Harlee Beck

Duck season always brings me back to one moment that shaped more of who I am than I realized at the time. I was young—small enough that the equipment felt twice my size, and inexperienced enough that the idea of actually hitting a duck felt impossible. The morning was cold and still, the kind of stillness that makes every sound sharper. The ducks had settled perfectly into the decoys, and I stood there frozen between excitement and fear.

My grandpa came up beside me, steady and sure, like he always was. He gently rested his hands over mine and helped me hold the equipment just right. “Breathe,” he whispered, “You’ve got it.” That was all. No pressure. No long instructions. Just quiet guidance from someone who believed in me long before I believed in myself.

When the sound echoed and that duck dropped, everything changed. It wasn’t just about hunting—it was about stepping into a moment I wasn’t sure I was ready for, and realizing that the people who love you can turn fear into courage with just a little support.

I didn’t know it then, but that moment on the water was the beginning of understanding what it means to be “the farmer behind the blue jacket.”

Because whether you grow up on a family farm or in a subdivision, whether you’ve bottle-fed calves or only seen them from the highway, the blue jacket isn’t always about where you come from—it’s about who you’re becoming.

It’s about soaking up the people around you: the grandparents who teach you patience, the advisors who see potential before you do, the teammates who walk alongside you, and the friends who feel like home. It’s in those everyday voices, stories, and small moments of encouragement that your purpose quietly takes shape.

This year as a state officer, I’ve learned that agriculture isn’t defined by acres or animals. It’s defined by people. By hearts willing to serve. By minds eager to learn. By students who may never set foot on a farm but still choose to be advocates, leaders, innovators, and caretakers of our world’s most important industry. The next generation of agriculturalists isn’t limited to one kind of background—it’s built by those who are willing to grow where they’re planted.

I’ve also learned that purpose doesn’t usually arrive all at once. It settles in slowly, like a sunrise spreading across a field. Sometimes it comes during a long drive home, sometimes during a workshop, sometimes during a small conversation with a member who reminds you why you said yes to this journey. And sometimes, it comes from memories of the people who shaped you—memories you hold tighter as the years go on.

So soak up the moments. Soak up the laughter around kitchen tables, the long nights in ag rooms, the mentors who correct you gently, and the teammates who push you higher. Soak up the love that surrounds you now, because one day those moments will be treasures tucked into your heart.

Behind every blue jacket is a story. A purpose. A foundation. A quiet shaping from the people who walked with you.

That’s the farmer behind the blue jacket.
And that’s who you’re becoming.

We can’t always control everything in our lives. I’ll be honest—that’s hard for me. Like most people, I like to plan out my schedule, my goals and even the outcomes of my efforts. But the truth is, holding on too tightly doesn’t always lead to the best results.

So often, we spend our time stressing over problems and worrying about tomorrow. In doing that, we can forget to enjoy the little moments that make today special. The funny conversations with friends, a sunset after a long day or even just laughing at ourselves when things don’t go as planned. Those moments can pass us by if we’re too focused on what might happen next.

Starting college has been one of the biggest reminders of this for me. With new schedules, classes and responsibilities, I’ve realized just how many things are outside of my control. At first, I found myself trying to juggle it all perfectly—newsflash, it didn’t work. What I did learn, though, is that stressing over what I can’t change doesn’t solve the problem. In fact, it just steals the joy right out of the present moment.

Instead, I’ve been working on focusing on what I can control: my attitude, my effort and how I choose to spend each day. When I do that, I find more peace in the present and more appreciation for the journey I’m on.

If you’re anything like me, you probably want things to always go according to plan. But maybe the best growth comes when we let go a little, trust the process and learn to enjoy the ride. Life has a way of working itself out, sometimes even better than we could have planned.

So here’s my challenge for you (and for myself, too): take a deep breath, loosen your grip on the things you can’t control and look for the little joys today has to offer. You might just find that the unplanned moments become your favorite memories.