Once upon a time, in a lush and bountiful orchard, lived a wise old farmer. He was known throughout the land for his sweet, crisp apples, and people would travel from far and wide to taste them.

One year, the farmer decided to host a grand Apple Festival. He spent months preparing. He polished his finest red wagons, built a magnificent archway of woven branches, and hired the best musicians to play cheerful tunes. He even created a special new apple cider, so delicious it was rumored to make one’s heart sing. He put up signs at the edge of his property and told the village town crier to announce the festival. He was so confident in his preparations and his reputation that he was certain the orchard would be overflowing with visitors.

The day of the festival arrived, and the sun shone brightly. The music played, and the cider sat ready in great wooden casks. But as the hours passed, only a handful of townspeople wandered in. The farmer, standing proudly by his archway, watched as his beautiful festival went largely unnoticed.

Confused and disheartened, he called his farmhands together. “We did everything right,” he said. “The apples are perfect, the music is beautiful, the new cider is a marvel. Why did no one come?”

A young farmhand, who had spent the morning tending to the lower fields, spoke up. “Farmer, we all worked hard to prepare the orchard. But we forgot to tend to the most important crop of all: the people. We were so busy polishing the wagons, we forgot to tell the villagers we were coming to get them.”

Another farmhand added, “When I saw the few people who did come, I showed them where to pull their wagons and pointed them toward the archway. But I didn’t tell them about the music, the new cider, or how excited I was for the day. I didn’t tell my own family to come. I just assumed they would know.”

The wise old farmer nodded, understanding the lesson. He had prepared the feast, but he had not invited the guests with the same energy. He had relied on his past success to do the work for him. The next year, he did things differently. Each farmhand was given a special task. They went into the neighboring villages, not just with the message, but with small baskets of apples, personally inviting people and sharing stories of the festival. They learned about the townspeople and talked about the new cider, the games, and their own excitement. The farmhands themselves became the living invitations, and their enthusiasm was as contagious as a good laugh.

When the festival day arrived, the path to the orchard was lined with people, all eager to join in the celebration. The farmer watched with a great smile, not just because of the crowd, but because of the joy on the faces of his farmhands, who felt a part of the festival’s success. 

The grandest of preparations can fail without the shared energy and personal outreach of everyone involved. For a truly great harvest, you must not only plant the seed but also tend to the soil, the sun, and the people who will help it grow.

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Recap: Key Lessons

1. Preparation Without People Falls Flat

Takeaway: The farmer built the perfect festival but forgot to invite the villagers with energy and personal connection.  We have the biggest most beautiful venue in town and organize the best events imaginable, but without us proudly connecting and sharing with the world, they don’t mean a thing.

Why it matters: Flawless logistics mean nothing without genuine outreach. People don’t just show up because we’re ready, they show up because we asked, invited, and made them feel part of it.

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2. We Are the Living Invitations

Takeaway: The farmhands became the festival’s success when they carried baskets of apples into the villages and shared their excitement face-to-face.

Why it matters: Guests respond to people, not posters. Our stories, our enthusiasm, and our personal touches create the spark that gets them through the door.

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3. Curiosity and Connection Grow the Harvest

Takeaway: Sharing cider, stories, and excitement made the farmhands more than workers they became ambassadors of the orchard.

Why it matters: Every conversation is a seed. Curiosity turns service into connection, and connection turns guests into loyal advocates who bring others with them.

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4. Community Extends Beyond the Orchard

Takeaway: The farmer’s success came when his team went into the villages, not when they waited for the villages to come to him.

Why it matters: Our reach isn’t limited to our four walls. Each interaction outside builds momentum that feeds what happens inside.

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5. Energy Creates Energy

Takeaway: When the farmhands brought joy and ownership to the invitations, the festival didn’t just succeed, it thrived.

Why it matters: Enthusiasm is contagious. When we show pride and passion in what we do, others can’t help but want to be part of it.

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Big Picture:

Just like the farmer, we can polish the wagons, stack the cider, and trust the signs. But true growth doesn’t come from preparation alone, it comes from us. Every guest we greet, every friend we invite, every connection we nurture is an apple in the basket we carry to the world. Great service and hospitality keeps people happy once they arrive, but curiosity and intentional connection are what bring them here in the first place.