• If you are having problems logging in please use the Contact Us in the lower right hand corner of the forum page for assistance.

The New Labor Pool

B

Ben H

Well-known member
Joined
Mar 20, 2006
Messages
1,738
Location
Gorham, ME
This is carried over from the Barbed Wire discussion so that doesn't get off topic.
http://ranchers.net/forum/posting.php?mode=reply&t=30315&sid=1aa64b274ed14f574cfb04973cc0a577

You're right about getting kids to work.My Mom's Cousin's grandson, a freshmen in HS, comes over sometimes. He's probably about 250 lbs and 5'5". He doesn't mind doing tractor work but manual labor, not so much. I think he comes over just out of boredom, I don't usually pay him anything, he has eevrything he needs provided (including new snowmmobile). What really ticks me off is he'll be helping me and I'm counting on his help when he says he got a phone call and his Mom needs to come pick him up "going somewhere" "celebrating his Mom's birthday" and so on. He wont' think of what needs to be done if it's manual labor, I have to tell him everything. If it involves using the tractor he has plenty of ideas to use it. I did find him very usefull when driving posts, I have a manual Shaver HD-10 so no hydraulic shift, it helps having him in the tractor adjusting position while I'm running the driver. I've been trying to mentor him, teaching him grazing principles and building HT fence. I brought him to a grazing conference recently and he liked it. I was impressed when we drove by an overgrzed pasture and he said "why don't they divide that up into a few paddocks", I told him "you're learning" and he said "it's just common sense". He tod me recently he should be a meat cutter so he can process my animals for me. He saw a cutting demo on a lamb at that conference I went to.
 
Ben H said:
This is carried over from the Barbed Wire discussion so that doesn't get off topic.
http://ranchers.net/forum/posting.php?mode=reply&t=30315&sid=1aa64b274ed14f574cfb04973cc0a577

You're right about getting kids to work.My Mom's Cousin's grandson, a freshmen in HS, comes over sometimes. He's probably about 250 lbs and 5'5". He doesn't mind doing tractor work but manual labor, not so much. I think he comes over just out of boredom, I don't usually pay him anything, he has eevrything he needs provided (including new snowmmobile). What really ticks me off is he'll be helping me and I'm counting on his help when he says he got a phone call and his Mom needs to come pick him up "going somewhere" "celebrating his Mom's birthday" and so on. He wont' think of what needs to be done if it's manual labor, I have to tell him everything. If it involves using the tractor he has plenty of ideas to use it. I did find him very usefull when driving posts, I have a manual Shaver HD-10 so no hydraulic shift, it helps having him in the tractor adjusting position while I'm running the driver. I've been trying to mentor him, teaching him grazing principles and building HT fence. I brought him to a grazing conference recently and he liked it. I was impressed when we drove by an overgrzed pasture and he said "why don't they divide that up into a few paddocks", I told him "you're learning" and he said "it's just common sense". He tod me recently he should be a meat cutter so he can process my animals for me. He saw a cutting demo on a lamb at that conference I went to.
Click to expand...
Ben i hear what you're saying,but at least it sounds like this kid has somewhat of a head on his shoulders,and his niche may not be the labor you need in the field,but i almost found myself begging for help on tractor work this summer.Kids around here come from well to do families, and Work,much less Ag Work is the last thing on thier concieted,lazy little minds.Sorry,had to get that off my shoulders,i worked my phanny off when i was thier age and still do,can't imagine any other way.I feel better now,good luck buddy!
 
I have two grandsons that come help me. One kid is a worker that could be stacked up against the best. He will do anything, doesn't mind getting dirty, and knows that manuel labor is not the Mexican around the corner. The other boy will sluff off and let his brother do the work. He wants to go hunting or some other form of play. His folks let him get away with it, but grandad will stay on his case. Working is an aquirable skill, and needs to be taught.
 
OMGAWD I could go on for days about the "young adults" who are the workforce of today. :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: :roll: These are "suppose" to be farm kids :?
They get bored, tired or just want to go sit they do NO matter what. It dont matter there are still 3 calves left to feed. oh they can miss a meal no biggie :mad: :mad:
"you want ME to hose down the floor in front of the calf stalls?????" I might get wet :? Take the trash out....1 can NOT all 5 and drop them at the door :mad: :mad: The dumpsters is all of 6 more steps outside the door.
Burn the paper trash sure but never ALL of it and if it blows out of the kabota eeegaattss pick it up????? Nawww the wind will blow it away :roll: :roll: :roll:
Calf wont eat cuz it just got moved out and is stressing oh well pick up the bottle and move on.......too much work to CALMLY try and get her to eat. :evil: :evil:
Finish what you start?????? yeah ok hmmmm Thats what I am there for to clean up after the children.
Want to have a party all weekend.....call in Friday 10 mins after your suppose to be there and quit :roll: :roll:
Listen and be respectful to the owner hahahahahah OMGAWD you mean answering him with a smart tone and asking him why he wants to know and is it really his business? Then say he is an OLD MAN and he just needs to go away :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil: :evil:
Flush lanes need to be cleaned out...why? just flush, so what the open lots get flooded and heifers slip and fall and possibly break a leg there are more calves being born everyday ~no one cares anyways :???: :???:
OK I better stop I have to get ready for work and no sense getting myself worked up before I go.
I am a city girl who works harder than most NOT all, and will finish a job started and find things to do because that is what needs to be done. SO its NOT city people cuz I iz one. ( innercity work showing LOL)But then I am over 40 and have worked for many years. This is my first stint at farm work but my work ethic is the same no matter.
you can NOT teach those UNWILLING to learn. Why should they??? They are allowed to do what they what ,when and how cuz help is soooo short. :roll: :roll: :roll: Any help is better then none hmmm yeah I guess when you have a responsible adult doing the clean up and finish work, or as shoer says the dirt jobs no one wants to do.
So I have changed my title from calf raiser to Night Janitor. Hail I still get paid.
 
I do have to say to the credit of my daughters,they are some tough little workers.At 9 & 12 they probably out ranch hand most of the local kids and some adults.They were out feeding early this morning and fencing with me last week.There are some pretty handy kids in the area,but fewer and fewer as they hunt up better paying income.
 

Latest posts

Back
Top