R
JULY 2018
URAL L EADER
M AG A Z I N E
“Thunderstorms are as much our friends as the sunshine.” — Criss Jami, Killosophy
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3 Editor's Note Publisher and Editor-in-Chief Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD
Contents
5 Guest Contributor:
Samuel K. Williams, III, M.D.
Primary Care: What Affects One Affects All
Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication that highlights every day people doing 8 Back to campus? extraordinary things nationally and abroad. Seven Tips for a Managewww.RuralLeaderMag.com able College Move www.GetRuralLeaderMag.com 10 New Technology will Define the Future of Farming 13 Five Reasons to Use a Financial Professional 14 Future of Agriculture Grows at Fairs
Tell us what you think about our publications, if you have a great idea for a story, or to just share. We may print your comments in Rural Leader Magazine. By sending us your comments, you’re giving permission to call you for an interview. Please be sure to include your name, address, email address, and phone number so we can reach you. Write to us at info@ RuralLeaderMagazine.com—
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17 Be Prepared for the 2018 Storm Season
19 Achieving Balance: Five Tips to Manage Work, School and Family 21 Five Important Tips to Recruit and Retain Millennials 22 Take Control of Your Social Media Experience in Three Easy Steps 23 Secret Weapons Moms Use to Cope with Back-toSchool Chaos 25 Simple Ways to Earn Extra Money Without Owning a Car
Reproduction in any manner, in whole or in part, in English, or other languages, is prohibited without written consent. Send editorial ideas to Kuanita Murphy, PhD, Editor-in-Chief editor@ruralleadermagazine.com 1-877-281-6505
Editor’s Note Dear Readers, Inside this issue, there are a number of great articles about leadership best practices, building positive self-esteem and productivity! We hope you enjoy this issue. As always, I hope you enjoy this issue and continue to follow us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Google +, and LinkedIn. Thanks again for your continual support! Sincerely,
Kuanita E. Murphy, PhD Publisher/Editor-in-Chief
Photo Courtesy of TieFotos
About Us
Launched in March 2014, Rural Leader Magazine, LLC is a digital publication with a mission to highlight every day people doing extraordinary things in business, education, music, community, art, sports, and leadership nationally and abroad. Rural Leader Magazine honors exemplary individuals on a variety of levels, such as the 20 under 20 Honors, 40 under 40 Honors, Best Small Town Restaurant, Small Town America’s 100 Most Influential People, the Scholars of Collegiate Distinction, Fifty under Fifty, and the Eagle Elite Club.—
What you do matters. GetRuralLeaderMag.com | July 2018 3 @RuralLeaderMag
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Primary Care: What Affects One Affects All By Samuel K. Williams, III, M.D.
In Georgia, as elsewhere in the World, there is a primary care provider shortage, and by some estimates it may not be filled in the near and distant future, consider this: “In a real sense all life is inter-related. All men are caught in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in a single garment of destiny. Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be, and you can never be what you ought to be until I am what I ought to be... This is the inter-related structure of reality.” With this quotation by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. in mind, I would like you to consider this story of a primary care physicians’ struggle to provide healthcare in the State of Georgia. In the summer of 2012, I arrived in Albany, Georgia with my wife, and daughter from Baltimore, Maryland. In Baltimore, I had recently completed a 2 year Geriatric Med-
icine and Gerontology Fellowship, at Johns Hopkins Bayview Medical Center. And, during my final year of the fellowship, worked concurrently, full time, at probably one of the busiest Federally Qualified Healthcenters in Baltimore, Total Healthcare, Incorporated. “Total,” as it was loving called, is located in West Baltimore, in the same community where “The Wire,” was filmed. I worked with a dedicated, and “hard working family,” of physicians, including Dr. Christine Fleurimond, and others. Soon after obtaining my job there, where I was fulfilling the National Health Service Corps (NHSC) Obligation, we started working on a Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) project, which was under the leadership of the new CEO, a charismatic, Faye Royale-Larkins, and led directly by Mrs. Bessie Bailey-Weaver, of the University of Maryland Medical Center. I was directly responsible, for introducing the utilization of the
Wisconsin Star Method in the care of nonelderly, indigent patients, and taught the PCMH team the appropriate utilization. Which, Mrs. Bessie, eventually demonstrated that she had learned it better than me! The PCMH team included a Nurse Care Coordinator, Clinical Pharmacist, Community Health Workers, and a Social Worker, whom, I can’t help but recall, Mrs. Ingrid Paymar, who was quite impressive. During my short time there, I was excited about the PCMH, and it’s potential to impact healthcare, in the community, and in society at large. Shortly before transitioning from “Total,” I accepted a full time fellowship at Georgetown University, in Washington, D.C., to complete a nephrology fellowship. Where, I hoped to carve out a ‘microniche’ in the area of geriatric medicine and gerontology, so-called, “geriatric nephrology.” And, I thought that it would be Continued on page 6
