November 1st, 2024
By Staci McGill, PhD
Listening for Change: Insights from Stables, Watersheds, and Conference Rooms
Remembering the joy of walking my first horse into the barn, the moment  she became mine, is forever imprinted in my memories. This incredible animal would become my best friend and would be there for many years of my life, including times of difficulty, struggle, and strife. Working with 1000-pound animals pushes you to grow in ways you never expect, and while it may be trite and a little cliché, there is power and truth in the statement that those who say the fewest words have the most to say. I think that’s especially true when you’re surrounded by animals.
If there’s one thing these relationships have taught me over the past 20 years, it’s that until you learn to listen and communicate through words, actions, and body language, you aren’t really experiencing a full conversation.
Fast forward to mid-August of this year, I was invited to the Fishers and Farmers Partnership Watershed Leaders Workshop as a representative of AFT. Walking into the room for the first session and seeing 50 chairs in a giant circle was an unexpected way to start the workshop. The facilitator explained that the coordinators of the workshops believed the best conversations happened during the coffee breaks and the goal was to make those types of interactions the focus of the three days. After attending events and conferences for many years, I knew from that moment that this gathering would be unlike any other experience.
Finding Common Ground in Regenerative Conversations
The workshop brought together farmers, government agency employees, and nonprofit organizations, creating an environment that was unexpectedly ripe for collaboration. We shared our insights and challenges on soil health, regenerative agriculture, and water quality, listening to diverse stories and backgrounds that we perhaps normally wouldn’t hear. Throughout the three days, I was overwhelmingly struck by the willingness of others to listen and hear the thoughts and ideas of others in attendance. People weren’t just waiting to respond; they were actively listening. It’s important to notice that we hear and understand what someone is saying through their word choice, the tone they use, their body language, and all the other ways people communicate. This space welcomed just that.
Our conversations were deep and complex, tackling weighty topics around regenerative agriculture, water stewardship, and the challenges facing our shared ecosystems. These topics can involve a lot of different emotions, thoughts, and perceptions that challenge status quo and tradition. Yet, the diversity of perspective—from farmers to fisheries to those working in natural habitats—on the impacts regenerative agriculture practices, as well as the challenges the entire community is facing around soil health and water quality, created a sense of camaraderie and clarity, proving that transformative conversations can happen when people feel heard and valued.
Looking Ahead
When I left the workshop, I was struck by the parallels between my years of communicating while training with horses and these conversations. I thought, too, how that could lead to meaningful change. Whether in a barn or a conference circle, the language of silence and attentiveness transcends all boundaries and makes space for incredible things to happen.
Just as I look forward to each conversation I have with my horses, I also find myself looking forward to the next Fishers and Farmers Partnership Watershed Leaders Workshop, wondering what amazing insights and conversations will come. In a world that rolls its eyes and chuckles when hearing about the importance of communication, I can easily say that communication, it turns out, is everything.