Who is someone who has quietly become a pillar of a season of your life? Someone whose presence became so constant that it’s hard to imagine that place without them. Maybe it’s a teacher, coach, coworker, neighbor, or mentor. As you read this, I hope someone comes to mind and you hold them in your heart.

This month, my colleagues and I are celebrating a legendary teammate who concludes 35-years at the company. He is already missed, and many of us are having a hard time believing that he has retired since he’s been a huge part of our company and culture for decades.

On a personal note, Chuck has been a pillar of my professional career. I met him as I began my first job post-graduation, and he has been an active part of everything I have professionally done since starting that first role, even when I left the organization. We’ve seen each other at least annually, and even when it’s been a while since seeing each other, I have always felt his presence, encouragement, and support. I’ve believed that no matter where I am or what I’m doing, Chuck is in my corner and wants what’s best for me. He has been a role model, friend, and confidante, and I am better because of him. I was so excited to re-join the company last year because I knew it meant I had an excuse to see and work with Chuck again.

Upon meeting him for the first time, I could tell that Chuck was a master of authenticity. It didn’t take long to realize that Chuck never seemed to become a different version of himself depending on who was in the room. He could make executives laugh, encourage students, challenge coworkers, and somehow make everyone feel equally important. His diverse experiences across the industry gave him credibility and a perspective that felt complete and true. Walking away from a conversation with Chuck, you almost always felt lighter, inspired, and like you could see things a little more clearly.

Although I have only known Chuck for almost 10 years, I know that many others who know him can agree with the description I provided above. Another thing others can relate to is the feeling of “What does Chuck actually do for his job?” If you asked ten people what Chuck did for work, you might get ten different answers. Yes, he has had lots of different roles in his career with changing responsibilities, but there was something else about him we couldn’t quite pinpoint.

We didn’t know what was written in his job description (or if he even had one), but what we did know was what we saw of Chuck.

• Being the first to volunteer for anything related to building the next generation of leaders, spending most of his time around FFA, AFA, and MANRRS students and eventually becoming the recognized face of our company to those students
• Sharing industry updates, mixed with hilarious personal stories, including one where he was Cindy Crawford’s lab partner in high school (he chose to marry his lovely wife who he was in FFA with instead – a step up from Cindy!)
• Building genuine relationships across the company and industry, remembering people long after they met and making them feel seen.
• Helping others understand what was really going on in the agriculture industry on a macro-economic level, balancing both the perspectives of the general public and agriculture community
• Letting his personality shine, including his love of Jimmy Buffett, pickleball, making fun of his childhood self, and airdropping funny photos to colleagues during meetings

As you can probably tell, Chuck isn’t just authentic, he is hilarious. But my favorite trait of Chuck is not his sense of humor, it’s how magnetic he is.

Once you’ve met Chuck, you don’t forget him. I don’t think it’s because he’s the funniest person in the room or because he knows everyone in agriculture (although both might be true). I think it’s because he has a way of making people feel like they matter. He remembers your name. He asks about you and why you believe in the things you do. He laughs with you, not at you. He sees the best in you, and he sees the future with optimism and hope. Whether you’re a student at your first conference or a company executive, you leave feeling like you belong. And most importantly, you know that the version of Chuck you get today is the same version you’d get five years from now.

I had the chance to host Chuck for his last group presentation to the employees in the development program I manage. I thanked him for all he did to pour into so many young people in our industry, and asked if he had any parting words or advice as we closed. 

He smiled slightly and immediately opened his mouth.

 “Hold onto your passions tightly and your goals loosely.” 

In his own words, that is what made Chuck so magnetic.

It didn’t matter what was written in Chuck’s job description. We always knew that we were going to get the same Chuck in whatever setting he was in. He would make us laugh, think differently, and give us confidence in ourselves and our industry. He would do anything and everything to make time for the causes he cared about.

His job never literally revolved around supporting students through AFA, FFA, and MANRRS, but he was always working on something for one of those organizations. For many students, Chuck was the company because he was so present externally. He made an international organization feel like home both within and outside of it.

I’ve never seen someone stay so committed to their passions through changing roles, changing priorities, and even a changing industry. This is why Chuck has been a pillar – not only to me, but to so many.

I am so thankful to have “grown up” professionally under Chuck’s wing. I have had a front-row seat in what it’s like to live a life you love, pursue things you care about, and let the rest take care of itself.

I think those are lessons we can all have refreshers in.

So in closing, here are a few of the other lessons I’ve learned from Chuck and will carry with me:

1. We can never guess where life or career may take us. The most important thing we can do is to remember what gives us a sense of purpose and chase that in every season of life.
2. We can find joy in the mundane by bringing our own personality into it…and maybe a self-deprecating joke or two. 🙂
3. When we’re authentic and true to who we are, the best people will be drawn to us. And  authenticity is about allowing the same person to show up regardless of the audience.
4. People rarely remember organizational charts, job titles, or reporting structures. They remember how someone made them feel.
5. We don’t find time for what matters most – we make it. Our calendars reveal our priorities far better than our intentions.
6. It’s important to check our perspectives – how we feel at the current moment might not be the whole story.
7. Our legacy isn’t about what we’re assigned to. It’s about what we choose to do with what we have. And the impact we make far exceeds our day-to-day responsibilities.

Thank you, Chuck, for reminding so many of us that a meaningful career isn’t measured only by promotions, projects, or years of service. It’s measured by the people who are better because they crossed our path. Thank you for making the agriculture industry feel like a worthy place to call home, and for showing me the kind of professional and person I hope to become. We all have people who become pillars of a season of our lives. Thank you for being one of mine.

Questions for you to consider as you think about the legacy you’re leaving:

• How would your friends, coworkers, or family describe your priorities or passions?
• What cause would you support or pursue if time and money weren’t a hurdle? How can you incorporate that into your life in a small way in the next 30 days?