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Primary Care, Continued from page 5 useful to have such a sub-specialization, in general, and in the rural practice setting in Georgia, where I was eventually to go. I had previously reached out to the State Medical Education Board of Georgia (SMEB), to request a repayment deferral of the “Country Doctor Scholarship,” to complete my Geriatric Medicine and Gerontology fellowship, when I declined a Massachusetts General, 1-year Geriatrics Fellowship, although Dr. Hammond Claus would have been an excellent mentor. The SMEB, agreed to allow me to complete a 2-year fellowship. However, when I informed them that I had been accepted to nephrology fellowship, they declined to approve the training, and insisted that I return to Georgia, immediately, to complete the “Country Doctor” Scholarship. I obtained a full-time clinical position, at Albany Area Primary Healthcare, Inc. (AAPC), at the Lee Medical Arts Center, in Lee County Georgia, a county with a population of 29,159. At this facility, I met, Dr. James Hotz, a local, and national legend, who was responsible for forming the National Health Service Corps (NHSC), which scholarship program I had recently completed. At AAPHC, my duties included outpatient, and inpatient primary care, and nursing home rounding at Lee County Health and Rehabilitation. I also participated in clinic meetings, and internal medicine meetings which included providing teaching to my colleagues. I acquired faculty at Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine (PCOM), Georgia Campus, and A.T. Still University College of Physician Assistant Studies. My duties included precepting a PCOM student in the outpatient
clinic, and nursing home, and providing 70 hours of clinical instruction to a nurse practitioner student from Auburn University. During their internal medicine board meeting, I presented on the topic of Alzheimer’s Disease treatment, and this included an discussion with a pharmacy student. Following my yearly chart review, I received excellent feedback from their administrative physician. My meaningful use statistics were at, or above average. I thought that things were going well, however, close to the end of my 1-year contract, during the “change of the guard,” when their CEO was retiring, and being replaced by someone new, I was approached by their CEO, and one of their adminstrators who informed me that they would not renew my contract, and provided an official letter that stated “without cause.” Then, in the same meeting they stated that I was “not a good fit.” And mentioned, that I was not participating in hospital rounds. And, I would be remiss, if I did not say, that during my in hospital training at Phoebe Memorial Hospital, that the “geriatrician came out of me,” during a discussion with a hospitalist colleague about an elderly patient’s care. And, this seasoned colleague, in our discussion about the patient became upset, and was rude, both verbally, and using offensive hand gestures, and walked away from me in the middle of our discussion regarding patient care. I reported this incident to the adminstrators at AAPHC, however, never received formal apology from the physician, or the healthcare administrators. However, from that point onward, I was not asked to round in the hospital, which later seemed to influence their de-
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cision to discontinue my contract. Interestingly, one of the physicians from AAPHC, who signed my separation letter, gave me a verbal reference to obtain a full-time job in the Ethica nursing home, which included continuing to work at the Lee County Health and Rehabiliation facility which I had worked at for 1-year under the supervision, of the excellent geriatrician, Dr. Bernard Scoggins, who was a kind, and thoughtful physician. This position, which I obtained, was that of Medical Director, and involved rounding at 5 nursing homes: Lee County Health and Rehabilition, Wynfield Park Health and Rehabilitation, Dawson Manor, Zebulon Park, and one other. I suggested to the director of the facility, that instead of the once per month clinical evaluation required for nursing home residents, that we try more frequent visits, based on the clinician’s assessment, that might be a new model for nursing home patient care. While providing these more frequent visits, some of the nurses questioned why I was seen so frequently at the bedside. To say the least, during a 1-month review, with no prior notice of conflicts, or concerns, I was informed by the director, that he “suggested that I resign,” for “conflicts with staff.” So, I did. Soon, thereafter, I interviewed at Primary Care of South West Georgia, Inc., was offered, a contract, but decided instead to accept a full time clinical position, at the Miller County Hospital, R.E. Jennings Clinic, in Arlington, Georgia, in Calhoun County, population 6,431, where there were two primary care clinics. I learned, at Primary Care of South West Georgia, Inc. that the CEO of Miller had worked, and/or trained at Continued on page 11
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Back to campus? Seven Tips for a Manageable College Move In many areas of the country leaves are turning, apple orchards are attracting crowds, football teams are starting practice and nighttime is bringing a chill to the air. For better or worse, that means college students’ thoughts are turning to studying and everything else that goes with campus life. This year, some 15.2 million students are slated for enrollment in America’s public and private post-secondary institutions, up from 15 million last year. If you’re a student or parent, that means it may be time to transport key belongings to a new living space. That process can be emotionally bittersweet, even without the logistical challenges of packing, carrying, unpacking and installing multiple loads of gear. Fortunately, forewarned is forearmed, and there’s much you can do to make the process easier for everyone involved. Consider the following suggestions for making a move to college efficient and friction-free. 1. Be selective. When packing, use your college-provided checklist as a guide, setting aside the essential items needed to make your first term at school convenient and comfortable. Remember that college dorm rooms and apartments tend to be small, so avoid bringing unnecessary clothing, knickknacks or valuables and plan to revisit home to retrieve seasonal items later on. 2. Assemble your tools. You’re likelier to do a better job packing if the right tools are at your fingertips. Secure cardboard boxes, packing tape, bubble wrap, moving blankets and/or markers well before your move, and make sure you call at least two weeks ahead to reserve your moving vehicle at PenskeTruckRental.com. A 12- to 16-foot truck is often perfectly sized to transport the contents of a dorm room or apartment, but such rentals tend to get booked up quickly during the ultra-busy summer and fall moving seasons.
