Breaking Bread, Building Bonds: The Success of Operation Lunch Hour

January is a month of reflection and resolution. Looking back, a resolution I made a decade ago is one of my all-time favorites and comes with a life lesson. Back in January 2016, the Dow-Dupont merger had just been announced. I realized that drastic changes were on the horizon and pondered how to best navigate the rough waters ahead. It hit me that relationships were the key to feeling connected, staying grounded and confident in my connections.

What did I do? I started “Operation Lunch Hour.” This meant no more eating at my desk or dashing out the door to run errands. It meant intentional scheduling with people to connect in the company cafeteria or grabbing a quick bite out. Along with co-workers, I scheduled lunches with college roommates, my family and a wide variety of industry connections. All good resolutions need metrics, so of course I kept a spreadsheet for accountability, achieving 204 lunch dates.

The lesson? Take the time to connect. Yes, jobs are busy but none of us will look back and wish we ate one more wilted salad at our desks. Especially in times of change and stress, using your lunch hour for conversation and connection can fill your cup to overflowing.  I’m sure it made my afternoons more positive and helped me manage the stress of uncertainty.

Over the course of 2026, I’m going to shout out all those lunch partners, which will be a reminder of how blessed I am to know so many wonderful people who chose to spend time with me. It is also bittersweet in that some of these lunch dates are no longer with us, such as my Uncle Johnny pictured in this 2016 photo as he served on the Indiana Soybean Alliance board.

Here’s to a 2026 of connection and conversation!