The Actions of a Leader
May 22, 2012
From Legacy Moment (05/18/2012).
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Being a leader is fraught with responsibility. It’s not just what you believe, rather what you do about those beliefs. For Dave Daley, the decision to eat beef, as he writes in the article linked below, was made long ago. The action he took in writing to Fox News is current, and a lot more risky. Daley is a cattleman (fifth generation), a doctor of animal science, professor, student adviser, husband and father of three.
Leadership is part and parcel of who he is, and action is his preferred method of communication. In reading the article, you feel his passion, you sense his abiding belief in his profession and you learn a bit about a man who willingly shares his values in the fight for right. The war over mind control has been waged since time immemorial. Given the respective powers of man, values will prevail over rules--like right over might--every time.
Daley’s points are well-articulated. He communicates without the low blows and untoward comments we’ve become accustomed to in the media. He speaks to the reader as an equal, assuming good judgment and morality. Daley invites discussion and encourages readers, consumers and activists to make the decisions necessary to align their actions with their values and not to impose on others.
A leader is something you are, not something you become.
Congratulations to the class of 2012, including my own daughter, Sara! The new crop of agricultural leaders coming out of America’s colleges and universities will help meet the growing needs of consumers.
News & Resources for You:
"Why I Choose to Eat Red Meat," from FoxNews.com (5/5/2012) by Dr. Dave Daley (Animal Scientist, California State University, Chico).
For more of Dr. Daley's insights, view his interview on 'Leave a Legacy' TV (March 2011).
"10 Lessons for Developing a Farm Successor to Manage and Lead," for the Farm Journal Legacy Project (07/2011) by Dr. Danny Klinefelter (Agricultural Economist, Texas A&M).