3. Identify everything. Start packing several days ahead so the process seems less burdensome, saving daily-use items for the last 48 hours. Mark the outside of packed boxes with descriptions so contents are unmistakable and will be easy to find even if mixed with other students’ belongings. 4. Keep crucial items separate. Instead of inadvertently packing away important papers, identification, credit cards, medications, glasses or contacts and other important items, set aside a “carry-on” bag you’ll keep in your car during your travels. 5. Pack your truck strategically. Use your space well by positioning heavier items in the back of your vehicle before proceeding with lighter items. That optimizes the vehicle’s power and allows you to fit smaller items into smaller spaces. Back to Campus, continuded from page 5 6. Drive safely. Getting behind the wheel of a moving truck need not be intimidating as long as you keep a few precautions in mind. Handling the extra size and weight requires that you avoid sharp turns, brake earlier before stopping and navigate around low branches or building overhangs. Depending on the length of your drive you may also wish to pre-map your route, review weather forecasts, avoid rush hour and leave yourself extra time for breaks, refueling and unloading. 7. Stay secure. Unfortunately, students are often targeted for theft during the hectic moving process. Protect your belongings by parking only in well-lit and well-attended areas when you stop, and padlocking the back doors of your vehicle when it’s not in use. Back-to-college time can be ultra-busy while filled with anticipation and hope for what lies ahead. For more tips on making your move to campus smooth and easy, visit PenskeTruckRental.com.—
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New Technology will Define the Future of Farming When you think of automated vehicles, you probably think of driverless cars. While that particular movement is certainly in the news, it’s not the only place where driverless technology is gaining momentum. Did you know that driverless technology innovations are occurring every day in agriculture as well? While most of us won’t see this technology since it’s confined to the farm, driverless tractors are poised to change the way our food is grown. The race to autonomy Today’s driverless tractors still need an operator to keep the tractor on task. But for 20 years, farm equipment manufacturers have been working on building a precision platform with GPS navigation to provide tractors with pure self-driving automation. The ultimate goal is to offer farmers driverless equipment that is smart - or autonomous - so it can perform tasks completely independent of human intervention. The farm equipment industry has spent a couple of decades moving toward developing autonomous equipment, and the race to commercially market that equipment has recently moved into high gear. In 2016, both New Holland and Case IH introduced autonomous tractor prototypes, which the companies are still testing in the field. At the same time, John Deere signaled its commitment to autonomous machinery when it acquired Blue River Technology - a company that specializes in computer vision and machine learning, key technologies for developing smart farm equipment. The digital component In addition to performing the desired tasks, smart farm equipment also has the ability to capture vital data about the operation and how the land is being used. This data will be invaluable to farmers, accord-
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ing to Dan Burdett, global head of digital agriculture at Syngenta. “The driverless tractor and automated farm equipment will be able to record any field event, which is important for developing insights, such as calculating return on investment,” he says. “Capturing timely and accurate data to document field applications for reports and stewardship requirements will also be possible.” Because various sensors, tools and artificial intelligence will automate data collection, Burdett says the data will “enable a whole new level of decision-making capabilities. Growers will benefit from all of it,” he says, adding that the adoption of digital technologies in the ag industry is inevitable and moving fast. “It’s escalating, and that’s driven partly by farm economics,” says Burdett. “It’s very important for farmers to know their numbers. Digital tools and information technology can help farmers be better business people.” The future of autonomy For many years, the components needed to bring autonomous vehicles to market were cost-prohibitive for ag manufacturers. But that is changing. Uber, Google and Tesla have made big investments in technology for their self-driving cars, which has substantially lowered the cost of some components that are also used in automated farm equipment. As more industries use these components, prices will drop further, placing autonomous technology within reach of farmers. The field of automated farm equipment is fertile, and it’s growing rapidly. To learn more about automated farm equipment and other agricultural trends, go to www.syngentathrive.com.—
Primary Care, Continued from page 6 South West Georgia, Inc. At the R.E. Jennings Clinic, located on the other side of a railroad track, I was the only primary care physician at the facility, and ‘supervised,’ a Physician Assistant, whose son, was a Morehouse Graduate. This, so-called, mid-level, was much more experienced than me. At Jennings Clinic, I was excited to make an immediate impact, I explored grant funding opportunities through the Hartford Foundation, mailed literature reviews to my patients discussing their conditions, wrote order sets for their outpatient electronic medical record, advocated for partnerships with local cardiologists, and the Georgia Lions Lighthouse to provide free diabetic screenings. Yet, after 1-month working there, I was written up by human resources for “eating my coworkers food.” Four months later, I realized that to apply for some of the grants that would have improved the clinics
