At the Bullvine we did not enter this with the delusional belief that we thought it would be easy. Having been involved at various levels in this industry for many years, the team here at the Bullvine knew that this would not come quickly.\u00a0 The parties on both sides of these issues are very passionate and see the virtue in what they are doing.<\/p>\n
Whenever you raise discussion about touchy issues in an industry as passionate as the dairy industry, you know that it\u2019s going to get personal.\u00a0 That is what makes the dairy industry so amazing.\u00a0 For all those involved it\u2019s more than just a job.\u00a0 It\u2019s a livelihood. It\u2019s a way of life.\u00a0 It\u2019s that passion that drives the need for change.\u00a0 If the dairy industry was like some industries, people just wouldn\u2019t care.\u00a0 It wouldn\u2019t matter.\u00a0 In the dairy industry, it\u2019s because we all care so much that we want to help drive change.<\/p>\n
Turning<\/h2>\n
When you take a leadership position, you put yourself in the direct line of fire.\u00a0 While some like to lead from the rear, that has never been our style (Read more: What the Dairy Industry can Learn From The Firing of Brian Burke<\/a>).\u00a0 When my mother and father saw the need to cut costs, redundancy and could see that the Canadian A.I. companies did not want to work together on the world markets, they led the dissolution of the company they were passionate about (The Canadian Association of Animal Breeders). \u00a0They faced putting themselves out of work rather than quietly watch that organization become nothing more than a bureaucracy and logistics organization (Canadian Livestock Genetics Association).\u00a0 Likewise, my brother saw the need to further maximize breeders’ investment in the industry and led the charge for the merger of Holstein Canada and Canadian Dairy Network (CDN).\u00a0 Our family has never been afraid to face change.<\/p>\n While I have no doubt that others share that same passion, the challenge is always finding a way to see the vision through to the end.\u00a0 Change is never easy.\u00a0 There are those that would rather fight than risk change.\u00a0 I get that.\u00a0 Therefore, it\u2019s only natural for those who are afraid to start firing bullets at those who push for change.\u00a0 The part that has always got me is that how when these bullets start firing that many run for the hills instead of picking of the flag and supporting the charge.\u00a0 Those same people that talked the talk in the barns, at the cow shows and during the picture sessions now find themselves running for the hills.\u00a0 While the reasons are many, for the most part it comes down to the fact that they are afraid, just like those that are firing the bullets.<\/p>\n A funny thing happened on the way to change. The call that was started by some of the biggest names in the industry, that have now abandoned the charge, is now supported by the average breeder.\u00a0 The groundswell of support that we have received from our readers has been insane!\u00a0 Upon the stones first laid by those turncoats the banner has now been taken up by those who have felt that they never had a voice.\u00a0 And that too has changed the voice of the Bullvine.\u00a0 What started as a voice for education in the marketplace has now become a megaphone for the marketplace to educate its leaders on the need for change.\u00a0 What started as a new way to market, sell and breed dairy cattle, has now become a rallying cry for those who never had their voices heard.<\/p>\n I want to say thank you to those who first started with us and laid the stones for what has now grown into the most talked about and relevant community in the dairy industry.\u00a0 Even though it sometimes feels like that there is no one coming to support the battle and it makes you question if the fight is worth it?\u00a0 Is it worth straining or losing relationships that have been built over the years? Tough question. But then at least 2 or 3 times every day, we receive messages of great appreciation for what we do from people that we have never known or would not have expected to hear from.\u00a0 This support recharges our conviction and helps us fight that much harder.<\/p>\n In this time when many breeder organizations are having their annual meetings, I ask these new leaders to think about stepping up and taking positions on these boards.\u00a0 It is time to help those who have already started the call for change to help bring it about.\u00a0 We have all heard complaints about the direction that these organizations are head in.\u00a0 Well the only way to bring about change is to step up and be heard.\u00a0 Otherwise, the positions are filled but, sadly,we are left with empty chairs at empty tables<\/i>.<\/p>\n Sometimes when we look back at the original group that helped us start the Bullvine, it feels like we are left sitting at an empty table with empty chairs.\u00a0 However, we are no longer sitting at a small table but rather we are standing with a much larger community.\u00a0 This one has been built on passion not for dollar signs, but rather built around a vision for tomorrow that is far greater.\u00a0 This community is not afraid of change but rather demands it.\u00a0 New leaders have emerged and great new friendships have started.\u00a0 Voices we never expected now inspire us on a daily basis.\u00a0 Does this make standing on the front line easy?\u00a0 No.\u00a0 However, it does make it worthwhile. \u00a0Here at the Bullvine that\u2019s all we need.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\nUpon These Stones<\/h2>\n
The Bullvine Bottom Line<\/h2>\n
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