HR Workshops for Farmers

NOFA Vermont PO Box 697 Richmond, VT 05477

Non-Profit Org. US Postage PAID Permit No. 37 Richmond, VT

Photo by Maria Reade

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Human Resource & Labor Management for Farmers THREE HALF-DAY TRAININGS • WINTER 2015

You know how to manage crops and cows, marketing and money.

But do you know how to manage people?

From unpaid interns to employees, retail workers to field crew, H2A to locals, working with your spouse to volunteers, your staff is your most important – and expensive – tool. With this series, learn about: • • • • •

Recruitment & hiring Maximizing farm output and long term profits Training manuals Incentive pay Developing productive, engaged employees

• • • • •

Exit interviews How to turn a bunch of employees into a team Developing your leadership style Becoming an organized delegator Creating middle management

Take all three sessions and you can receive a Certificate of Human Resources from Vermont Technical College.

More details about the certificate at www.nofavt.org/farmerHR. Be sure to check the box on the registration form!

SESSION ONE

Choose between two convenient locations for each session!

Get Your Team: Hire, Train & Retain a Strong Farm Crew Wed, January 14, 10am-3pm

Presenters:

Thurs, January 15, 10am-3pm

Paul Harlow has been farming since 1974. His organic farm in Westminster, VT has been in his family for nearly 100 years. Paul and his team raise a wide range of vegetables and small fruit plus chickens, cows and pigs on 300 acres, as well as produce a wide range of value-added products in their farm kitchen. The farm seasonally employs 30 local and H2A staff members.

Red Schoolhouse, 46 So. Randolph Rd, Vermont Technical College Campus, Randolph -or401 Lawrence Pl, Vermont Technical College Campus, Williston 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, and state and federal department of labor representatives. Farmer-to-farmer networking opportunities will also be available.

Topics include:

Determining staff needs and job descriptions Developing human resource policies Organizing and training the team Legal aspects of hiring

Photo by Maria Reade

• • • •

ONE-ON-ONE HR MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE

Jane Sorensen is co-owner of River Berry Farm, an organic small fruit and vegetable farm, located on the Lamoille River in Fairfax, Vermont, since 1991. They grow 50 acres of vegetables, 3 acres of strawberries, 1 acre of raspberries and 18,000 square feet of greenhouse crops with a crew of 18 to 22 folks with strong backs and great senses of humor.

Ross Thurber manages Lilac Ridge Farm in Brattleboro Vermont. The organic farm produces milk from a 45 cow dairy marketed through Organic Valley coop. Five acres of vegetables and strawberries are sold retail at a self-service farm stand. The woodlands on the farm support a 2000 tap sugarbush and 500 acres of managed woodland for timber and firewood. A multigenerational operation, they also employ local staff.

Ashley Orgain is Manager of Mission Advocacy and Outreach for Seventh Generation, responsible for management of their mission-based campaigns and outreach. She is also Executive Director of the Seventh Generation Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to promoting social and environmental progress.

State and Federal Department of Labor representatives will highlight where their laws may diverge and clarify regulations for farmers.

• Payroll, tax & labor regulations review of your business • Management coaching Attend at least two workshops in the series to be eligible to apply for free one-on-one assistance. NOFA-VT member- • Administration & interpretation of communication style tests for you and your entire crew ship required. More information is available at workshops or contact NOFA-VT at 802-434-4122 or info@nofavt.org.

• Professional development funds for additional leadership training courses Areas of assistance may include:

SESSION THREE

Conflict on the Team: Effective Leadership & Communication with Farm Employees Thurs, March 5, 10am-3pm

Red Schoolhouse, 46 So. Randolph Rd, Vermont Technical College Campus, Randolph -or-

Fri, March 6, 10am-3pm

SESSION TWO

Run Your Team: Tools for Managing and Motivating Employees on the Farm Tues, February 3, 10am-3pm

Ilsley Public Library, 75 Main St, Middlebury -or-

Wed, Feburary 4, 10am-3pm

King Arthur Flour Campus, 135 Route 5 South, Norwich Employees make it possible to get more done, but managing staff and their work takes dedicated time, energy, and processes. Whether you manage one seasonal worker or a large year-round crew, good management can make the difference between making headway on your farm’s work or just creating headaches. Join veteran farmer and educator Chris Blanchard to learn how to create a productive, positive work environment by communicating clear expectations and implementing systems for efficiency and accountability.