infrastructure, patient care, and rescinded the offer and that “they relationship to the community at were no longer in need of my serlarge, that I would need to have an vices,” this was where the CEO of administrative title of “medical the facility told me to call her director.” I scheduled a meeting “Nana.” Soon thereafter, I obtained with the CEO to discuss this, an outpatient clinical, with inpaand had not intended to request tient responsibilities at Jefferson an increase in my nice salary. Hospital in Louisville, Georgia, During the meeting, which had located in Jefferson County, poputo be re-scheduled the CEO, and lation 16,106. the Human Resources supervisor This required an “arduous,” 30 suggested that I resign, in lieu of hour per week drive from Albany, being terminated, for “ongoing Georgia through country terrain, concerns for eating my co-workers backroads, and dark roads, with food,” and “being better off in an sparsely distributed gas stations, academic environment.” I had not and a lot of farm land. On more been approached by either of these than one occasion, my GPS failed, concerns, so, I resigned. Of note, and I had been lost in the woods I had recently helped to interview, in the middle of the night with no and hire a replacement. navigation, or cellular phone Nevertheless, the CEO, and I signal. On one of these long maintained open communication, drives, I ran out of gas, which I and she congratulated me for a presumed was secondary to leak recent academic recognition. in the tank, and contacted the I contacted Primary Care of South CEO via email, who stated “good West Georgia, Inc., where I had luck with your car,” but offered recently been offered a position, no other assistance. In addition, and they re-interviewed me, and in my rush to get to work I was gave me a contract, however pulled over by the local police for later sent me an email stating that Continued on page 12 GetRuralLeaderMag.com | July 2018 11
Primary Care, Continued from page 11 speeding, and went to “jail,” holding for less than 4 hours, and the hospital administrator required that I be suspended from my clinical duties, pending an “investigation” of the traffic related violations. Of note, prior to investigation, or providing traffic tickets I was suggested to resign, in lieu of a formal review by the Hospital Board. This is not a National Practitioner Database reportable event. Yet later on, I was congratulated by the CEO for a recent accomplishment. Here, I would like to pause, and consider this quotation by Dr. Benjamin Elijah Mays, a good Morehouse Man: “It must be borne in mind that the tragedy of life doesn’t lie in not reaching your goal. The tragedy lies in having no goal to reach. It isn’t a calamity to die with dreams unfulfilled, but it is a calamity not to dream. It is not a disaster to be unable to capture your ideal, but it is a disaster to have no ideal to capture. It is not a disgrace not to reach the stars, but it is a disgrace to have no stars to reach for. Not failure, but low aim is sin.” So, I kept trying to do what I had been trained to do. I contacted Wilcox Prison, part of the Augusta University Hospital System, and they offered me a full time position in their all male prison. However, upon receiving an “adverse” work reference from AAPHC, they rescinded the offer, which I was told in email was related to clinical performance— however, when I requested, and reviewed my clinical performance evaluation, it was not poor quality. The performance evaluation is included for review. In the meantime, and in between time, I worked for several locum tenens groups including
Radar Healthcare, where I obtained Staff Physician at Washington Regional Medical Center; and Censeo Healthcare, Inc. a Dallas, Texas entity where I provided local wellness visits for homebound elders in Georgia with Aetna health insurance. I would be remiss, if I did not mention a locum experience through AB Staffing which helped me obtain an excellent opportunity in Ogema, Minnesota taking care of Ogibwa Native Americans at White Earth Indian Health Center. This experience lasted 3-weeks, after which I was contacted by the staffing company via email that my “contract was being terminated,” and “that my services were no longer needed.” And, via phone conversation, that, however “my reputation is intact.” When I probed further, he explained that they were concerned about me calling out sick, and had some concerns about my documentation, amongst other things. However, I did receive a good performance evaluation from one of their administrative supervisors. “I was concerned about how the patients might feel going to a health center, named “White Earth.” And how this might affect their morale, or mental health.” Being encouraged by my Meharry Colleague, Dr. Justin Turner, who started his own private practice, I decided somewhere throughout this process that I should do something similar. And, reached out to the State Medical Education Board of Georgia (SMEB), to approve my private practice, which would be housed in Albany, Georgia, but provide house calls to homebound individuals, and telemedicine services in Lee County, and telemedicine services to counties that met the specifications of
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the board. However, on multiple occasions they declined to approve this practice. Stating, on one particular occasion, that I failed to answer their questions, and participate in a conference call. And, that the practice location was not located in an eligible county. Yet, this is the same practice site scenario, per se, as AAPHC, which is also located in Dougherty, but practice site in Lee County. Of note, the particular conference call in which I was too participate, started at 4pm, and ended at 5pm, yet the Board called me after 5pm, and at which point I was actively involved in taking care of my two young children. In the meantime, I volunteered at the local Samaritan Clinic, a free clinic, in Albany, Georgia, and have obtained a full-time job washing dishes at a local Italian restaurant Villa Gargano here in Albany, Georgia. Consider this, by President Barack Hussein Obama: “The future rewards those who press on. I don’t have time to feel sorry for myself. I don’t have time to complain. I’m going to press on. . .If you are walking down the right path. And you are willing to keep walking, eventually you’ll make progress.” This applies to healthcare providers, patients, and the healthcare establishment.— About the Author Samuel K. Williams, III, M.D. is a graduate of Morehouse College, and Meharry Medical College. He lives with his wife and children in Albany, Georgia.
