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east central PA | Couple memories from my time as a hired man - from grunt labor to eventually in charge of 250 cows in the milking barn and two other employees. This is over several operations.
- there are houses provided a family is expected to raise up kids in that I wouldn't expect my dogs to live in let alone humans
- family (in my case mostly in-laws) compares farm jobs to other occupations in a never ending nag of "why don't you provide better?"
- farm work can be hot, cold, heavy, sharp, wet, aggressive-animals ridden, and generally a semi-hostile (or at least dangerous) work environment
- work environments that I refer to as a hired mans nightmare - these are usually facilities and equipment that while perfectly functional and sometimes paid for - however, they are not 'modern' or ergonomically sound, and they lack current technology and such
- never receive overtime - yeah - I know ag is exempt in many cases, but that is not my point
- there are plenty of alternatives to earning wages
The boss man said to me once when I was complaining about the quality of help he hired that I was responsible for managing - "Isn't it better to have a warm body than no one at all?" Sure, that's fine with me except don't hold me responsible for the goofs work. I usually thought that if he gave me those wages I could do the entire thing by my self. He wouldn't let me try.
Aren't many farmers focused on land as their way of building wealth? This does not apply to they help. Why would they work for you then?
Probably no good ideas from me today, but this is how I remember it.
The way I read current news - nobody can keep help.
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