Topics include:

• Systems for removing emotion from management • Practical tools to increase employee satisfaction and productivity • How to use labor information to make operational and investment decisions • Building a team culture • Matching the right job to the right employee

Presenter: Chris Blanchard has owned and operated Rock Spring Farm in Decorah, Iowa, with up to 20 acres of vegetable production since 1999. He has managed over 100 employees, made hundreds of mistakes, and learned from them to create a positive, productive and inspiring work environment. Chris has helped farmers develop employee management systems on operations large and small and has had the opportunity to observe both dysfunctional and beautifully successful management systems.

401 Lawrence Pl, Vermont Technical College Campus, Williston Become a better manager by learning how to navigate different personalities and developing your leadership style.

Through presentation of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI ©), workshop attendees will gain awareness and practical skills in clear communication, creating a positive work environment and managing a diverse team. These life skills are applicable well beyond the barn or field. Challenge your assumptions about yourself and your employees to increase everyone’s workplace satisfaction. Highly-experienced farmers Chris Dutton and Don Zasada will share in-depth lessons learned from hiring, training and working with hundreds of farm crew members.

Topics Include: • • • •

Developing effective leadership Working with your spouse, partner or friends Understanding & addressing different communication styles Adjusting farm systems to cope with employee turnover

Presenters: Chris Dutton is a veterinarian and was a partner on a large dairy for 6 years. He is a faculty member at Vermont Technical College, where he transitioned the school farm from professional labor to student labor. In addition he owns 80 cows of his own that are milked by a motivated team of dairy students. His experience has taught him much about managing young employees and working with “planned 100% annual employee turnover.”

Daniel Cantor Yalowitz, Ed.D. is a developmental and crosscultural psychologist and Dean of the SIT Graduate Institute located in Brattleboro, VT. He is a community activist who consults internationally. Daniel has trained nearly 5,000 people with the Myers-Briggs Type Index.

Don Zasada farmed with The Food Project as the Director of Agriculture for 7 years, growing 21 acres of vegetables and distributing to a CSA, farmers markets, and food shelters. He managed the work of 6 staff, 60 youth, and over 1,000 volunteers annually. In 2005, Don moved to Caretaker Farm in Williamstown, MA, and currently mentors 2 to 4 apprentices each season while hosting hundreds of volunteers.

WORKSHOPS AT THE WINTER CONFERENCE

Payroll & Tax Clinic for Farmer-Employers

Two Human Resource workshops will be held at the NOFA Vermont Winter Conference, February 14-16, 2015 at the University of Vermont in Burlington.

Labor Laws that Every Farmer-Employer Should Know

Learn more and register at www.nofavt.org/conference.

Presenter: Roy Henshaw, accountant & agricultural business planner from Sudbury, MA Presenter: Kenneth Miller, attorney and co-founder of Law for Food.

HUMAN RESOURCE & LABOR MANAGEMENT FOR FARMERS Registration Form Please use a separate form for each attendee. You may print additional forms at www.nofavt.org/farmerHR Walk-ins are welcome on the day of the workshop; however, preregistration is required for discounts and to guarantee lunch.

Name of Attendee: Farm/Business: Address:

Email: Phone: Dietary restrictions:  Gluten-free

 Vegetarian

Session

Choose date & location:

NOFA-VT Members

Non-Members

Session One: Get Your Team

 January 14, Randolph  January 15, Williston

$50

$70

Session Two: Run Your Team

 February 3, Middlebury  February 4, Norwich

$50

$70

$50

$70

Session Three: Conflict on the Team  March 5, Randolph  March 6, Williston Total: Multiple-session discount: Subtract $15 for two sessions or $30 for three Farm employee discount: Subtract $10/session Not a member? Become one today! $30 individual/$40 farm (2 registrations)/$50 business (4 registrations)

TOTAL:  I am registering for all three sessions and would like to receive a certificate of completion from Vermont Technical College.

Please send checks made out to NOFA Vermont to: NOFA Vermont Human Resource Series PO Box 697, Richmond, VT 05477

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Register by phone: 802-434-4122

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Register online: www.nofavt.org/farmerHR

Thanks to our series sponsors!

This series produced with support from USDA/NIFA under Award Number 2012-49200-20031, and the Department of Labor.

Please visit www.nofavt.org/farmerHR to register and pay online!