Features Contractor at Work
Editorial: November 2014 – Getting to know you

I had the great fortune to study journalism with some of the best in the business. Although I walked away from j-school with a bunch of practical skills, I often think that the bite-sized pieces of fortune cookie wisdom my professors passed along were the most valuable lessons I learned during my studies. Some of my favorites – “There’s a reason you have two ears but only one mouth” and “The only stupid question is the one you never ask” – by no means apply exclusively to journalism. They have, however, had tremendous influence in how I view my role as your new editor of Drainage Contractor.
Over the coming year, while Stefanie Croley enjoys her well-deserved maternity leave, I will be keeping you up-to-date with the latest news and developments in the world of agricultural drainage.

I’m excited to spend the next year working closely with people just like you, learning about what you do, how you do it, and what you need from Drainage Contractor in order to be able to do it even better.

This brings us back to those two key lessons I learned in j-school.

First, I am always happy to speak with you, our loyal readers, but more importantly, my two ears are always ready to listen. Whether you’re part of an innovative project, experimenting with new technology, or just interested in chatting about your livelihood, I encourage you to pick up the phone and give me a call.

Here’s where j-school lesson number two comes into play: I have a long list of questions about your work, your industry, and the challenges and opportunities facing your businesses. I’m eager to hear about your experiences and insights from the trenches, as it were.

I’d also like the opportunity to pick your brains about what you’d like to see in Drainage Contractor over the coming year.

Do you want to learn more about USDA-NRSC drainage water management projects similar to the one in Illinois that’s featured in this issue? (See page 34 for the full story.) Maybe you’d rather read up on controlled drains, like the ones installed on Henk and Annie Van Den Berg’s farm in Lucan, Ont., where each drain serves a five-acre field. (Check out page 28 for that story). Perhaps you’d like to find out what great contractors, like Boes Quality Drainage (see page 18), are doing to drive the industry forward. Maybe you can’t wait to discover how ever-evolving technology will change the game for your business.

Whatever your needs, I look forward to speaking with many of you over the coming year and working with you to build a stronger industry that’s ready to take on whatever challenges the future holds.