We recorded this episode for other farmers but as an act of transparency, I invite our customers to go behind the scenes and listen in to the conversation when it's released. In the meantime, today I want to share what those 5 core values are and provide a backstory on why we give time and attention to having company core values in the first place.

As a young teenager, most of my work experience was on the family farm.  But, when I turned 18 I got my first off-farm job working 3rd shift at an air freight hub here at the airport in Fort Wayne, Indiana.

It was hard work, especially those frigidly cold winter nights spent out on the tarmac, but what made the work the most grueling of all was the team culture.

I only worked this job for 6 months, but I gained an invaluable lesson...

I saw firsthand how a negative team culture ultimately translated to a lack of care for the company’s customers.

I decided then and there that if I ever had the chance to lead a team and business that I would choose to help create a work environment where people cared about each other and the customers they served.

18 years later I’m grateful to say that our farm consists of an A+ team of people who believe in our mission to heal the land, and care for the thousands of families we serve with regenerative foods.

Here are the 5 Core Values that act as internal "guard rails" to help us stay accountable and on track as a team:

1. Unyielding Integrity - We do what’s right even when nobody is looking.
2. Prioritizing People - We treat people like family and friends
3. Total Ownership - We own our work without making excuses.
4. Infectious Enthusiasm - We spread enthusiasm and build each other up daily.
5. Continuous Growth - We never stop learning and do not rest on our achievements.

Building this culture of care has required much intentionality and I give credit to our people who strive to live out our team values every day.

As always, thanks for reading and choosing to support our farm!