Mike Stokley takes a lot of pride in operating a farm that has been in his family’s name for four generations.

The lifelong East Texan knows how to get a job done.  In his two+ decades as a field service technician, as best anyone can recall, Longview’s Mike Stokley has never given up on a repair and had to call in for a loaner machine. Put another way: When it comes to service resolution, Mike’s motto may as well be “Never Give In... Never Say Die.” His absolute determination to not only put in the work but fix it the first time is a distinguishable forte he carries with him into the office.

But also at the farm.

Mike currently manages 25 head of cattle and operates a farm that his great-grandfather established in 1908. His acumen at the office only tells part of the story of what man accomplishes in a given day. 

“It can be a lot of work, but I love it…Operating a farm, if I set out to do something, I’m going to do it well and get it done.”

Though the origins of the phrase “never say die” date to a 19th-century poem based on Shakespeare’s Merchant of Venice, it’s now passed on as vernacular to mean never giving up, no matter the circumstances. It's certainly appropriate for Mike’s work as a technician.

Never Say Die: Be prepared.

Growing up in Diana, TX, Mike grew up knowing most folks around town, and benefited from solid relationships and consistent family support. That, along with the daily grind that came with farm work, prepared him for future professional success.

“Working alongside my dad as a kid, we did a lot of repairs around the house. He would stay at something until it got fixed. If he had a problem, he’d stay at it,” Mike recalls.

That determination starts with being prepared.

“Working out in the field, it’s critical that I gather parts, do the research, use all my resources before I arrive on-site with a customer so that I’m fully prepared,” Mike said.

Never Say Die: Be flexible.

Talk about flexibility. Mike’s list of chores demands it on any given day.

“Every typical day at the form is I come home from work, we have supper, and we go out and feed the cows. I’ll do any chores that come up, and then on weekends, we’re clearing brush or building a fence, or working around the house. Pretty soon it’s going to be mowing season and we’ll be bush-hogging pastures,” Mike said.  

The unpredictable East Texas weather, circumstances on the farm, his Datamax call workload, down to individual challenges he faces in front of a machine all demand that he remain flexible in his approach.

“If you work on a problem and if you’re not getting anywhere, take a step back and look at it again from a different angle. That’s one thing I’ve learned over the years,” Mike said.

Never Say Die: Be determined.

As mentioned, East Texas Director of Operations Justin Harper has worked with Mike for more than two decades. In that time, he can’t recall a single time he had to send out a loaner device because Mike didn’t get the customer issue resolved.

If that doesn’t spell determination, what does?

“I’m not real sure where that determined nature comes from. Could be from my time growing up on the farm. All I know is if it’s my job, I want to do it right. I don’t want to put it off on somebody else and I don’t want to come back to it unless I absolutely have to. I don’t like to have a problem unsolved,” Mike said.

The job, of course, doesn’t come without its reward. For Mike, it’s the satisfaction of completing said work and the good feeling that comes with solving a problem.

“There’s a sense of pride in doing that,” Mike said.