From Firewood Splitters to Leadership: Lessons Learned Down on the Farm
Dr. Christopher S. CulverI am being vulnerable today and sharing a real-life story from my childhood.
I am like a lot of our students today. I grew up in a divorced home where my mother remarried, and we relocated to Oklahoma when I was six. I split my time between Oklahoma and North Carolina, spending the school year in Oklahoma and two weeks at Christmas and the summer with my dad in North Carolina. This was my normal.
In Oklahoma, we lived in Tulsa and on the weekends, my step dad and mom operated a farm with 100+ acres, including cattle, horses, and more. We baled hay in the summer and cut firewood in the winter to make extra money – middle-class folks at the core – but this was our normal.
One fall on the farm in Wyandotte, we were cutting firewood using a red log splitter. When we first started doing firewood as a kid, we would cut each piece with an ax, or rather, my stepdad would. We had great neighbors, Sonny and Ruth, who regularly helped us on the farm. On this particular day, Sonny and I were working the log splitter for the various ricks of wood we were taking back to Tulsa to deliver to folks around the area. We were up on the back forty acres behind the house – in the woods, quite a distance from the front door.
The log splitter ran out of gas. The “puh, puh” sounds were ever present. My stepdad instructed us to pour gas into the log splitter while it was still running to avoid losing time with the task at hand. Sonny and I looked at each other like he was crazy but followed his instructions.
Immediately, the log splitter caught on fire. Flames were everywhere. Now, my stepdad was an avid drinker and had his beer in a little igloo ice chest, the kind that holds 4 or 5 beers. Water was not readily available. He suggested I take his little cooler, load it onto the 4-wheeler, and take it down to the house to get water. I am confident I had a look on my face as we would assume any teenager would. Clearly, Sonny and I thought he was crazy, but I followed his instructions.
There I was, on a red Honda 4-wheeler, cooler strapped to the front of the ATV, racing through the woods, pasture, and down the hill to the house. I filled the cooler with water, loaded it back up, and made my way back to the spot in the woods where we were. In theory, it was perfect. I had the water, it was secure, and we were going to put that fire out. At least that’s what I told myself.
Back up the hill, through the pasture, and to the spot in the woods, I arrived with the cooler. I opened it, and there was less than a dribble of water left. The log splitter was still on fire.
My stepdad, shocked, looked at me like I hadn’t gotten water. But I had. The splitter was still burning. Frustrated, my stepdad opened a beer and started pouring it on the fire, which only made it worse. Sonny looked in the truck and while we did not find water, we did find some Gatorade and Pepsi which we poured onto the fire. Despite the beer, I am not sure which of the drinks ultimately ended the fire, but the fire began to subside and eventually went out.
We all felt a sense of relief. Briefly talked about what had happened, but if you know my stepdad, then you won’t be shocked by this next part – in good Dan fashion, he fired up the chainsaw within moments and told us all to get back to work. I know I was frustrated then, as a kid, but now, as an adult, I have to laugh about that later part.
I reflect on that day in the woods on the farm and think about what lessons it taught me – definitely understanding the value of hard work – but more than that – how did leadership impact this specific situation? Over the years, I have traced this back, and a couple of characteristics continue to stand out to me:
Adaptability and Quick Thinking
Example from the Story: When the log splitter caught on fire, quick decisions had to be made to try and extinguish the fire. Despite the initial plan not working as expected, the ability to adapt and try new approaches (like using beer and then ultimately finding other liquids) demonstrated flexibility in problem-solving.
Leadership Lesson: As a leader, being adaptable and thinking on your feet are crucial. Situations often arise that require immediate action, and the ability to pivot and find alternative solutions can prevent small issues from becoming larger problems.
Clear Communication and Understanding
Example from the Story: The miscommunication about refueling the log splitter while it was running led to a fire. Additionally, the suggestion to use a small cooler to transport water, which was impractical, highlighted the importance of clearly understanding and communicating plans and expectations.
Leadership Lesson: Effective communication is essential in leadership. Clearly conveying instructions and ensuring everyone understands the plan can prevent misunderstandings and errors. Open dialogue and checking for comprehension can improve team coordination and effectiveness.
Resourcefulness and Making Do with What You Have
Example from the Story: Faced with a lack of immediate resources (like water), we had to make do with what we had on hand, including using a cooler and beer to try and put out the fire. While not ideal, our resourcefulness was key in eventually managing the situation.
Leadership Lesson: Resourcefulness is a valuable trait for leaders. Being able to use available resources creatively and effectively, especially in challenging situations, can help overcome obstacles. Encouraging a resourceful mindset within a team can lead to innovative solutions and resilience in the face of adversity.
As you reflect, I hope you hear the adage – Don’t pour beer on the situation – just kidding – but in reality, it’s true – leadership matters in all situations. No matter if we are navigating day-to-day tasks or crisis situations, we must ensure that we are problem solvers, clear communicators, and resourceful leaders for our teams.
Leadership is no easy feat – as they say, they don’t call the equipped; they equip the called. Thank you for answering the call to serve, lead, and help your schools, communities, entities, and/or organizations. We are better because of it.
I am grateful for you. Keep shining bright – and remember, if you can’t find the light, be the light.
In gratitude,
Dr. C