Team Work

Suzi Spahr  • December 13, 2025

Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

As we approach Labor Day here in the United States, I have been thinking a bit about those with whom I labor - your NAFDMA staff team.  We are honestly a great team, who truly enjoy our jobs and supporting the agritourism industry.


Meet Grace

In this photo, the 4 of us had the opportunity to connect with a new friend, Grace.  She is the beautiful grey and white horse, who taught us some valuable lessons.  While we were in Lexington preparing for our 2025 Convention, the NAFDMA team had an afternoon at the Kentucky Equine Adoption Center.  They not only foster horses who are in need of a new home, but they provide team building activities as well.


Our Challenge

We were tasked with creating our own obstacle course for Grace to traverse, and then convincing a reticent Grace to follow our lead through the course - without talking to each other or touching the horse!!  Using the materials we had on hand, we designed a course with about 5 different skills for Grace.  These included moving around barrels, stepping over a low beam, walking between two poles, etc.  We were told we could use anything in the arena to accomplish our goal.


Communication

If anyone has ever tried to work as a team to move a horse (when you have little-to-no training in horses), you know that our task turned out to be fully dependent on the willingness of Grace to feel comfortable and move anywhere near the path we chose for her.  Not being able to talk with each other proved VERY difficult and Grace wanted to have fun on her terms - not ours.  We eventually lucked into Grace completing most of the tasks, but I think it had little to do with anything we did to convince her or guide her.


Lessons Learned

Debriefing after the fun, we discussed a few different lessons we learned about our teamwork.  WE were the ones who set up the obstacle course.  We chose the length and difficulty - no parameters were required of us by the Center staff.  We were the ones who chose the goal, and we could adjust the goal at any time or decide when the goal was actually completed.  In life, do we choose the more difficult path for ourselves?  Or can we accomplish a similar goal with less effort?  In addition, we were told we could use anything in the arena to help us reach our goal - which the staff pointed out included them (the experts in horses!)  Are there times in our lives when we try to figure things out on our own, only to have an expert at our disposal, if only we ask? 


Teamwork Makes the Dream Work

For your NAFDMA staff, there were plenty of other lessons from that day also, but that would require me to be here typing all day.  Suffice it to say, we learned a great deal about not just "dreaming" a great team into place, but using our resources to "work" at teamwork, while having fun and exploring a different aspect of agriculture.  What have you done recently to learn and "work" with your team?

RECENT ARTICLES

By Suzi Spahr December 22, 2025
The phone call that everyone needs.
By angie December 15, 2025
At NAFDMA, safety isn’t a seasonal checkbox — it’s a year-round commitment. But this December, we’re turning the spotlight squarely on Risk Reduction , reinforcing our ongoing work to help agritourism operators protect their farms, their guests, and their future. As many of you know, NAFDMA continues to move forward with a long-term focus on risk reduction through education, awareness, and practical, farm-ready tools. From workshops and expert guidance to peer-to-peer learning and legal insight, our goal is simple: to help operators feel more confident, prepared, and supported when it comes to managing risk. December is our opportunity to elevate that conversation — and we invite the entire agritourism community to engage with it. Why Risk Reduction Matters — Now More Than Ever Welcoming guests onto your farm is both a privilege and a responsibility. As agritourism continues to grow, so does the need for clear safety practices, proactive planning, and a deeper understanding of liability and risk exposure. Risk reduction isn’t about fear — it’s about prevention over panic, clarity over confusion, and confidence over uncertainty . When farms take steps to reduce risk, they don’t just protect themselves legally — they create safer, more welcoming experiences for every guest who walks through their gates. That’s why this month’s focus isn’t theoretical. It’s practical, farm-ready, and designed to meet you where you are. Your Questions. Expert Context. Real-World Answers. One of the key initiatives we’re exploring this December is creating space for your real, everyday risk-reduction questions. Throughout the month, NAFDMA will be inviting members to submit legal and risk-related questions — the kind you’ve probably asked yourself or discussed behind the scenes: “Is this signage enough?” “How do I handle public vs. non-public areas?” “What happens if…?” Our plan is to collect, curate, and group these questions, then work with trusted legal experts to provide helpful context and insight. Those responses will be shared in the future as a practical, community-driven resource grounded in real farm scenarios. This approach allows us to: Address common concerns many farms share Reduce confusion around risk and liability Provide clarity without judgment Learn together as an industry Your questions help shape the conversation — and ultimately help fellow operators navigate similar challenges. Send your questions to suzi@nafdma.com . Free Risk Reduction Gifts — Built for Real Farms Education is powerful, but tools you can use right away are even better. As part of Risk Reduction Month, NAFDMA has created two free, downloadable resources designed to help farms take immediate, meaningful action — and we’re just getting started. Additional free Risk Reduction gifts will be rolling out throughout December, so be sure to keep an eye on your inbox and NAFDMA channels. Farm Risk Reduction Gifts So Far: First Aid Kit Checklist Public Access Basic Question List Moving Forward — Together Risk reduction isn’t about doing everything perfectly. It’s about staying proactive, asking good questions, and using the resources available to you. This December, we invite you to: Engage with Risk Reduction Month Submit your questions Download and use the free tools Start conversations with your team Take one step — then another — toward a safer operation Stay proactive. Stay protected. Stay welcoming. We’re grateful to walk this path with you — and we look forward to continuing the conversation in the months ahead.
By Suzi Spahr December 4, 2025
Authenticity + Connection Matters