the long long list of "farm" skills but im not confident the person doing the hiring would recognize any of that.

Some might not but there are some that would take that into consideration.
 
It was a long time ago now but I used to hire onto construction for winter months.
Started one job and another worker there says 'farm work done?'

I replied well yes but how did you know I was farming?
He said 'they have a lay off every fall and then a couple weeks later they hire you farmers to work through the winter' 

this was a big site for water pumping to city went on for several years