Five Reasons to Use a Financial Professional True or false: You need to be wealthy to use a financial professional. It's a common misconception, but in fact there are financial professionals that can help at various stages in life, whether you're just starting out or nearing retirement. It can be a huge benefit to sit down with one to discuss options, investments, savings and retirement. No matter where you are in your life - new to the workforce, starting a family, in your big earning years or nearing retirement - some guidance from a financial professional can give you the road map toward a financial future. Here are some of the top reasons for seeing a financial professional: You don't have much saved for retirement ... More than half of Americans have less than $10,000 saved for retirement, according to the American Payroll Association. But even if you're flirting with 50 and don't have much saved, it's not too late to start building wealth for your future. A financial professional will assess your situation and help develop a financial strategy with the goal of a comfortable retirement in mind. ...Or you do, and you're nearly ready to retire Saving for retirement and knowing how to use that money wisely in retirement are two different animals. A financial professional can help you build a strategy
that aims to use your retirement savings, help it grow and help it last. Your parents are aging or ill Caring for an aging or ill parent is tough emotionally, and ambiguity or strife around finances only makes it worse. Elder care is an expensive business, and how best to use Mom and Dad's money to make sure they get the best care possible can be a complicated quagmire, especially if siblings are at odds about what to do. Sitting down with a financial professional is a great way to sort this all out with a neutral third party whose focus is most appropriately using the funds that are available. You're going through a life transition Getting married, divorced, starting a family or dealing with a death in the family can affect your finances as well as your emotions. When you're about to walk down the aisle, for example, nobody wants to think about budgets and bills, but financial disagreements can be one of the top causes of marital problems. A session with a financial professional can be a preemptive strike against future money troubles. You want to start investing Finding a financial professional who understands your situation, and can help design solutions for your day-to-day financial concerns, can go a long way toward building financial peace of mind, according to GetRuralLeaderMag.com | July 2018 13
Financial Professional, continued from page 9 Salene Hitchcock-Gear, president of Prudential Advisors. You might be tempted to DIY, but a financial professional can work with you to create a strategy based on your timeline, risk tolerance and goals. Bottom line? You don't need to be a millionaire to benefit from the services of a financial professional, but working with one just might put you on the road
to setting and achieving your financial goals. If you want more information about building a financial future for yourself and your family, visit Prudential at www.prudentialadvisors.com. "Prudential Advisors" is a brand name of The Prudential Insurance Company of America and its subsidiaries located in Newark, New Jersey.—
Future of Agriculture Grows at Fairs The importance of agriculture is abundant - from the food we eat, the major industries it supports and the benefits it provides to our environment. But looking ahead, in order for agriculture to continue to advance, it’s essential to educate and inspire young minds, invest in the next generation and turn today’s youth into tomorrow’s leaders. That’s where youth agriculture organizations come in. According to Christi Korzekwa, senior vice president of marketing at Tractor Supply Company, the nation’s largest rural lifestyle retailer, the future of farming is in the hands of these young leaders. “Organizations like the 4-H and FFA play an integral role in educating youth and fostering the importance that agriculture plays within our society,” said Korzekwa. “It’s important to inspire these young members while providing opportunities to showcase their achievements and form strong relationships within their communities.” Across the country, state and county fairs have a 14 RuralLeaderMagazine.com | July 2018
long tradition of doing just that - bringing people together, promoting community and connecting all ages. Members of youth agricultural organizations are familiar faces at these events. For them, state and county fairs are more than just an experience - they serve as a platform. Through fair experiences and involvement in youth agricultural programs, 4-H and FFA students are growing into the agriculture leaders of tomorrow through: Community connection Fairs are community events at their core. They serve as a great platform for young people to connect with other members of the community. These relationships open the door for future contributions, increased civic activity and even boosted confidence. Leadership experience Through creating, executing and presenting agricultural projects, fairs empower youth and give them
an opportunity to develop their passions. Recognition Young people flourish when their hard work is recognized. It builds confidence and passion for what they do, as well as supports the larger rural community. Competition The importance of good sportsmanship can never be overstated. Similarly, neither can the importance of healthy competition. Competing in fairs helps drive individuals to work toward a tangible goal, grow confidence and get inspired by what they are doing and what their peers are doing. To honor these young students’ achievements and foster community connection, Tractor Supply has begun its fourth annual “Follow Us to the Fair” Tour, an interactive experience that travels to state and county fairs across the country. Happening now through Nov. 10, the tour will hit 24 fairs across the country to connect with local communities and celebrate the role 4-H and FFA youth play in making their communities better places. Last year, Tractor Supply recognized 95 hardworking 4-H and FFA members during special ceremonies along the tour for their exceptional community contributions through its “Great Neighbor” Essay
Contest. The essay contest is back for its second year to continue giving well-deserved recognition to 4-H and FFA youth. Tractor Supply will celebrate more than 100 award recipients from this year’s contest along the tour. Winners were selected from hundreds of applicants who were encouraged to submit a short essay detailing a specific 4-H or FFA experience and how it has influenced their development as a great neighbor in their community. At each location along the “Follow Us to the Fair” Tour, members of the community are sure to be inspired by the incredible work showcased by America’s young people participating in 4-H and FFA and how they are making an impact on the future of the agriculture industry. In addition to honoring these youth, the “Follow Us to the Fair” Tour features free, family-friendly activities and prizes for community members to enjoy during their fair experience. To stay up-to-date on the tour and learn more about the interactive experience, follow Tractor Supply Company on Facebook or visit www.TractorSupply.com/FairTour.—
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Be Prepared for the 2018 Storm Season For millions of Americans, the devastation of the 2017 storm season is still fresh in their minds. According to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, the cumulative cost of the weather events in the U.S. was $306.2 billion. Whether you were directly affected by one of those storm systems, or saw images of flooded neighborhoods, there's probably one question that you're now asking yourself. What can I do to prepare for the next storm season? It's an important question to ask. And considering the hurricane season officially begins each year on June 1st, now is the time to start planning. Be prepared. Whether you live in a coastal area that might be affected by a hurricane or anywhere else in the country, there are common-sense steps you can take to prepare you and your family. A basic emergency kit should include a supply of flashlights and lanterns, medication, food, water, cash and so forth. Being prepared in this way is important because even if you're not directly in the path of a storm, you may still be affected by a power outage. Losing power means more than losing light. It means losing hundreds of dollars of food and medications in the refrigerator, losing connection to the outside world, watching basements flood as sump pumps fail, facing uncertainty and dealing with the stress that comes with this. A steady source of power is something many of us take for granted. You really don't know how dependent you are on electricity until it's gone. Power up. There is a cost-effective measure every family can take to avoid the cost - and the stress - of a power outage. The solution is to invest in an automatic standby generator. Some people think power generators are pieces of equipment for either people with cabins or survivalists. But, this has changed.
