When times get tough, the tough get going. Yes, it’s a cliché. But it’s the best phrase to describe those who will likely be successful in 2019. Tough times are here, and the “tough ones” are engaged, analyzing, adjusting and moving forward.

“The tough get going” describes Mark and Phyllis Legan, first-generation farmers in Putnam County, Ind. They’ve been going strong since the early 1980s, when Mark left his career as a Purdue University Extension educator to raise hogs, partnering with other people.

Today, Mark and Phyllis maintain 2,200 sows and farm 1,000 acres with their daughter and son-in-law, Beth and Nick Tharp. They partner with two other farm families, one in Shelby County and one in Boone County, to finish out pigs they produce.

The Legans hold a Sunday afternoon picnic every summer and invite the people they work with, plus the entire community. There’s entertainment, plenty of good food featuring pork, of course, and lots of conversation.

Did they cancel the event this year due to tight margins and tons of uncertainty in the swine industry? Absolutely not. The picnic went on just as planned. Mark says it’s something they do to give back to the community, and it helps build relationships.

In a year like this, relationships matter more than ever. Whether they’re with landowners, tenants, partners, input suppliers or community members who need to know you’re a good citizen, relationships matter most when times are tough. You need people you can count on.

Upholding values

The Legans and Tharps have developed core values that help guide how they structure and conduct their farm operation. Holding the annual picnic supports their core values. They also send out a newsletter several times per year to people they work with to share how the operation is doing, and how agriculture is progressing in general.

Mark recently shared his core values with participants at the North American Manure Expo held at Fair Oaks Farms in Newton County. They’re written down — a good way to make sure you remember what they are and remain committed to them.

Here are the farm’s core values. Yours may be different, but if you haven’t taken time to commit them to paper, now might be the right time to do so.

Integrity. “My definition is pretty simple,” Mark says. “It’s doing what you know is right even when no one is looking.”

Relationships. “A lot of people helped us get started, and we try to help others when we can,” Mark says. For example, he shared equipment with another farmer for more than a decade in the early days on the farm. Relationships must be two-way streets and benefit all parties, he notes.

Stewardship. “Taking care of our land and water resources is important,” Mark says. “We pay a lot of attention to our soils and water quality, and make sure manure goes where it’s needed.”

Continuous improvement. “We want to do better this time than we did last time,” Mark says. “Either efficiency goes up or we produce more.

“If you’re going to get better, you must realize you’re going to make mistakes. Everyone makes mistakes sometimes. The key is to learn from your mistakes.”

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