Many want to work with horses or like the idea of handling cattle and “fresh country air” – but many aren’t ready for what that really is. Be prepared, realistic and find the job for you.
If you’re looking for a job where you can be done at 4:30 every day, get an hour lunch and are never called to stay over – keep looking. If you’re more interested in the bling than flinging manure also keep looking – in another industry. But if you’re willing to roll up your sleeves and get dirty – if you’re committed to doing the job even when it’s freezing and when it’s baking – then you might find a ready place in agriculture. If you’d like to expand your skills and learn new things this is an industry that has much to offer. If you’re looking for a challenge and don’t mind coming home bone weary in a good kind of way from honest work then read on.
1. Look honestly at your life and goals. Brutally honest. What natural drives do you have that makes farm work appealing? Is it being “paid to work out?” Is it being outside in the nice weather (and if it is are you willing to also be out in the nasty weather – livestock needs care even then)? Are you apt to call in for a day off when you have a cough or do you soldier through, reserving calling in only for times you’re a step out of the hospital? Are you willing to accept the risk – without suing – that each day means facing the risk of injury and possibly death? Are you careful with other people’s possessions? Do you sincerely care about animals or are you just looking for something to pay the bills? The answers to these questions help you be brutal in what you are looking for and sharpen the focus so that you find a job that you like and can do well in – which has a better chance of making both you and the boss is happy. If you don’t like animals don’t take a job where you’re handling foals or birthing cows. If you’re handy with fixing things or welding or other skills you might find your ideal job on a farm that raises them but working in the maintenance and other things rather than hands on with the animals.
2. Do you easily get attached to animals – even those not your own? If so you’d best stay away from places that prep for sales, train for the race track or other farms that can have a high animal turnover. Sales prep for example means animals come in for a couple months, go to the sale and ideally (for the farm or client) don’t come home. Can you provide a mix of discipline and positive reinforcement? Are you queasy at the site of blood or burning hair? While it’s doubtful anyone LIKES branding, cutting calves, treating wounds or disbudding calves – it’s all things that need to be done. How are your medical type skills? Can you treat an injured leg? If you can’t – but are willing to learn – look for a place willing to take an entry level, get it and pay attention…the hands on experience is invaluable.
3. Be HONEST about what you can and can’t do. This can’t be stressed enough…stretching the truth or outright lying figuring you can wing it when you get the job can get someone hurt or killed – maybe you maybe someone else. The first job I had for college work experience this was the case – a new hand was told to tie up the stud horse so I could put the tail set back on him when I was done with what I was doing. I walked in and as I was working on his tail – behind him – I looked up and my heart was in my throat. This four year old stallion with mares walking in front of him had the halter between the ears and the throat piece instead of hooked at the throat was hooked to the nose…a sling of his head and he’d be loose with me behind him. If you don’t know how to do something SAY you don’t know and have someone show you!! Don’t lie…anyone who has interviewed or hired very long has had it done and is looking for it – and what could have been a learning experience becomes a lesson in getting fired. An example of this came again when a young man showed up to work at a Thoroughbred farm part time – he went on and on about how his family was involved with roping horses and how much experience he had – leg injuries, working babies, you name it. I tossed him a halter and pointed to a paddock and told him to go get the chestnut mare out of that field – which held a chestnut and two bays. He turned around and asked which was the chestnut – at which point I took the halter and told him that he blew a chance at the job…doesn’t matter what breed if you can’t tell a red from a bay the chances of having done all the rest are nil. These were gentle horses – a difficult one could result in injury.
4. Along with the above – don’t assume tractors are oversized lawnmowers – if you haven’t run one the proper answer to “Can you drive a tractor?” is not “yes”. You can get in a whole lot of trouble if a load pops off because you didn’t hitch it right; or you didn’t know that on this model tractor you have to move it out of gear in two places…or how to set the brakes or any number of other things. Being open to learning is one thing – misrepresenting what you can do is something else. If you can run power equipment it’s a plus on many farms – but be honest about your level of comfort and skill with it – things can go bad in a hurry if you don’t know what you’re doing.
5. Experience is good – attitude isn’t. Even if you think the boss is wrong be tactful in suggesting other options. If you know more than the boss you’re a threat and may not be there for long – especially if he/she thinks you’re eyeing their job. The exception – if you know something will get you hurt you have the right to refuse it – they have the right to let you go because of the refusal but if it comes to a job or a wreck – let the job go. There are others. I’ve never heard a farm not hire someone for refusing to do something that was guaranteed to result in injury. If you’re hurt you can’t work and if you’re hurt on their job their work doesn’t get done – it’s in both parties best interests to keep you healthy. Be willing to learn new ways of doing things – maybe it’s better maybe it’s not but there’s often a reason things are done the way they are. If you get into a job and it’s obvious you know far more than the others at the farm – and it’s not a good match – cut your losses and move on.
6. Be respectful. You can disagree but respect the boss as your boss. If you can’t do that then don’t take the job or, if on the job, leave it. Equally, you deserve to be treated with respect too. Temper tantrums, throwing equipment, cursing employees out and physical threats is not a good working environment. Leave. Do not look back – get in the vehicle and leave. Surely it’s been done before – places like that have a difficult time hanging onto employees and wouldn’t know a good employee when he walks in the door.
Be honest about your skills and experience and hunt for a job to use them. If the job allows learning new ones so much the better!
