You probably wouldn’t guess that leadership lessons can be learned from one of the most common tools on the farm.

But those lessons are exactly what High Plains Farm Credit President and CEO, Kevin Swayne, shares in this edition of President’s Insights. Join us to explore skills anyone can learn from a 5-gallon bucket.

One of the most common uses for a bucket is carrying feed. Whether it is grain for livestock, cubes for cattle, or milk for calves, the purpose is simple—deliver nourishment.

Leadership starts the same way. Great leaders provide their teams with the resources, encouragement, and direction needed to grow and succeed. They understand leadership is not about being served; it is about serving others. Just as livestock depends on a feed bucket, team members rely on leaders for support, clarity, and opportunity.

Many of us have used a bucket as a makeshift toolbox. It is a convenient way to carry pliers, wrenches, parts, gloves, and whatever else the job requires.

The best leaders also carry a diverse set of tools. Some situations require problem-solving; others call for patience, communication, accountability, or empathy. No single tool solves every challenge, and no single leadership style fits every circumstance. The most effective leaders continually sharpen and expand their tools through experience, learning, and a willingness to listen.

Anyone who has spent time around a farm or ranch has turned a bucket upside down and used it as a seat. Sometimes it happens while fixing equipment or eating a sandwich. Sometimes it is simply a chance to rest and think.

Leadership requires those moments, too. In a world that values constant activity, leaders often feel pressure to stay in motion. Yet some of the best decisions come when we slow down long enough to observe, listen, and reflect. Good leaders know when to act; great leaders know when to pause and learn.

At one time or another, most of us have stood on a bucket to reach something just out of reach. While it may not be OSHA-approved, it gets the job done.

Great leaders do the same for people. Leadership is about helping others achieve what they cannot accomplish alone. It means developing talent, creating opportunities, and building confidence. The true measure of leadership is not how far we climb personally, but how many people we help elevate along the way.

At High Plains Farm Credit, our mission is to provide reliable credit and financial services while helping our customer-stockholders achieve long-term success. Accomplishing that mission requires more than financial expertise. It requires leadership that adapts to the needs of the people we serve.

The leaders who make the greatest impact are often the ones willing to do whatever is needed in the moment—much like a 5-gallon bucket. That is the kind of leadership we strive to provide every day at HPFC.

Sometimes the most important lessons come from the simplest tools around us.

– Kevin