Actions Speak Louder Than Words: When It Comes to Setting a Positive Culture on the Farm
When it comes to farm culture, actions speak louder than words. A leader’s influence sets the tone and establishing a good farm culture is not only essential, but also vital to retain employees. Recently at a Vita Plus event in Mount Horeb, Wis., three producers spoke about employee retention and culture building.
Katy Schultz of Tri-Fecta Farms, Inc. in Lake, Wis., who co-manages a 500-cow dairy with her brother Nick and sister Kari, has six full-time and two part-time employees. The majority of their employees have been with the farm for a long time, upwards of 18 years.
“Our employees are more like family,” she says. “We really strive for creating a balance. We aim at creating an environment and culture where employees can thrive at work. We like to joke and have fun and all work together.”
Jim Winn, who co-owns Cottonwood Dairy with two other partners in South Wayne, Wis., employs a roster of 35 people. Winn has an open-door policy, and his employees know they can come and talk to him anytime.
“I also don’t ask them to do anything I can’t do,” he said to the group. “Although my employees don’t want me milking in the parlor, as I’m too slow.”
Katie Grinstead of Vir-Clar Farms in Fond du Lac, Wis., says treating employees like they’re your family member is essential.
“We celebrate everyone’s birthdays,” she says.
Vir-Clar Farms employs 38 full-time workers and their farm's vision emphasizes creating a good working atmosphere for their employees, which is one reason they began the ride-share program nearly five years ago.
“We knew of another farmer doing this and thought it could work for us, too,” Grinstead says. “Our farm does not offer housing and most of our employees live in Fond du Lac.”
Vir-Clar Farm will also begin offering English classes once a week at their farm.
“I’m hoping this will help our employees in their life and can make their life a little bit easier and better,” Grinstead says, sharing employees will pay $15 for the class and then after they complete all that they were asked to do for the class, she will pay them $100.
“I learned at a very young age from my grandfather that it doesn't matter if you're talking to the CEO of a company or if you're talking to the janitor of a company, you treat them the same and you talk to them the same because without all of us the job wouldn’t get done,” she says. “So, I try to remember that.”
