During a foreign animal disease mock outbreak exercise Barb helped coordinate for the National Association of Farm Broadcasters Convention last week, an eye-opening statistic was shared. One of the subject matter experts participating, Chief Veterinarian Dr. Rosemary Sifford, USDA-APHIS Veterinary Services, said 2008 foreign animal disease investigations took place in the US in 2023. While alarming, there was also a profound sense of gratitude as the audience realized none of those investigations led to confirmation of an outbreak with all the related concerns for the animals, farmers, food supply, and related industries.

Being grateful for big things in life, such as not having any foreign animal disease outbreaks in the US, is easy. Being grateful for life’s smaller blessings can be more difficult as the busyness of work, home, and family crowds out the instinct to pause and be mindful of all the good surrounding us.

In an article on gratitude posted on www.verywellmind.com, author Kendra Cherry, MSEd, wrote, “Gratitude is all about recognizing the good things in your life and the role that others play in those positive events. It can have a powerful role in your health and well-being. The good news is that practicing gratitude isn't difficult; just set aside a few minutes each day to focus on the good things that happened and what you're thankful for.”

When you Google the word gratitude, the results are preceded by an AI summary on the subject. (We can debate being grateful for AI another day.) One of the results it provided included this:

Practicing gratitude can have many benefits, including:

• Improving physical health
• Building stronger relationships
• Better dealing with adversity
• More robust immune systems
• Fewer aches and pains
• Lower blood pressure
• Deeper, more restoring sleep

Who wouldn’t want each of these to be harvested in their own gratitude-filled life!?

At HMG, we are grateful for our customers who allow us the privilege of telling their stories. Our mission includes connecting with our clients to understand their communications goals, needs, and wishes. This process allows us to develop strong relationships that are more than transactional. We invest our time, skill, and experience for the best possible outcomes because we care not only about the mission but the people.

We work with a group of vendors who we have developed similar relationships with for the same reasons. Delivering a quality product requires we invest our time to know who we ask to execute different deliverables including print jobs, digital campaigns, as well as website hosting, coding, and troubleshooting.

Claiming author’s privilege, I will also lift up the team at HMG. We work closely and well with each other from our remote workspaces. Barb sets the tone as our leader and mentor. Katie’s design skills delight us as well as our customers and her unflappable nature keeps us all on course. Angela and Toby have become integral members of our team, offering their outstanding work product and treasured connection. Steve, our business manager, takes care of so much more than accounts receivable and payable, thank goodness!

This Thanksgiving season, our hearts are full, reflecting on all those people, events, projects, and possibilities we enjoy. The team at HMG offers our best to each of you this holiday and beyond. Join us in our effort to be grateful for everything big and small that brings us joy.

Counting Our Blessings

Barb – I'm very grateful for the support and collaboration of my family, co-workers and friends during a very chaotic year for our family. And I'm thrilled to be working in an industry feeding the world.

Ann – Each day brings me joy in the form of connection with family, friends, and colleagues. I’m happily anticipating time spent with family over the holidays, a little travel, and some PTO, too!

Katie - Grateful Derek and I have a chaotic, testosterone-filled house with three little boys and supportive family surrounding us!

Angela – This year, I am grateful to my chiropractor. Following our family vacation to Virginia, my eustachian tubes were blocked, and I lost hearing in my left ear. I was finally able to feel relief after two months of chiropractic care.   

Toby – I am grateful for my wonderful family, coworkers and friends. I love how much overlapping there is in those three categories! I am overjoyed at the tremendous levity, grace and fun that abounds.

It has been a busy fall for Team HMG!

In September, Barb attended the Leman Conference as well as the U.S. SHIP House of Delegates meeting, representing clients and connecting with industry friends. Then Barb took part in the US Animal Health Association’s Annual Meeting in October. As past president of the organization, Barb has responsibilities related to resolutions and, as always, enjoys the connection with state animal heath officials.

Ann attended the fall Pork Alliance meeting where she connected with clients and swine-industry friends while absorbing the updates provided.

Customer visits and events were also on the calendar. Ann headed to Larchwood, Iowa, for Dwight Mogler’s event focusing on a pork tasting and meal featuring sous vide-prepared chops. She also assisted with a video shoot for Farm Aid Equipment in Corsica, South Dakota, looking forward to the final results of that Halloween-day adventure.

Earlier this month, Barb and Ann attended the National Association of Farm Broadcasters Convention and Trade Talk. They took in the information provided by the learning sessions and Barb coordinated several interviews for the Swine Health Information Center leadership team.

Team HMG diligently pursue opportunities to refresh our knowledge and grow our expertise for our clients! 

All of us at HMG wish our customers, vendors, and friends a happy and blessed Thanksgiving! We will be closed November 28 and 29 in observance of the holiday and look forward to reconnecting with you on December 2!