Some of you in my age demographic or older will remember Richard Dawson on the gameshow Family Feud. He would lean next to the contestant (closer if it was a hot female) as they answered the question. Then there would be a smarmy joke or two and then he would turn to the big board and say “Survey says..”.
After serving an in depth tour of duty with a John Deere dealership, I have become a fan of filling out surveys. All of them. Online, mail or phone call. I’ll answer their questions. Give me a free toy, maybe a dollar bill or just the satisfaction of having input. I learned that corporate America takes surveys SERIOUS. Let me reiterate–they take that stuff REAL SERIOUS! Taste tests? Survey. Name a big company–Deere, GM, whoever–somewhere, somehow, they are taking surveys of the product, your experience, the cleanliness of their bathrooms and/or the quality of your purchase/experience/ AND most importantly, would you do business with them again.
I just got done with an online Hampton Inn & Suites survey. I fill these out every time that I get them. One, I stay at a Hampton on a fairly regular basis. Not as often as John Kelln or Kenneth Helms, but often enough. I like this brand of hotel and have very few complaints. The one consistent complaint that I have–their orange juice is watered-down crap. I don’t like it. It looks kind of like orange juice, the tab says orange juice but it’s not good enough. I drink orange juice EVERY morning. I don’t want to pay $100 plus per night and still have to stop somewhere else and buy orange juice. So, I’ve been putting a note on EVERY survey from them. Guess what? The orange juice quality is improving.
We, as livestock breeders, should do more surveys. In the spirit of Van Hagar, we should do it RIGHT NOW…(great song and video). An email blast to all customers would ask pertinent questions. This would help breeders make breeding decisions for next year. Possibly, some herd health questions. Also marketing decisions. Maybe even feed and additive questions could be tied to the survey. What was your target show? Placings in show career of said animals. Placing of animals purchased from other firms. Throw in a follow-up survey at the end of March or after your state fairs.
Sure, you can talk to customers but it ain’t the same as an online deal. Granted some customers need to be talked to–myself, Allan Poe, etc. This kind will tell you the negatives about every animal before they tell you anything good. Nothing held back. But, we are the minority. Plus, a readable survey allows the breeder to see exact results with a filter attached. A filter on surveys is important. While I’m telling so-and-so that their goat isn’t good enough, mentally, they are already backpedaling (wrong feed, crappy showman, wrong care, whatever) and not actually listening. Filter it and put it in a readable format and now a person can digest it. They can accumulate all of the surveys and study trends…with a clear mind. It would actually be very economical to do. And yes, the ultimate survey is who is buying and for how much, but there is so much more info to be gleaned.
As I am typing this, I am realizing that nobody in our industry does this. I don’t get any surveys from any breeders of any species. I don’t get surveys from any online marketing companies from which I bid, buy or sell with. Maybe, even a survey as to why you/me/whomever doesn’t do business with that company/breeder/whatever. Of course, I don’t send out any surveys either. Why? Because this is a small time operation. And, I have conducted enough one-on-one surveys to know that most would consider dealing with me a factor, while others like dealing with me. Either way, I get it.
1. Did you buy a goat raised by Kelln Livestock? Yes or No–Most likely NO as we haven’t offered very many.
2. Did I tell you to buy a goat from Kelln Livestock? NO
3. Did you buy a goat NOT raised by Kelln Livestock from any party of Kelln Livestock in order to get help with other goats? Maybe
4. Have you paid other parties to help you with other livestock projects?
5. Did you have success with any goats that Kelln Livestock assisted you with?
6. Did you pay any part or party of Kelln Livestock for showmanship, feeding instructions, selection, health concerns, show questions or other concerns dealing with your goat project?
7. Did you get your money’s worth? YEP
8. Is the proprietor of Kelln Livestock an a-hole? Can be and/or definetly YES.
As I sit and type this, I realize that I am taking a survey. And I am realizing that I am on the downhill side of this goat deal. My days of helping for free are numbered. We (Tammy, Kela, Duke and I) have done it for well over a decade and we have helped a lot of families, breeders and showmen. We have helped others more than we have helped ourselves. Nobody can argue that. It has not been about us. If so, (deep breath) well, my arrogance almost got to me. We have developed a huge circle of friends. It has been fun. But it has taken its toll on me and most importantly, my family. No big problems. Not one single instance. Just a steady erosion of things that make one want to slam their head in a sliding glass door. It isn’t as fun as it used to be. That is my fault. I allowed it to go this way. I want/need it to be fun. I AM going to find the fun in it again. One way or another. Mark it in stone, the Kelln Klan is going to have fun while doing it right. SImple. Straight forward. No intentions other than the stated obvious.
Basically, after taking my own survey, I am firing myself from an UNPAID position. And it isn’t about money. It’s about the principle of what this program is supposed to be about. Tammy and I love dealing with the kids. But, we are both tired of dealing with the parents, even though many are friends. And the great thing about this decision is that it will not cost me money. In fact, the mere fact of doing nothing, will actually save me money. There will be many breeders/quick stops/hotels/restaurants that will notice. But that is not my problem. I’ve said for years, that I would be better off to not leave the farm and just show what we raise. (we all know that I will still have to travel–stories, food, etc.) At the worst, it will save me time. At the best, Duke, Tammy and I, as well as others, will have fun. And if anybody has a problem with this post, I have some #s that you can call for help. I know that you will really be pleased with your show results. You know, $4$ spent. Feel free to call for any clarification on this topic.
(I’m a dumb ass. This livestock survey deal is my idea and I’m getting ready to hit submit and somebody else will do it and probably make money from it.) Oh well.
Speaking of surveys…favorite meals……survey says….Red Beans and Rice with Andouille sausage. It may not be my very favorite but it is on the short list. Splash it with Tobasco and YES! Susan Litzenberger used to cook me up some wicked good red beans and rice. The Dragon Lady makes a good dish of it for me on occasion. Once it is done, she leaves the perimeter. I think that I am supposed to go sleep on the porch with Sasha and that other dog. But, I bet if you surveyed the dogs, they would like me to sleep elsewhere. It’s all good!!
Survey says….I’m done! Have a good day and a better tomorrow. Here’s to horseshoes and shamrocks for most of you, if not all of you.
