b'Restoring the Professionally, there are three reasons Schweigert believesnative landscapegetting involved with associations is important for every business:1. Everyone can get better at being a leader.2.Everyone can get better at being an advocate for what they do.3. Networking is more important than everespecially post-pandemic.Schweigert believes that after hes gotten so much benefit from his time in industry associations, its time to give back.ASTA and IPSA [the Independent Professional Seed Association] need everyones voice to guide their decision-mak-ing and to help point the strategic roadmap in the direction the industry wants it to go, he says. Sometimes you might feel like: Well, maybe my voice isnt as important to an organization, but my advice is the opposite. If you think theres a cause or concern thats not being addressed by a professional trade association, the answer is always more engagement. Your voice is important and it does make a difference.As Schweigert continues through his year as chairwhichhttps://bit.ly/is about halfway overhis top goal for the year is increasingErnstSeedWorldengagement and communication from ASTA to the industry and the industry back to ASTA. Ive been trying to do that through social media to talk about800 - 873 - 3321some of the things that go on and create a normal discourse ofsales@ernstseed.comsharing, Schweigert says, noting that his hope is open communi-cation through social media might encourage more members to get involved and engaged in the industrys discourse and action. In addition, Schweigert wants to continue to cultivate face-to-face networking. If theres one thing he knowsits hard to network when you arent in-person and when you arent learning about members day-to-day lives.His advice? Branch out and attend meetingsand dont feel like you need to leave your family behind to do that. Jen attended her first ASTA meeting in 2004 at the Annual Convention in Philadelphia, he says of his wife, adding she began attending industry meetings with him prior to them being engaged. She didnt come to any of the sessions, and when it was done, Don Wertman asked: Wheres Jen, I thought you said she was with you. He believed it was important to have your spouse participate in some of the meetings and sessions. That could not be more true and Jen has had an active presence at ASTA meetings ever since.In doing so, Schweigert says youre able to build relation-ships with people as a whole personboth on the professional and personal side of things. But, it allows your partner and family to learn more about what happens in the seed sector on a daily basis, and that outside perspective can be invaluable to a business. Its hard to find time to get away and do something differ-ent, Schweigert says. But if you want to do something differ-ent, you have to think different. The best way to think differently is to meet other people who think differently than you do. How do you find those people? Get engaged, go to conferences and events and meet them.SWDECEMBER 2022SEEDWORLD.COM /65'