Former NFL player Cody White talks about his background and hometown, being sized up, and Acres TV, a Netflix-like platform for agriculture. They also discuss agricultural shows on Acres TV, their childhood experiences of moving around, choosing a major in college, trading in farming equipment, and Cody's transition from football player to finding a new career.
Cody White's transition from being a professional athlete to becoming a corn and soybean farmer highlights the importance of finding passion and adjusting to new identities.
The parallels between sports and farming underscore the significance of game planning, adaptability, and learning from failure.
Deep dives
Transitioning from NFL Player to Farmer
Cody White, a former NFL player, shares his journey from being a professional athlete to becoming a corn and soybean farmer in Illinois. Despite not growing up in a farming family, Cody found his passion for agriculture while studying agronomy in college. After marrying into a farming family, he began helping on the farm and eventually transitioned into farming full-time. Cody reflects on the challenges he faced, including the loss of his NFL career due to injury, and the process of finding a new identity outside of football. His passion for farming and his ability to adjust and handle failure have propelled him to pursue a new dream in agriculture.
Lessons Learned from Sports and Farming
Cody discusses the parallels between sports and farming, highlighting the importance of game planning, adaptability, and controlling what can be controlled. He emphasizes that both sports and farming involve handling failure and learning from it. Cody believes that the lessons learned in sports, such as setting goals, working towards them, and maximizing opportunities, can be applied to farming and life in general. He also touches on the significance of mental toughness and the value of sharing experiences and insights with young athletes.
Transitioning to a New Career and Recognitions
Cody opens up about the challenges he faced when transitioning to a new career after his NFL journey came to an end. He shares the emotional impact of losing his identity as a football player and the uncertainty that followed. However, he found new motivation and purpose in farming, and he expresses his commitment to being the best farmer he can be. Cody also acknowledges the support he received from his father-in-law and the accolades he has received, including being honored with the Illinois Soybean Association 20 Under 40 award.
Looking Ahead and Sharing Insight
In the final segment, Cody discusses his passion for speaking about his experiences, motivating young athletes, and sharing his perspective on life and farming. He reflects on the importance of constantly adapting and growing, embracing failures as learning opportunities, and always striving to be the best. Cody invites people to connect with him on social media and email to continue the conversation and learn more about his journey as a farmer.