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I was recently encouraged by a motivational speaker to give ourselves the grace to experiment. Meaning, embrace the perspective of it being ok to try something that may or may not bring the desired result – you won’t know, you won’t grow, you won’t make an impact, if you don’t try. At first I thought, YES, we should feel empowered to try and fail, learn and adjust, and try again. But as I started brainstorming which experiment I wanted to test first, it hit me…isn’t that actually what we do every day? Running a business, raising a family, building a house, managing a team… it doesn’t really matter where you’re focused, you always need to be thinking about something new, trying a new approach – problem solving. In fact, on page 5 our young farmers (Kristi and Nate Shopbell) certainly didn’t predict and plan perfectly every step of the way. They experimented to find the desired grape mixture for their favorite wine, the best way to overcome recent COVID roadblocks, and exactly how to be prepared for what Mother Nature throws at the vineyard. And young Sadie on page 29 didn’t have complete success the first time with her garden and vegetable stand on her family’s, the Mostroms, new home and recreational property. When it comes to experiments, farming definitely comes to mind. Growing fruit, like all crops, is a never-ending experiment of plants and nutrients and insurance protection, which Railside Orchard and the Roth family can relate to, as shared on

I was recently encouraged by a motivational speaker to give ourselves the grace to experiment. Meaning, embrace the perspective of it being ok to try something that may or may not bring the desired result – you won’t know, you won’t grow, you won’t make an impact, if you don’t try. At first I thought, YES, we should feel empowered to try and fail, learn and adjust, and try again. But as I started brainstorming which experiment I wanted to test first, it hit me…isn’t that actually what we do every day? Running a business, raising a family, building a house, managing a team… it doesn’t really matter where you’re focused, you always need to be thinking about something new, trying a new approach – problem solving. In fact, on page 5 our young farmers (Kristi and Nate Shopbell) certainly didn’t predict and plan perfectly every step of the way. They experimented to find the desired grape mixture for their favorite wine, the best way to overcome recent COVID roadblocks, and exactly how to be prepared for what Mother Nature throws at the vineyard. And young Sadie on page 29 didn’t have complete success the first time with her garden and vegetable stand on her family’s, the Mostroms, new home and recreational property. When it comes to experiments, farming definitely comes to mind. Growing fruit, like all crops, is a never-ending experiment of plants and nutrients and insurance protection, which Railside Orchard and the Roth family can relate to, as shared on

MORNINGS IN THE MARSH

By: Jordan Browne Producer, Michigan Out of Doors TV

The sights and sounds of fall are something I anxiously wait for all year long. Leaves rusting in the dark, deer meandering through the timber, and the anticipation of what’s to come keep me coming back time and time again.

Deer hunting is what started my love for the outdoors and continues to occupy the bulk of my fall schedule. However, as a Producer for Michigan Out of Doors TV, I have had the opportunity to experience and take part in a wide variety of outdoor adventures I would have otherwise never tried. One of the activities I first experienced as a cameraman, that eventually became a hobby of mine, is duck hunting. Nowadays, the whistle of a wood duck and the whimper of a dog ready to retrieve are a regular part of my fall hunting season. Mornings in the marsh chasing waterfowl differ significantly from mornings spent in a tree. For one, I always have the company of my 6-year-old lab, Boone, when chasing ducks. Boone is a 75-pound lab that was born to retrieve. I’d like to take credit for his retrieving abilities, but truth be told, he was good at it almost immediately. He was retrieving waterfowl at 6 months old and has been doing it ever since. He’s not perfect, just like his trainer, but when it comes to finding and returning waterfowl, he continues to impress me. Although every trip with Boone requires a thorough bath before he steps foot in the house to resume his duties as our family pet, I can’t picture duck hunting without him. There’s also a social aspect to waterfowl hunting that separates it from deer hunting. More often than not, a morning in the marsh also involves a couple of friends, a hot cup of coffee, and a breakfast after the hunt wraps up. Having the ability to talk between waterfowl encounters and give each other grief about missed shots is one of my favorite parts about waterfowl hunting. The older I get the more I value the time spent with friends and family over any other part of the hunt and it’s certainly part of the reason why I occasionally favor chasing ducks over deer. With two young kids, my spare time is increasingly limited and when the wind and temperatures are just right, I’ll probably always choose a tree stand over the flooded timber. However, as fall approaches, I can’t help but think about the sound of duck wings beating at daybreak and watching my lab do what he was born to do. There was a time in my life when I would have never missed an opportunity to jump in a tree stand, but now I make it a point to spend some time in the marsh every year. Whether it’s duck hunting, deer hunting, or something else, don’t be afraid to step out of your comfort zone an experience something new this fall! ■

Mornings in the marsh chasing waterfowl differ significantly from mornings spent in a tree.

The opinions stated herein are not necessarily those of GreenStone Farm Credit Services.

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Partners Fall 21