Being Raw! Embracing Authenticity and Having the Courage to Show Up Exactly as You Are

A confident woman standing in a field, dressed in business casual attire, embracing Being Raw with authenticity, leadership, and strength in agriculture. 
By: Tracy Snider - February 27th, 2025; CEO of Animistic

I’m a working mom, a devoted wife, a Christ-follower, a Booster Club Board Member, a Church volunteer, and, oh ya, a NEW CEO. Being Raw means embracing all of these roles unapologetically. I have little time or tolerance for hubris and nonsense. In fact, one of my favorite office decorations sits behind me on my hutch, in full view of every video meeting—a little upside-down Holstein cow cutout that says, “My cow died, so I don’t need your bull.” Because let’s be honest—BS is only useful when strategically applied as fertilizer. Let’s keep it REAL. 

A wooden Holstein cow decoration with the phrase "My cow died, so I don’t need your bull!" painted on it, symbolizing authenticity and a no-nonsense attitude. Part of being raw blog.

I think I received that decoration as a gift in college from a friend who knew me for calling out nonsense and naming it. I may have been a bit brash, but it was a wonderful quality that I let be quashed by other voices. Too often, I’ve held back from speaking up in meetings, even when I knew I had meaningful input. Past experiences of being hushed taught me to self-edit, to make myself smaller. I will never forget being told that I should take up less space because men expect men to take up more space, and women to take up less. The worst part? I took that advice to heart. I consciously tried to shrink myself in meetings, and do you know what happened? I felt stepped on, overlooked, brushed off.  

So, the pendulum swung back. I stopped apologizing for existing and reclaimed my voice. That’s me being authentic. At ANIMISTIC this means we can all challenge ideas and no one needs to take up less room at the table, regardless of what other biases may be.  

A blue tumbler with the phrase "If I’m too much, then go find less" printed in white, symbolizing confidence, authenticity, and self-empowerment. Part of being raw blog

A friend of mine gave me a mug that says, “If I’m too much, go find less.” At first, I was shocked. Then, I laughed—one of those full-on, belly laughs that makes people stop and stare. Because I have a sense of humor. And that’s me being wonderful.

All of this leads me to a recent podcast conversation among my friends Dr. Casey Bradley the founder of ANIMISTIC who sat down with Dr. Jim Smith to talk with Morgan Hart about something that stuck with me: Being Raw. 

Strangely enough, this podcast reminds me of three Tom Cruise movies:

  • A Few Good Men: When Jack Nicholson’s character shouts, “You can’t handle the truth!” in response to Tom Cruise’s demand, “I want the truth.” Agriculture is full of hard truths—markets, weather, mental fatigue, and the sheer physical demands of the job. Do we really want to hear the truth when someone says they’re struggling? Or do we just want the glossy version that lets us pretend everything is fine? (That’s really Toxic Positivity, which is a topic for a completely new blog,)
  • Jerry Maguire: When he releases his treatise to the company and desperately asks, “Who’s with me?” The industry thrives on passion, but stepping out with bold ideas or calling for change often leaves people wondering, Who’s actually with me?—and not everyone is ready to jump on board. The hardest part isn’t having the vision; it’s finding the people who believe in it, and have your back when the going gets tough.
  • Mission Impossible: When Ethan Hunt declares, “Mission Accomplished.” Despite all the setbacks, farmers and ag professionals push forward, driven by an almost irrational optimism that somehow, someway, they’ll get the job done. This is the essence of agriculture—weather disasters, market crashes, policy shifts, labor shortages—yet we show up and find a way.

That’s what Being Raw is all about—being Real, Authentic, and Wonderful. (And maybe an overzealous Tom Cruise fan???

So, let’s be real. Being Raw means showing up authentically and supporting your people. A text, a snap, a funny meme—it doesn’t have to be grandiose. Just let them know they’re your people. Because in an industry built on resilience, the most powerful thing we can do is remind each other that we’re not in this alone. No one succeeds in agriculture alone, and no one should feel like they have to. 

Let’s connect. Book a meeting with me, Tracy Snider, to explore how ANIMISTIC’s science-driven, heart-centered approach can help your business not just survive—but thrive. Do you need a mentor? We are a woman-owned business in agriculture. We can connect you through our professional networks.

To learn more about Animistic’s services visit: services

Animistic company motto faithfully serving through science and heart

Latest Articles