Human Resources Workshop: Get Your Team: Hire, Train & Retain a Strong Farm Crew

Improve your bottom line and increase overall business sustainability by learning from the successful human resources systems of experienced farm-managers. Gain practical people-management skills and get take-home resources to help you hire and keep a great crew. Presenters include farmers with both large and small staff, state and federal department of labor representatives, corporate perspectives and farmer-to-farmer networking opportunities.

Presenters: Paul Harlow, Westminster Organics; Jane Sorensen, River Berry Farm; Ross Thurber, Lilac Ridge Farm; Ashley Orgain, Seventh Generation; Federal and State Dept of Labor staff

Topics include:

• Determining Needs: organizational charts, job descriptions, full season vs. weeder crews, apprentices vs. hourly labor, middle management
• Farm HR Policies: relevant & legal interviewing, checking references, wage scales & incentive pay, handbooks, safety & ER plans, tracking labor & metrics, exit interviewing
• Organizing the Team: how to be a good supervisor, delegating & autonomy, communicating expectations & feedback, accountability, training  in standards & efficiencies, performance reviews, working with friends & family
• Legal Aspects of Hiring: understanding state and federal law on wage & hour regulations, interns, volunteers
• Understanding & tracking the relationship of labor management to profitability, when to buy equipment

Part of our 3-part Labor Management Skill Building for Farmers workshop series. This workshop will also be held in Williston.