Contributors Opinion Bold predictions for 2015 It took an Olympic effort Time to reflect on what more A new year Business affords Briefs like not-so-bold repeats just to watch these games ag brings to the table a new opportunity Business People Almanac to meet local needs THE he BUSINESS usiness T T Times IMES
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I’ve long admired farmers, ranchers and others who work in the agriculture industry. I worked on a hog farm a couple of months the summer before I started college. And I occasionally accompanied my best friend and his father, a veterinarian, on some his house calls. that barn corral calls. A new year almostofalways brings anMake opportunity forand a fresh start andBut that’s about the extent of my personal exertions in the sector. renewed ambition to do things better. My grandparents farmers, though. And theproducts small In business, that usually boils down towere providing customers better town Eastern in which IPart grew surrounded and services faster and at in lower costColorado than competitors. ofup thewas process must by farms, most of them growing wheat. Trucks would rumble include listening to customers to determine what they actually need and then past my graintotooffer the elevator just down the road. meeting that need. After all, house it doeshauling little good the latest and greatest if I became more acquainted with farmers and ranchers as nobody actually wants what you’re selling. a newspaper journalist in Western Colorado and especially Just like the businesses that belong to the group, the Grand Junction Area Oregon. I worked forout three for awith weekly publicationof Chamber of Commerce invariably starts the years new year a reassessment covering the agriculture industry in Oregon as well as the services and resources it provides and how well they match with members California, Idaho and Washington. As reporters, we needs. Jeff Franklin, the new chairman of the chamber board of directors,used to joke we wrote about cows plows.his Butrole it was lotcoming more personifies this approach in describing what heand considers for athe complicated than that. I ended up covering water law. While year: listen to members, determine their needs and then meet those needs. It’s a Phil Castle I don’tis know anything about rocket science surgery role with which Franklin familiar as market president of Bankor ofbrain Colorado. or, on for athat matter, rocketapproach surgery — I suspect water law The process will—take more structured in what the chamber comes close in its complexity. plans as the resumption of a program aptly called Listening to Business. Under the I’ve been fortunate during my tenure with theinterviews Business to Times to continue program, business owners participate in in-depth identify barrierstoto cover the agriculture industry, including the peaches and wine grapes grown in the growth and other problems they encounter. Grand Valley and cattle MesatoCounty. The new year offersraised a goodintime join the proverbial club. IAs was importance agriculture in the a recent interview an reminded advertiserof orthe reader, what doofyou need from Business Times?with Danielle Trotta, the new manager of the Colorado Proud program. The While business journals traditionally gather and report the relevant resulting news to story appears on page 5 of thisnecessarily issue. Trotta is no stranger the ag industry,true of as readers, communication isn’t a one-way street. to That’s especially course, in and training or make experience. She holds two degrees from State Web sites e-mail the dialogue more convenient than Colorado ever. University and manageddon’t a cattle in Eastern Colorado fortonearly a decade. Good publications existranch in a vacuum. They respond the needs of Colorado promotes food and otherneeded. agricultural products grown, raised advertisers andProud readers. They provide what’s and made in Colorado and makes the connections between producers and their So what do you need? customers. A total of more than 3,000 farmers, ranchers, retailers, restaurants and Is there additional news coverage that would help keep you informed about associations participate in the program. logo makes it easierbefor consumers local business developments? Are thereAfeatures that would interesting orto identify and purchase products. useful? Is there adviceColorado that would make your jobs a little easier? In one sense, there is no more important industry agriculture in producing It’s equally important to ask what you don’t need.than With limited time to the food that sustains people. produce content and limited space in which to publish it, would time and space be another to sense, consider the Colorado agriculture industry contributes betterIndevoted something else? $47 billion to theisn’t? Colorado economy employs What’sannually good? What What’s needed?and What isn’t? more than 195,000 people. Let us know. Send us an e-mail. Comment online on the Business Times Web August is Colorado Proud Month an appropriate to reflect on all the to site at www.thebusinesstimes.com. Youand could even write time an old-fashioned letter agriculture industry brings to the table in every meaning of that phrase. the editor if you’d like. Your feedback, both positive and negative, is valued and The next time youconsidered. bite into a succulent Palisade peach, sip a glass of elegant Grand will be carefully Valley winepublications or savor a beef steak grilled to perfection, think about thestaffs, people Good are the result of not only the efforts of their butwho also produced those products and alladvertisers their work,and sacrifice and risk. Then join me in my collaborative efforts involving readers. admiration forother farmers, ranchers andwe others worktoinour the customers, agricuture industry. Like any good business, wantwho to listen find out what they need and then meet those needs. Phil It’s Castle is editor the Business Reach him at phil@thebusinesstimes.com a new year. of Please help us Times. to do so. or 424-5133. ✦ F
