3c Leadership Interview

Leaders must be able to cope effectively with uncertainty and continuous change. There’s been so many challenges faced in the world of agriculture in the past century and we have to keep conquering them if we want the industry to thrive for future generations. The Agriculture industry like many others is built on the foundation of hard work and key leadership. We need strong leaders not only at the top of formal organizations but also all levels in organizations and in our communities and families. One of the best known families if you feed cows in Oklahoma, and a pioneer in the Agriculture Industry is the Runyan family, they're from the small rural community of Mill Creek, Ok. I have actually been very close friends with them for many years

He has been working in the company since it was founded in 1998. He took over as manager in 2000 when his dad decided he could run the company and it would allow him to focus more on their personal cattle operation which he oversees with his other son.
One question I asked was “How much of your life involves being a leader?” Each of us has multiple opportunities to lead every day if we choose to. Based off my interview I concluded that every single day of his life revolves around his business. If you're not doing what is meaningful to you, think hard about whether you need to find something else to do. Bear stated “We aren’t a huge corporation we are a family operated business and we treat every single customer we have like true family. I truly believe we have the best feeder on the market and our customers are what makes our business succeed, so that means I have to make myself available whenever and however I am needed in order to help them.” Even though it is a very small company you can tell he is the key leader in the shop and everyone looks to him for guidance with projects or any questions they may have arise. His employees told me that he is an excellent person to work for and he goes above and beyond to help them whenever needed, such as lending them money or giving them extra time off. I think he has qualities that you don't see in many business owners

A major characteristic a leader has to have is the ability to have composure and carry a load on their shoulders. They have to be someone that when others working beside them and have a question or problem they know they can come to them for a solution, everyone in the shop assured me whenever they have a question that Bear is the very first person they go to. I personally think you have to be able to know you can always go to someone like that with confidence that they are there to help you and not criticize or critique you, Bear also agreed with me on that. “This is the perfect role for me, as the leader here I understand that they rely on me whenever they have a question and I always welcome that, because I am always trying to help them learn so they can always do their