Why Seeking Mentorship in Tough Times Can Be Fruitful
April 23, 2024 My first trip for American Fruit Grower® magazine took me to the Pacific Northwest — which even a newcomer like me knew was dominant in the apple industry. I was fortunate to experience an International Fruit Tree Association tour for this first trip, considering the group’s members were almost universally welcoming. None came close to Tom Auvil, however.
The trip began in the scenic town of Hood River, OR, which is adjacent to the Columbia River and is known for wind-surfing. Recreation was the furthest thing from my mind when I came down for breakfast to a near-empty restaurant that first morning, leafing through the agenda yet one more time, desperately trying to absorb what I was in for.
“What do you want to know?” A man suddenly plopped down across from me at the breakfast table. Caught off-guard, I could barely speak, and he laughed. I had no idea who Tom Auvil was, but he had seen my tour badge, which read “MEDIA,” and assumed (correctly) that I might be desperately in need of a teacher/guide. He gave me a quick primer on the industry and then answered all my many questions patiently, never once making me feel stupid. I asked Tom plenty of questions on that tour and, over the past quarter-century, on plenty of other tours all over the world.
I venture to say I was one of the happier people in the room to see my original industry mentor honored as the newest member of the IFTA Hall of Fame at the February annual meeting. Later that afternoon, I got to thinking about the value of being able to talk to someone who has faced the ups and downs of the fruit industry. Immediate past IFTA President Jeff Cleveringa, during a presentation on automating harvest, noted how difficult it was in the Washington industry’s current environment.
“Reach out to your neighbors and make sure they’re doing well emotionally and physically,” he said.
I guess I shouldn’t have been surprised — Washington had a huge crop again this past year, making profits hard to come by — but coming from a no-nonsense industry veteran like Jeff, it really made me stop and think. The point was further driven home when the audience questions were read out loud following the presentation, and one person suggested: “Perhaps a session next year (at IFTA) on emotional and mental health?”
I couldn’t help think of the recent bankruptcy filing of a grower I had featured on our cover in far more profitable times about 15 years ago. It made me feel awful, as I knew how hard those folks worked, and I had admired their strong family values. It wasn’t the first grower I had met when times were great, only to falter. For a whole host of reasons, this business has the highest of highs but also the lowest of lows.
My advice is to find a mentor of sorts, someone who has been on top of the mountain, as well as down in the pits. Ignoring problems won’t solve them; talk them out with someone who’s been there — and back.
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