As harvest season continues, it’s a busy time of year for a farm leader. It can be easy to get caught up in day to day tasks. But one of the biggest responsibilities of the farm leader is to keep an eye toward the future, looking ahead to what’s coming up next.

That means thinking about what’s on the horizon for 2017 – and your plans for the upcoming year. It also means considering what your strategy for 2017 will look like – how will our farm best compete? How can we become more efficient? What do we need to learn or know to make us more competitive? How can we develop the right skills?

No one knows what 2017 is going to be like, but it can help to plan our approach. Start by thinking about the areas of your farm where you could make a big difference by learning new skills or trying out a new approach.

What do you need to focus on this winter to get those skills or position yourself or your farm for any challenges in 2017? In the coming months, take advantage of opportunities to learn and take your leadership to the next level.

Learning forward
Have you ever noticed how the people who are most open to learning – and to actively pursuing learning opportunities – seem to be the ones who get ahead? That’s no accident. Farm leaders who are lifelong learners are more likely to try creative approaches to problem-solving. Instead of getting frustrated or bogged down by issues, they are resilient and learn new ways of thinking.

I want to share a learning opportunity that will be taking place this winter. The Water Street EDGE farm business seminar is a two-day program that features a number of well-known speakers, including Dr. David Kohl and Dr. Matt Roberts, on top-of-mind farm business issues and topics. Past attendees tell us that they walk away with new insights and knowledge to apply on their farms.

This year’s speakers (see the full line-up here) will provide perspective and tools around global economics, insurance, markets, leadership, weather risk – and more. I’ll be sharing my perspectives as well, on the top four things farms need to focus on to find success.

Make a difference
Think about the top one or two areas of your operation that, if improved, would make a major difference to your overall business. Then plan what you’ll do this winter to work on those skills or areas – how you’ll step up your game and your operation’s game.

The seminar will be held in two locations this winter – Lincoln, Nebraska, and Champaign, Illinois. By getting registered now, you can receive 50% off of your registration fee. If you’re interested in attending the Lincoln, Nebraska, seminar, the deadline to receive the 50% discount is Oct. 31. You must register by Dec. 26 to get the early discount for the Champaign, Illinois, seminar.

Plan to attend the Water Street EDGE farm business seminar. Get ready to learn ways to increase your farm’s effectiveness and efficiency in 2017, while networking with other farmers and getting questions answered by the speakers. You can learn more about the seminar or register here.

The opinions of the author are not necessarily those of Farm Futures or Penton Agriculture.