Generator manufacturers today produce a variety of standby generators - as well as portable and industrial options - to meet a diverse array of needs. Similar to a central air conditioning unit, an automatic standby generator is permanently installed outside of a home. It connects to a home's electrical system and runs on either natural gas or propane from the home. In the case of an outage, some models, such as the ones produced by Kohler, automatically turn on within 10 seconds of losing power. Depending on the size of the generator, they can power everything in the home, from lights, HVAC, refrigerators, sump pumps, computers, TVs, home security systems and more, while smaller units can power a few key circuits. Not all units are the same. To ensure you invest in an automatic standby generator that is truly ready for the storm season, look to the models from Kohler. These feature an automatic start, so whether you're at home or away, it will automatically turn on; a durable enclosure that can withstand storm-force winds; a commercial-grade engine that can handle heavy loads; remote monitoring from a smartphone or laptop; quiet, neighborhood-friendly operation and a five-year warranty. Additionally, standby generators from Kohler deliver high-quality power that won't harm your electronics and run on your home's natural or LP gas, keeping your crucial systems powered at all times - even when you're not present. No matter where you live, the potential for experiencing a power outage is real. Having an automatic standby generator can help you get through some of the worst weather nature will throw at us this season.—
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Achieving Balance: Five Tips to Manage Work, School and Family It may not be easy, but many are doing it, balancing school, work and family. It's a difficult task and those who do it will tell you they sometimes feel as though they are being pulled in three directions at the same time. If you are already struggling to achieve balance, or are considering adding school to your already busy life, there are things you can do to not only survive but thrive in managing these demands. Below is a collection of gathered advice from students who are "doing it all" and these tips can help you manage your busy life and find balance: * Have your goal from the beginning. Navigating through the tough times - and they will come - is really a matter of motivation. For starters, decide what are you going to school for. If your answer is simply because you feel you should, it will be tough to stick with it. Instead focus on your goals. Maybe you want to buy a permanent home for your family, to grow your career or find a job that will help you pay for your child's college. Eboni Weekes, a Strayer University student, vowed to provide a better life for her daughter, so she knew she needed a Bachelor's in Business Administration to further her career. Whatever your motivation, keep it front and center so you can call on it when the tough times come. * Explore your options. All of your options. Education models simply aren't one-size-fits-all. There may be certain programs designed specifically for your lifestyle - you just may not be aware of them. For some, flexibility may be a key factor, while for others - and, in fact, for most - cost is the biggest factor in selecting a program. Strayer University, for example, caters to working adults, keeping in mind the financial difficulties of managing work, family and school. The Strayer Graduation Fund allows bachelor's degree students to earn a course at no cost for every three classes they complete. This effectively reduces your college tuition expenses by as much as
25 percent if you stay actively enrolled. "The Strayer Graduation Fund has shown me that there are other alternative funds available for me to acquire my degree," said Eboni. "I don't have to depend on loans." * Develop your support system. When balancing school, work and family, it's important to realize you don't have to go it alone. Students who juggle multiple demands recommend asking for help from grandparents, friends and neighbors. An evening babysitter can free you up to study and get your school work done quickly. Childcare can get expensive, so consider a no-cost childcare swap with a friend or neighbor. Ask if they can take care of your child on nights when you have class and in return, you can take care of their kids on other nights. * Get organized. When you have little to no spare time, you can't afford to waste it. Planning your daily and weekly activities through a resource like Google Calendar can help you stay on top of all your obligations and identify pockets of free time that you can spend studying or simply running errands. * Don't forget about you. Many busy students say that with all of the competing demands on their time, it's easy to forget about themselves. In your role as an employee, parent and student, it's easy to forget that you need some "me time" to prevent burnout. Protect your sleep at all costs and don't be afraid to schedule end-of-semester rewards for yourself. A massage, a nice meal out with family, a trip to the movies or even a round of golf can be just the thing you need to energize your spirit, so you can devote even more attention and passion to your schoolwork, your job and, of course, your family. Finding balance between your home, work and school lives can be one of the most difficult tasks for adult students. But, as many can attest, it is possible. Apply the tips above and stick with it. The rewards will certainly be worth your efforts.—
