BeTempered Episode 120 – Steve Hayes Jr. Four Generations of Legacy at Hayes Arboretum

What does it look like to inherit a four-generation legacy and realize your job isn’t just to preserve it, but to make sure it survives for the next generation? Steve Hayes Jr., executive director of Hayes Arboretum in Richmond, Indiana, joins Ben Spahr and Dan Schmidt for a conversation about family legacy, conservation, nonprofit leadership, and the responsibility that comes with caring for something much bigger than yourself. Steve takes us back to the beginning with his great-grandfather, Stanley W. Hayes, a Cornell-trained engineer and prolific railroad industry inventor who began restoring native trees to land that would eventually become Hayes Arboretum. What started as a family estate grew into 466 acres of forest, prairie, wetlands, historic property, and environmental education that generations of people have experienced. We talk about what makes Hayes Arboretum different, why native plants and ecosystems matter, and why spending time in nature can provide a kind of peace that’s difficult to find anywhere else. Steve explains the quiet work happening in a forest every day and how closely it mirrors the work of building a healthy community. But preserving a legacy isn't always easy. Steve opens up about the financial realities of running a nonprofit, the original endowment model, what happened as those resources were depleted, difficult decisions involving land sales, and the work required to change the organization’s trajectory. He shares how disciplined operations, volunteers, mission focus, and long-term planning have helped position Hayes Arboretum for the future. We also get into the Playscape, future classroom plans, the Arboretum’s master plan, and Steve’s personal approach to leadership. From gratitude to running and physical discipline, he shares some of the practices that help him stay grounded when the responsibility gets heavy. This is a conversation about trees, but it’s also about stewardship. It’s about taking care of what previous generations built, making difficult decisions when necessary, and leaving something worthwhile for the people who come after us. Learn more and support the show at betempered.com. Join the BeTempered community at patreon.com/betempered. Subscribe to BeTempered and leave a review to help more people discover the show. Send us Fan Mail Support the show