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At take when on the every four It’sleast that that’s time my of year years spectacle we call the Olympics. Well, resolutions and prognostications abound. except the new COVID calendar has itYear’s in My favorite saying applied to New aresolutions five-year (and knows what’s next) a is inwho saying they’re basically cycle around. justthe glad I get the bunchthis of time promises to I’m break first week chance to take a political, of January. And while I social won’tactivist predictbreak a from craziness in the much world accurately to appreciate wholethe lot, I can pretty the athletes compete for the nailefforts a fewof things thatwho without question joy sportthe andnews. competition. willofmake You will see these are NOT. pretty, well, predictable: And that not one: ■Prediction applies to quite a few There will be some athletes; the coverage; sort of weather event, the advertisers; natural disasterand, or yes, the International heinous occurrence Olympic Committee where someone will (IOC) itself. Andand alsosay be interviewed to guy who sees thea following: “I’ve bias wokeness in neverand seen anything darned everything. like thatnear in my I don’t lifetime.” It’sknow as if why this Craig Hall announcers can’t just Craig Hall person is a required call the games or news sports as they play out. attendee at every But ever since deadmost air is reporting event.Howard While ICosell, understand apeople’s no-no. perspective It’s now made fact canworse indeedbybethe limited airtime has become social movement time by, or contained within, their own personal for broadcasters experiences, it isand too networks. much to ask to I’vesome neverhistorical been a huge fan of thebefore consult perspective vignettes about athletes thatthis take up 10 can saying such a thing? Yes, response minutes chomping at itthecomes bit to apply to while some we’re events. But when see them perform. I willdisasters, admit some them to weather and natural I’mofpretty are done. history Let me provide a couple surevery thiswell is simply repeating itself. of examples of over doing and doing. Same as it has for millions andunder millions of My first important, example comes from made men’sit! years. More the planet tandem diving. While I appreciate Great What didn’t were certain species. How’s Britain’s senior diver and his long quest for that for perspective? Olympic glory, (astwo: I doWhen all who struggle, ■Prediction it comes to a strive endure to that chase their between dreams) crime and or something occurs I’d have to his required home lifeattendee is lowest humans, thesay other at on all my preferred list of coverage. That’s not news reporting events is the person who to saythis: his “They relationship hisnicest husband or says we’re with just the adopted child a huge of who he people, and in aren’t no way did I part see something is. are. But it’s not allNo he one is. He’s likeThey this coming.” Exactly. doesa world-class diver.when As far as the Olympics most of the time it comes to go, that’s really all that matters. neighbors and acquaintances. People should But for round after round, announcers be surprised at what goes on the from time to said andneighborhoods, again how “perfect” his time time in their towns and personal lifethey nowknow is andbecause that’s why he’s with people people are performing so the well. Perhaps to a shouldn’t degree. good. And for times that they But I’d say — hislike hardwith work, dedication and be shocked politicians, repeat choosing partner a tad offenders his anddive terrorists — were where’s themore important. Why the“This other doesn’t mattered more interview that says, surprise to don’t know. Well, I kinda do. meNBC, in theIleast.” In women’s volleyball, we hadgood the ■Prediction three: Something backstory a top American will happenofeconomically, andplayer the who suffered health after birthmost government willsetbacks take credit for the it. The of her example child andishow it would have people been recent gas prices, where aask struggle if the were me whytoIcompete won’t credit thegames president for held lastprices. year. The extra year enabled her low gas My answer is simple: to get back into shape andthe earn herofspot Government never makes price on the goldgomedal-winning roster. And something down and simply takes credit with a beautiful baby boy to for good news. Gas pricing is boot. subject to wasn’t shown her vignette manyWhat global factors. Nowinthere are was the missing piece to the story, some also of government answers to addressing known herprices husband. He’s top-tier them toas keep stable foraAmericans, volleyball player andhas coach ownin but our government noneinofhis them right. say in histhe place. The The puff onlypiece thingsdidn’t it haseven in place
