Page 4 - MNLGA Free State Summer 2021

PRESIDENTS MESSAGE
LARRY HEMMING
Eastern Shore Nurseries
With three generations
involved, it is an
interesting dynamic.
My father has been
teaching him how to
do many things on the
nursery. Robert calls it,
“Learning the wisdom
of the ancients.”
4 SUMMER 2021 • Free State News
his year has been interesting for more than one reason. This year
my son, Robert, has been more involved with the business. He is the
T5th generation. With three generations involved, it is an interesting
dynamic. My father has been teaching him how to do many things on the
nursery. Robert calls it, “Learning the wisdom of the ancients.” My father
looks at retirement as something that will happen sooner rather than later. I
do believe he will be around fairly regularly, if nothing else, to prune or make
cuttings.
With Robert coming in and my father retiring in the near future, comes the
succession of the family business. Things have gone well between my father
and me. He has, over the last few years, let me take over more and more
of the decisions and decision making. This is important. I have heard of a
lot of fathers that won’t or can’t give up control. This can make for a messy
transition and a generation that is not ready to take over. Over the years I
have talked to a fair number of people in the transition phase. I am more
than willing to listen. If enough people are interested, we could get a group
together to talk. It might be easier now with Zoom.
Also, this year we have been blessed with a great work force. It is probably
the best group of employees we have ever had. (Knock on wood!) They
are all female and everybody gets along. We have all had the one bad
employee that can mess up everything beyond imagination.
One thing I have learned is that when an employee comes to you with an
idea, you need to listen. It makes them feel valued. Talk to them about the
idea. It might not work or be practical; but it also may be good and can
help you out down the line. I always try and take my employees to MANTS
at least once. It helps them to understand the industry; and gives them
ideas on how to do things better around our nursey. A