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PAID Permit No. 37Richmond, VT

NOFA VermontPO Box 697Richmond, VT 05477

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

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ONE-ON-ONE HR MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCEAttend at least two workshops in the series to be eligible to apply for free one-on-one assistance. NOFA-VT member-ship required. More information is available at workshops or contact NOFA-VT at 802-434-4122 or info@nofavt.org. Areas of assistance may include:

• Payroll, tax & labor regulations review of your business• Management coaching• Administration & interpretation of communication style

tests for you and your entire crew• Professional development funds for additional leadership

training courses

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 ONEGet Your Team: Hire, Train & Retain a Strong Farm Crew

Wed, January 14, 10am-3pm Red Schoolhouse, 46 So. Randolph Rd, Vermont Technical College Campus, Randolph-or-

Thurs, January 15, 10am-3pm 401 Lawrence Pl, Vermont Technical College Campus, WillistonImprove your bottom line and increase overall business sus-tainability by learning from the successful human resources systems of experienced farm-managers. Gain practical peo-ple-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 depart-ment 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

Presenters: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.

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 vegeta-bles, 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 em-ploy 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 regu-lations for farmers.

Choose between two convenient locations for each session!

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WORKSHOPS AT THE WINTER CONFERENCETwo Human Resource workshops will be held at the NOFA Vermont Winter Conference, February 14-16, 2015 at the University of Vermont in Burlington.

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

Payroll & Tax Clinic for Farmer-Employers Presenter: Roy Henshaw, accountant & agricultural business planner from Sudbury, MA

Labor Laws that Every Farmer-Employer Should Know Presenter: Kenneth Miller, attorney and co-founder of Law for Food.

SESSION TWORun 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 manag-ing 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 pro-

ductivity• 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 produc-tion 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.

SESSION THREEConflict 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 401 Lawrence Pl, Vermont Technical College Campus, WillistonBecome a better manager by learning how to navigate dif-ferent personalities and developing your leadership style. Through presentation of the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI ©), workshop attendees will gain awareness and prac-tical 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 farm-ers 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 profes-sional labor to student labor. In addition he owns 80 cows of his own that are milked by a motivated team of dairy stu-dents. 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 cross-cultural 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 vol-unteers 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.

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-MembersSession 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

Session Three: Conflict on the Team March 5, Randolph March 6, Williston

$50 $70

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 SeriesPO Box 697, Richmond, VT 05477

Register by phone: 802-434-4122

Register online: www.nofavt.org/farmerHR

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

HUMAN RESOURCE & LABOR MANAGEMENT FOR FARMERS

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