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Five Important Tips to Recruit and Retain Millennials As millennials continue to expand their share of the workforce in this country, they're using their influence to change the workplace to their advantage. The generation of workers ages 22 to 37 is an important segment for employers as baby boomers retire in huge numbers to create what's slated to become a 15-year labor shortage. To stay competitive, employers are increasingly stepping up to appeal to young, tech-savvy workers by digitizing their most important employee communications and interactions - including their benefits administration. "Being an innovative company where millennials want to work means employers need to digitize not only for their customers, but for their employees," says Wendy Carberg, customer experience and digital lead at Guardian. "Companies seeking to engage and enhance the employee experience are using pulse surveys and feedback tools, check-ins, employee-curated learning platforms and many other tools that help us get a total understanding of what makes employees happy and productive." If you're an employer wishing to recruit and retain younger workers moving forward, you may wish to move forward with the following millennial-friendly digital tactics. 1. Teleworking opportunities. As employers and employees increasingly recognize the advantages of at-home work, about half of all U.S. workers now hold jobs that offer at least part-time telework. Proponents say such opportunities decrease employee stress levels while boosting productivity and reducing employer overhead. 2. Integrate digital benefits. A recent study by Guardian Life Insurance Company of America found millennials prefer a more intuitive, personalized and engaging benefits experience from their companies. The study finds employers are beginning to improve
the end-to-end user experience, with 75 percent now focused on improving effectiveness of self-service platforms compared to 61 percent in 2014. Eightyone percent of employers surveyed are satisfied with the highly digital benefits administration platforms they've used; 67 percent say such platforms work well for enrolling workers and 58 percent particularly praise their record-keeping ability. 3. Social media for recruiting and screening. If you're not using tools such as Facebook and Twitter as supplementary tools for finding and vetting candidates, you're missing out on the ability to spread and/ or gather information that transcends the limitations of resumes and cover letters. Ninety percent of Americans 19 to 30 are now on social media, and many expect their employers to be equally on board. 4. Professional development. Millennials place great importance on being given opportunities to learn and grow on the job, and employers can make that happen through company-funded webinars, podcasts, online college classes and other curricula. Many such courses are tax-deductible, and such investments also pay off for employers as their workers gain news skills and abilities. 5. Multiple communication and storage tools. Savvy employers set up their communications systems to allow for interactions and collaboration anywhere, any time via a choice of channels. That kind of flexibility often calls for cloud-based storage platforms and content management systems. Keeping up with the latest digital tools is important for any company wishing to find quality millennial workers in today's competitive environment. To learn more about how integrating digital employee benefits can help create a more satisfied workforce, contact Guardian.—
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Take Control of Your Social Media Experience in Three Easy Steps
Does all this talk about data and sharing on social media have you confused? Is your feed too noisy and you're not seeing posts from the people and brands you care about? Social media should be a fun place for you to have meaningful interactions with friends and family. Here are three simple steps to block the distractions and have more control over your social media experience. See what you want, hide what you don't On Facebook, take a peek at Pages, Groups and friends that you follow. Do you still need to follow the TV show that was cancelled in 2011, or your freshmen-year college roommate who is in a punk rock band now? If the answer is no, you can: * Unfollow: When you unfollow a person, Page or Group, you won't see their posts in your News Feed, but in the case of your friends, you'll still be friends with them. * Hide Post: Hiding a single post gives you the option to see fewer posts from a specific person, Page or Group. * Snooze: When you temporarily snooze a person, Page, or Group, you won't see their posts in your News Feed for the amount of time you select. * See First: When you select a person or Page to see first, their posts appear at the top of your News Feed. The entity won't know you selected them. * Unfriend: If you unfriend someone, you'll be removed from that person's friends list as well. If you want to be friends with this person again, you'll need to add them as a friend again. The person you unfriended won't be notified. Make your settings do the work Want more information on the ads you see? Want to make your profile more private? Here are a few 22 RuralLeaderMagazine.com | July 2018
security and privacy control tips for Facebook: Security settings: * Click the menu button on the bottom right-hand corner and scroll down to Privacy Shortcut. * From there make all the decisions yourself! See who is able to send you friend requests and view photos you're tagged in, and adjust any of those settings. * Do a Privacy Checkup and review all the third-party apps you've used Facebook to log into, and choose to disconnect if you like. * Privacy Checkup also has tutorials on how to use all major privacy controls. Ad preferences: * Click the menu button on the bottom right-hand corner and scroll down to Settings. Click Account Settings and then scroll down to Ads. This helps you manage ads you see to make them more relevant to you. * You're able to see what advertisers you've interacted with, view your interests and discover new ones that you'd like to receive ads around such as "beauty" or "arts and music," and hide any topics you do not wish to interact with. * On Instagram, click the top right-hand button on an ad to hide it, which will help determine which ads you see in the future. Final touch-up. Make sure your social media is the best representation of you. Make yourself recognizable and say goodbye to outdated pics. Click on Edit Profile under your Profile picture - did you recently go through a major life change? Move to a new city? Relationship status switch to "taken?" Make sure the information you want to share is up-to-date.—
