(Photo: Iowa Soybean Association / File Photo)
The wisdom of looking both ways
July 1, 2026 | Aaron Putze, APR
When we’re young, life is all about the future. As we age, it becomes increasingly about the past. The healthiest approach is spending meaningful time with both.
I’ve found myself thinking more about striking the right balance during a year marked by plenty of change.
Celebrating a child’s graduation from Iowa State University in May and, one week later, his wedding, has a way of simultaneously speeding life up and slowing it down. On one hand, I find myself longing for those simpler days when Garrett’s world revolved around Mom and Dad, schedules were predictable and family routines felt permanent. At the same time, you’re deeply grateful to welcome a new family member and excited for the many chapters still waiting to be written.
Balancing appreciation for the past with anticipation for the future is something I frequently discuss when speaking to high school and FFA audiences. Early in my presentation, I ask parents, teachers and community leaders to stand and raise their hands if they’re willing to share their knowledge, wisdom and experience with the students in the room. Without fail, every hand goes up.
I then ask the students to look around and take note of the many people ready and eager to invest in their success — willing to offer encouragement, perspective and guidance simply because they care. With that visual in place, I encourage young people to disconnect more frequently from their screens and connect with the people around them who have the wisdom of time and experiences to help them on their journey to better. Time and again, participants describe the exercise as one of the most meaningful moments of our time together.
Great Teachers
Remembering history while embracing what lies ahead also feels especially timely as America approaches its 250th birthday to be celebrated this Independence Day.
Sadly, many Americans lack even a basic understanding of our nation’s history — from the signing of the Declaration of Independence in 1776 to the much more recent world events unfolding in Ukraine and Iran. Ask about the American Revolution, the Civil War, the Emancipation Proclamation, the World Wars, the Great Depression or the horrors of 9/11, and too often the response is a blank stare accompanied by the unspoken question: “Why does any of that matter?”
Why? Because history is a great teacher. Looking backward is not about living in the past. It’s about understanding that every generation inherits the blessings and responsibilities handed to them by those who came before. That truth applies to our country, the soybean industry and certainly as families, too.
Because the future is built best by people who remember where they came from, honor those who helped them along the way and feel called to leave something meaningful behind for those yet to come.
Happy birthday, America, and my very best to the recent graduates and all who are navigating big changes and milestones in 2026.
Written by Aaron Putze.
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