Becoming the Employer of Choice Learning & Discussion Meeting Series

A program for farmers interested in improved employee recruitment and retention

Farmers and farm managers interested in improving the recruitment and retention of employees are invited to participate in a peer network meeting series featuring the University of Wisconsin-Extension, “Becoming the Employer of Choice” Farm Human Resource Management program.

The meeting series, starting in March, will focus on developing the farm business as a preferred employer in today’s challenging labor market with techniques to increase retention of employees and practices to improve farm recruitment and training.  “Farm employers sometimes feel they cannot compete for employees in today’s labor market and current milk prices, however there are many practices and techniques farms in particular can utilize to attract, motivate and retain good employees, says Agriculture Educator, Liz Binversie.

Each meeting will begin with research-based information to improve your skills as an employer, and will include participant discussion of suggestions and best practices for meeting the challenges of today’s labor market.

The program meeting series will be held on March 3^rd, 10^th, and 17^th, from 1-3:30 p.m.  Each meeting will focus on a specific topic related to best practices for improved employee management.  All meetings will be held at Wrightstown Community Hall 352 High St, Wrightstown.   Each meeting is limited to 10 participants.  Registration available on a first come, first serve basis.

Farmers and/or managers interested in attending should register for the meeting(s) of interest by March 2^nd.  The program costs are $10 per class or $25 for all sessions.  For more information or to register, contact the Brown County UW-Extension office by March 2  www.browncountyextension.org or 920-391-4612

Download the flyer at the link below:

Employer of Choice PDF

The following information provides details for the specific topics at each meeting. Participants are welcome to register for one, two or all three meetings in the series.

March 3, from 1:00-3:30 pm: “Hiring the Right People” and “Developing a Motivated Workforce”— Participants will learn how to reduce miss-hires and turnover and improve employee performance by exploring the hiring process and learning how to create a motivating environment. Group discussion will be focused on participants’ experiences and provided scenarios to talk through suggestions and best practices.

March 10, from 1:00-3:30 pm: “Strategic Leadership & On-Boarding” and “Reviews and Feedback”— Set your new employees up for success by learning how on-boarding practices and regular training opportunities are key for their development. Effectively communicating expectations can reduce new employee confusion and poor productivity. Keep them on track by learning how to provide constructive feedback, performance reviews, and incentive plans. Group discussion will focus on participants’ on-boarding, training practices, employee reviews and feedback, and how these ideas can be shared and used by others.

March 17, from 1:00-3:30 pm: “From Managers to Leaders” and “Managing Conflict” — In this session, we will discuss the difference between being a manager and being a leader. Participants will learn about leadership styles and identify their preferred style. Learn about effective communication strategies and the basic concepts in conflict management to help navigate through difficult situations. Group discussion will focus on which leadership style is best applied in different employee management situations and learn from each other’s experiences as well as conflict scenarios and constructive feedback for future situations.

Farm owners and/or managers interested in the meeting series should register for the meeting(s) of interest by March 2^nd.  The program costs are $10 per class or $25 for all sessions.  For more information or to register, contact the Brown County UW-Extension office to register by March 2^nd  www.browncountyextension.org or 920-391-4612.