit even if they are somewhat at odds.

I love to write about things I learned along the way in life. As many people get older, they seem to gain some wisdom. Wisdom comes from making a lot of mistakes and learning from them. I love to read and learn. For me, wisdom has evolved from my writing, reading, teaching and experiences.

“Time is a great teacher. Unfortunately, it kills all of its pupils.” Hector Berlioz.

Good quotes offer real food for thought. I love the quote from Dr. William A. Albrecht, Ph.D. “If you would become a good farmer, study books and nature; if they differ, throw away the books.” I use it often.

I own a lot of books (over 1000) on subjects like ranching, nutrition (animal, plant and human), natural medicine, Christianity (my pastor once urged me to become a minister), landscape, gardening and more. My son was so impressed with the books I own, he once told a friend, “Never trust a person with a bigger TV than his library.” He has begun his own library.

Books are not for everyone; many people learn by reading short stories in magazines, on the internet or social media. Many learn by seeing something and then doing it. YouTube can be a valuable resource for learning how to do something.

The big question is “Who do you believe?” Not all sources can be trusted. Some sources are from people in different parts of the world. Climate and soils have a lot to do with why other people’s solutions may not work here. Which leads me to another favorite quote. “An educated mind is able to entertain a thought without accepting it.” (Author unknown). I sure did a lot of this in college and still do it today. Works great with politics.

Back before the Dust Bowl, not many farmers believed that their land would become barren. A few Soil Scientist tried to turn that all around without much success. It took a dust storm at the Nation’s Capital, turning the sky black at noon, to change minds in Congress. The black dirt from Kansas could not have arrived at a better time. The Soil Conservation Service was born with a unanimous vote. Franklin Roosevelt, the President at the time, said “The nation that destroys its soil destroys itself.”

In 1994 that agency name was changed to the National Resource Conservation Service. As a result of a few soil scientists, farmers and ranchers were able to learn new ways to prevent land from eroding. Many of those early notions (founded in observation and science) became a standard for sustainable practices. Most farmers have learned to trust the NRCS. Today, there is even more to learn. Technology has improved the science of how we manage our land.

But not everyone wants to learn. Some people may be stuck on “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” Even when their pastures are stripped of grass and weeds and the cost of staying in business grows daily, they don’t learn. Some people you can’t help.

“Education is what remains after you have forgotten everything you have learned in school.” Anonymous. If you are not willing to learn, no one can help you. If you are determined to learn for a lifetime, no one can stop you.

Help from the NRCS is for the asking. If you have never made a call, perhaps it’s time to do so.

Another quote by Alvin Toffler says, “The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn and relearn.

I teach regenerative agriculture. It is a paradigm shift from conventional agriculture. If you are interested in learning organic and sustainable ranching methods, have just bought land or just want to learn, contact me. There is a FREE discussion group for those who want to learn from one another. We have learners and experienced ranchers attending. Perhaps it’s time to make a New Year’s Resolution to learn.

David E. Will is a local rancher and consultant. He can be reached at (830) 6299876 or by email at dwill207@satx.rr.com.