Goodbye Old Barn
This weekend, I took a drive out to our old farm. Actually, to tell the truth, I was slipping away to look for Morels and had to pass the farm to get to my favorite hunting spot. My father and I farmed until 2003, when my WISP business was dominating my time and he had reached retirement age. We farmed nearly 2000 acres of Corn, Soybeans and Tomatoes. Our farm had the largest remaining gambrel style barn remaining in the county as well as a new modern pole building and shop that we customized and took great pride in. 
The new owner had called last week to tell me they were tearing down the old barn and asked if I wanted anything from it. I had built a sign from old barn siding and hickory barn beam pegs in the mid 80's that said "HARNISH FARMS", that I said I wanted to retrieve. So I took this opportunity to stop in and pick up the sign, since I was driving past anyways. The farm looked strange without the large barn standing there anymore. It was a sign of the times, it had served the farm well when equipment was small and livestock was essential for survival. Now, it was too small for large modern equipment and the roof was too expensive to maintain, so it had lapsed into disrepair. While I was sorry to see it go, I completely understood why it needed to go.
However, curiosity got the best of me and when I noticed no one was around, I poked my head in the shop building that we took so much pride in. It was built in 1997 and had a large 48' x 66' insulated shop at one end with floor heat and many other amenities which allowed us to perform equipment maintenance in a comfortable and efficient manner. We were often told by other farmers that it was the nicest shop in the county and we took great care in keeping it looking nice. So you can guess my reaction when I opened the shop door and it revealed its current look.
The shop was filthy, parts and junk laying around everywhere. The nice cabinets had been removed from the wall over the shop bench, wallpaper had curled, the toilet was rusty and disgusting. It was obvious that the new owners did not have the same "blood, sweat and tears" pride in this building as my father and I once did. I'm really glad no one was there, because I'm not sure I could have spoken to anyone at that moment.
So as I drove back into town, I reflected on the farm, the barns, my previous Wisp business and my life. I could not help but relate this recent spectacle with the WISP business I had sold in 2008. I have also witnessed similar decline in that business. Once again, the new owners obviously do not have the same "blood, sweat and tears" pride in it. It must be all about money these days and how much the current owners can extract from the business while only spending what is necessary for daily operations and maintenance.
I obviously moved on to help create WISPA in 2004 with 6 other fine gentlemen who were driven like me. We invested our spare cash, hours and hours of volunteer time and a belief the trade association we were creating, would some day help our industry and the operators who became its members. It was a true "grassroots" venture which did not come without criticism and challenges. How could anyone or anything corral independent small business entrepreneurs to create a common voice? How could we get the politicians and regulators in Washington DC to listen to these renegade broadband visionaries, who were determined to battle the likes of Verizon, AT&T, Comcast and other dominant forces in the telecommunications industry. How could this "ragtag" group ever overcome these obstacles?
The word "diligence" floats to the top. A word I have personally tried to apply to every effort I have ever taken on. It is a word that describes the efforts of WISPA Board Members, volunteers and staff over the last nine years. It describes the majority of WISP operators, who make up our association. Their diligent efforts building broadband networks in places few other business's will attempt, are testament to their character. People that get the maximum value out of every minute of each day make up WISPA. People who create, invent, modify and always search for better ways are the backbone of WISPA. How can a trade association made up of such quality people not succeed?
So last weekend, as I reflected upon some of my previous creations such as shop buildings, businesses and volunteer organizations I have been involved in during my lifetime. I came to the conclusion; our creations are rarely cared for like they are by the creator. Buildings will depreciate, businesses will be decay financially and voluteer associations will often suffer a slow death and evaporate into oblivion. However, while our creations may disappear, assets of our character that cannot be taken away are our "diligence", our "pride", our "work ethic" and our "values". I love the WISP industry because these characteristics emanate from the WISPs themselves. I can hope our country and its leaders will instill these values once again into society. Values abandoned for greed, power and political dominance. Values our nation misses, values our nation needs to retrieve quickly.
