The Successors, Ep 11: Big, bold ideas, showing up as your best self, and keeping a tee time

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The Successors is a RealAgriculture podcast series hosted by Kara Oosterhuis focusing on agriculture from the perspective of the up-and-coming generation.

How do you find time for yourself, in the midst of volunteering, a career, and helping out on the family farm? What can you do to chase your passion? Why is it important to find what you love within a job?

Erin Tateson, marketing communications manager with Alberta Wheat and Barley Commissions, helps answer these questions (and more) in our latest episode of The Successors podcast.

Tateson, who grew up on a mixed cattle and grain operation at Tilley, Alta., has always had her sights off the farm — with agriculture at the forefront of where she wanted to be.

(Erin Tateson/Supplied)

“We were in beef 4-H as kids; we always had steer projects. I was always more interested in the public speaking side of things, whereas my siblings were just all-in with their livestock and their projects. So yeah, I think I knew from a young age that I love agriculture, I love being on the farm, the lifestyle, and all that good stuff. But I definitely had other aspirations [than farming],” she explains.

For Tateson, growing up on the family farm has helped her be successful in her career in many different aspects, but one of the biggest benefits for her actually happened around the dinner table.

“I grew up in a family where when we’re having supper, we’re talking about either hockey, agriculture, or politics,” she laughs. “So just really having that grassroots producer knowledge, and just the firsthand knowledge of the issues that farmers and producers are thinking all of the time is super valuable.”

Tateson is certainly not short of things to do. Between travelling for work, having a large list of responsibilities, volunteering her time, and getting home as much as possible, the “me-time” everyone suggests getting can run a little short.

So, how does she manage to keep her head on straight?

You can find her on the golf course on a beautiful night, headphones in, walking the course, and attempting to perfect her golf game.

“It sounds crazy, but you have to schedule the fun. I think scheduling those things to look forward to helps me. And then, just making sure you also take the time to unwind and slow down. I think that’s a big one that I’ve had to learn in the last year,” Tateson explains. “It’s been very helpful for me, and just ensuring that I’m showing up as kind of my best self every day here at work.”

Listen on for a conversation on speaking competitions, why some of love group projects and some of us don’t, growing up with multiple siblings, and more:

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