Secret Weapons Moms Use to Cope with Back-to-School Chaos For moms, back to school means transitioning back into routines filled with more activities to shuttle kids and their friends to and from, more homework to keep track of and more chaos to deal with at home. But with a little preparation and an arsenal of secret weapons, moms can get through it, even if it's simply sharing strategies so they know they're not alone. According to a new survey of 1,000 U.S. moms of children ages 3-17 by Wakefield Research, 85 percent of moms agree that pizza is their go-to meal when their kids' friends come over, not only because the kids love it, but because it's an essential to keep on hand for last-minute plans. Here are some of the other ways moms say they cope with everything from household chaos to mealtime madness. Who needs sleep? Unfortunately, most moms handle chaos during the day and revisit other responsibilities late at night after kids are in bed. In fact, 61 percent have stayed up until midnight or later to finish chores or responsibilities they couldn't complete during the day. More than 1 in 4 moms have stayed up until 2 a.m. or later. Nodding off at work. Late nights can take a toll on moms who need to be up and "on" in front of coworkers during the day. Half of working moms concede they've been so exhausted from lack of sleep that they've taken a nap at the office, and one-third of
them confess to taking on-the-job snoozes more than once. Sanity-keeping strategies. Moms turn to many strategies to minimize the daily crisis at home. Their most common ways are prioritizing what's important (81 percent) and posting lists such as chores and todos (73 percent). More than a third (34 percent) look to mom blogs for tips. Send help now! Some moms end up turning a blind eye to what's under the surface - literally. Nearly a quarter (24 percent) admit they can see just half or less of their floors clearly, meaning parts of the floor that aren't covered with toys, paper or furniture. Moms crave help so often, nearly half (48 percent) agree they would choose a full day of housekeeping and caretaking versus a full day of spa treatments. Defusing dinnertime drama. Pizza is more than a convenience; it's a peacemaker. Eighty percent of moms believe pizza would quiet their kids quicker than an air horn; 65 percent agree having pizza to give their kids at the end of the day is just as relaxing to moms as wine; and more than half concur it is one of the only things that settles mealtime mayhem at home. For example, Red Baron pizza is a meal everyone in the family can agree on, providing one less battle to get everyone through the school year. One delicious slice at a time. To learn more, visit redbaron.com.— GetRuralLeaderMag.com | July 2018 23
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Simple Ways to Earn Extra Money Without Owning a Car Whether you’re new to a city and are getting on your feet, or you don’t want the commitment of a longtime lease or loan, there are countless ways to put some dough in your pocket without the need to purchase a car. Working with a flexible schedule doesn't necessarily mean that you need to be tied to traditional car ownership. Here are five simple ways to make money on your own time. Pet sitter. If you love animals, consider offering your services to people in your area. Depending on your schedule, you could become a dog walker or pet sitter, where you visit the animal during the day while the owner is at work. Another option is pet boarding out of your home. This can be particularly great for dogs. Kennels are expensive, and many dog owners will consider qualified and trustworthy home boarding options as an alternative to kennels when they are out of town. Advertise and build up your own clientele or use a site like Rover.com to network. Driver. Want to try out ridesharing but don’t own a car? Or maybe you don’t want the commitment of a longtime lease or loan? Car ownership and contracts can be expensive, but you can curb or even eliminate the cost and earn money by participating in the Lyft Express Drive. The program provides affordable access to rental cars through partners like Hertz and Flexdrive. Drivers have access to a Lyft-exclusive starting weekly rental rate of $209 per week (plus taxes and fees). However, this cost can drop with Express Drive Rental Rewards, a program designed to make each rental more affordable. If a renter gives a certain number of Lyft rides each week, some or all of the rental costs can be covered by Lyft's Rental Rewards bonus. Learn more at www.lyft.com/expressdrive. Tutor/coach. What skills do you have that others could benefit from? Do you speak another language?
Have a degree in mathematics? Play an instrument? Did you go to college on a gymnastics scholarship? Whatever your specialty, your skills could be in high demand. Many parents pay top dollar for their kids to get private tutoring or coaching lessons. Create a resume that stresses your specialty and begin advertising on neighborhood websites and other local places. Once you start successfully tutoring one or two students, create a referral program to encourage word-of-mouth recommendations and grow your business. Freelance. The gig economy refers to the labor market of short-term or freelance workers, and it's growing quickly in the United States. Some people find so much success with freelancing that they quit their full-time work and do contracts as their schedule allows. You may not be ready to do that, but you can make extra money using your professional skills for short-term telecommuting gigs. Upwork and Indeed.com are just two websites where you can find short-term employment that fits into your spare time. You could also consider advertising your skills on your own by creating a professional portfolio online and reaching out to potential clients. House cleaner/handyman. Everyone loves a clean house, but not everyone loves to clean. If you enjoy getting down and dirty in order to make rooms shine, consider housecleaning as your side gig. Whether you're sprucing up a kitchen or tackling a pile of laundry, this can be incredibly lucrative and easy to flex around your schedule. If your skills are more with a hammer or screwdriver, you might consider becoming a part-time handyman. As America's baby boomer generation ages, the need for help around the house like this will grow. Start building your clientele list now.—
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