Have you ever faced what seemed like an insurmountable challenge? We all have right? How did you respond to that challenge?

Webinar D of the Advanced Agricultural Leadership Program (AALP) provided us with broadened perspectives on facing adversity – and how our response to challenging issues and situations can provide a source of strength and reward. The theme of Webinar D was appropriately titled: Overcoming Challenges & Challenging Adversity.

One highlight from this webinar was the opportunity to hear from AALP alumnus, Sara Wood, Vice President of the Ontario Federation of Agriculture (OFA). What a model of inspiration! From taking over her parents’ farm, to her transition into agricultural advocacy and leadership with OFA, to managing through her own cancer diagnosis and associated treatments, Sara is no stranger to adversity! However, she has admirably navigated through each of these challenges with innate strength and resilience, while continuing to represent OFA and operate a successful farm with her husband.

Sara identified some of her key learnings in working through challenging obstacles in life: Remember your “Why”; Never say “No” to an opportunity; Lean on your supporting community; and Take it one day at a time.

Our class was also asked to read Malcolm Gladwell’s “David & Goliath” in advance of this webinar and share our thoughts on the book and how it affected our perspectives of leadership. Gladwell’s book provided numerous examples from individual and historical contexts where achievement was obtained from seemingly disadvantageous or challenging circumstances. An underlying theme from the book was that success does not automatically accrue to individuals and organizations with the most resources, authority or expertise. And that people facing the greatest constraints often develop the most innovative solutions. Many in the class expressed their enjoyment with the reading and we reflected on how various concepts explained in the book could be applied to societal perceptions and personal situations that different classmates have encountered.

We concluded our webinar with a personal reflection from our own AALP leader, Peggy Brekveld. Peggy masterfully tied together the themes from Gladwell’s “David & Goliath” with Sara Wood’s story and Peggy’s own experiences – to identify instances where strength and achievement have arisen out of perseverance.

As they say in sports, “Everyone loves a good underdog story”, and it is hard not to think of numerous examples where we have seen smaller powers rise up and perform extraordinarily against overwhelming odds.

Peggy challenged us all as agricultural leaders to consider this as we continue in our own personal journeys. How is Ontario and Canadian agriculture and rural community perceived by our society, by governments and by our global partners? Are these perceptions advantageous or disadvantageous? How can we think outside of the box and build on our strengths to come out stronger? How can we be “David” in a world of “Goliaths”?