august 15-28, 12-25, 2015 2021 JANUARY
name. Because is a close-knit long run alwaysvolleyball hurt consumers. Another community, the announcers did a great job fact is that unemployment reaches a certain of supplying and supplementing level based onhis thename economy. And while the the story where it lacked onnumber the husband. government might brag the is low, Why thisthan mattered to NBC, did I don’t it’s more likelysothelittle government know. But Itokinda something causedo. that number being low Of not course, I mustway. address the Simone — and in a good Conversely, when Biles situation. Butit’s mybecause take is the a little business picks up, people different. myself in were her situation, who need Itocan’t buy put widgets who not so the mental health aspect her doing buying widgets because the and economy was what she thought best(or was a decision contracting due towas natural unnatural, only she could make.reasons, Overall,decided it seemed government caused) we to work forwidgets. her andThe her team given betterout buybest some government the hadcircumstances. nothing to do with this. I’ll only say this, it’s to thewith IOC: ■Prediction four:and In keeping Shame on you for targeting one athlete things the government does, I predict the because she’swill so manipulate damned good literally government theshe numbers to has nothe competition. And spinisitgetting how you’d make claim the economy like, the Olympics didn’t want Simone betterbut because of how hard it is working to competing even thoughAmericans.” she’s possibly help all of us “working Now the thing happenyou to international youbest might say,to“Craig, always say this gymnastics in history. that’syou howdon’t we about President ObamaAnd because got “Biles Rules.” involved likethe him.” You’re right Anyone in a sense. I don’t in that should be removed. forand knowdecision the man, but what I know ofAs him NBC’s take? IEh. his thinking, don’t like it or him one iota. I’llyou make brief comment on the Before goaoff, however, I didn’t like ads. Sad, woke, virtue-signaling pablum. President Bush and his bailouts, stimulus Except the Toyota about the double and his for abandoning theadfree market to save amputee who was adopted willhim swim the free market. And I don’tand know in the Paralympics. That wasdoes, a recordeither. What the government and the breaking medal for me. only thinggold it can do, isperformance hurt the economy. Asitfor thenothing rest, once blocking out the Unless does or put criminals in politics (because let’s face it, the Olympics jail instead of partnering with them, nothing has been political since was born) the government does willbefore help. IAlways look and wokeness, there was some great at it this way, whatever the government says television, zonethe difference it is doing, time whatever name ofaside. the law it And yes, I or stayed up late gotor upgoal earlyof is passing, whatever theand name to live. While it was fun to thewatch bureaucracy it is presenting to see the the watch the competition was people,parties expectwhile the polar opposite to occur. goingI guess on, thewhat videos from home were I’m saying is that painful shown to the athletes perhapswhen it’s time to get outwinning of our own due to poor quality the uncomfortableperspective. There’sand plenty of history ness spending wayresearch too longout on them. booksofand historical there to I enjoyed almost thehas beginSo, to yes, understand that all ofall this winning competing American happenedand before. And itby will again, athletes as is those fromorother whetheras thewell topic people government. countries. And,recommendation quite frankly, I didn’t The best is to find bother watching more a few. But those some books or try thatthan whole Google athletes lost mea well the Olympics. thing. There’s lot ofbefore information on the Hell, of themThe lost truth me before the last Greatsome Depression. is it wasn’t Olympics. Toone theiruntil credit, not only got even a good the they government ruined theThere’s Olympics forplenty some,ofthey also involved. also research ruined sportswarm entirely. on the their medieval period when the If you you than knowtoday who with those planet was know much me, warmer select, are.(and Thenwarmer again, my a wholespecial lot lessfolks people well viewership percent from before man isn’t was down here at50all). And yep, last time. Butbeen I don’t change mysurprised coverage people have killing other to suit an agenda, so maybe I’m onto people since history was first written. something. Stronger, Maybe “Higher, some research willFaster— help stop Together” means a lot to some all of thesestill trends. Otherwise, we’llofbeus. NBC might rethink before 2024, saying we’ve never seenthat anything like itor in whenever our lives. the Andnext notOlympics in a goodcomes way. along. Craig Craig Hall Hall isis owner ownerand andpublisher publisherofofthe the Business Business Times. Times. Reach Reachhim himatat424-5133 424-5133or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. or publisher@thebusinesstimes.com. F ✦