Our legacy will be our "Diligence". We must not allow the "Blood, Sweat and Tears" of our nation's founding fathers to disappear. We must remain diligent on this principle.
The new owner had called last week to tell me they were tearing down the old barn and asked if I wanted anything from it. I had built a sign from old barn siding and hickory barn beam pegs in the mid 80's that said "HARNISH FARMS", that I said I wanted to retrieve. So I took this opportunity to stop in and pick up the sign, since I was driving past anyways. The farm looked strange without the large barn standing there anymore. It was a sign of the times, it had served the farm well when equipment was small and livestock was essential for survival. Now, it was too small for large modern equipment and the roof was too expensive to maintain, so it had lapsed into disrepair. While I was sorry to see it go, I completely understood why it needed to go.
However, curiosity got the best of me and when I noticed no one was around, I poked my head in the shop building that we took so much pride in. It was built in 1997 and had a large 48' x 66' insulated shop at one end with floor heat and many other amenities which allowed us to perform equipment maintenance in a comfortable and efficient manner. We were often told by other farmers that it was the nicest shop in the county and we took great care in keeping it looking nice. So you can guess my reaction when I opened the shop door and it revealed its current look.
The shop was filthy, parts and junk laying around everywhere. The nice cabinets had been removed from the wall over the shop bench, wallpaper had curled, the toilet was rusty and disgusting. It was obvious that the new owners did not have the same "blood, sweat and tears" pride in this building as my father and I once did. I'm really glad no one was there, because I'm not sure I could have spoken to anyone at that moment.
So as I drove back into town, I reflected on the farm, the barns, my previous Wisp business and my life. I could not help but relate this recent spectacle with the WISP business I had sold in 2008. I have also witnessed similar decline in that business. Once again, the new owners obviously do not have the same "blood, sweat and tears" pride in it. It must be all about money these days and how much the current owners can extract from the business while only spending what is necessary for daily operations and maintenance.
I obviously moved on to help create WISPA in 2004 with 6 other fine gentlemen who were driven like me. We invested our spare cash, hours and hours of volunteer time and a belief the trade association we were creating, would some day help our industry and the operators who became its members. It was a true "grassroots" venture which did not come without criticism and challenges. How could anyone or anything corral independent small business entrepreneurs to create a common voice? How could we get the politicians and regulators in Washington DC to listen to these renegade broadband visionaries, who were determined to battle the likes of Verizon, AT&T, Comcast and other dominant forces in the telecommunications industry. How could this "ragtag" group ever overcome these obstacles?
The word "diligence" floats to the top. A word I have personally tried to apply to every effort I have ever taken on. It is a word that describes the efforts of WISPA Board Members, volunteers and staff over the last nine years. It describes the majority of WISP operators, who make up our association. Their diligent efforts building broadband networks in places few other business's will attempt, are testament to their character. People that get the maximum value out of every minute of each day make up WISPA. People who create, invent, modify and always search for better ways are the backbone of WISPA. How can a trade association made up of such quality people not succeed?
So last weekend, as I reflected upon some of my previous creations such as shop buildings, businesses and volunteer organizations I have been involved in during my lifetime. I came to the conclusion; our creations are rarely cared for like they are by the creator. Buildings will depreciate, businesses will be decay financially and voluteer associations will often suffer a slow death and evaporate into oblivion. However, while our creations may disappear, assets of our character that cannot be taken away are our "diligence", our "pride", our "work ethic" and our "values". I love the WISP industry because these characteristics emanate from the WISPs themselves. I can hope our country and its leaders will instill these values once again into society. Values abandoned for greed, power and political dominance. Values our nation misses, values our nation needs to retrieve quickly.
Our legacy will be our "Diligence". We must not allow the "Blood, Sweat and Tears" of our nation's founding fathers to disappear. We must remain diligent on this principle.
