Managing Cow Care Question

[3cows]

Brainstorming a way to be away from the farm one weekend a month (like leave Friday evening after chores and return Sunday afternoon before evening chores) next summer and I have no idea if this idea would fly with young people today, because I am old as dirt.

So far, Hubs and I are thinking about contacting the local ag/FFA departments at the two closest high schools this fall and seeing if we can find our way to a driving age teen who would want to be a paid farm sitter. Since we would want to develop long term loyalty and have them be really familiar with our animals and their care, we were thinking of offering them a $100/per month stipend year round plus another $150 for each weekend they actually were here farm sitting next summer? We would want them to be willing to run out here one weekend morning or afternoon each month year round and observe/participate in our feeding/care routines so that they would become comfortable doing them and know where everything is kept, etc.

Is that too much to ask for that amount of money (we figure the $100 monthly stipend x 12 plus a minimum of 5 actual farm sitting weekends at $150 each, so they would make at least $1950 per year from it).

Totally out of the loop about how kids think now and I know that lots of you all still have teens at home or have more contact with that age group than we do. Our granddaughter works full time and goes to school, so I can't tap her for this + plus she was never around livestock until my son married her mom so she's a little timid still.

If anyone has an opinion or suggestion, please weigh in. (I am off to the river for the day, but will check in tonight.) We want to get something in place this fall or winter so that we are covered to make camping plans for next summer.

A little more information: the main chores will be to:

--hang out in the house and take care of the aging dogs (feed them, give their meds and let them in an out to do their business
--feed the cows and check the water tanks, maybe spritz them with fly spray, if needed
--feed and water feeder pigs, if we have any at that time
--put the poultry in and out each day and feed them (we would make sure there are no meat chickens to care for)
--feed the barn cats every morning

We have made the switch back to a fall calving schedule, so the cows will be either dry or have calves on them big enough to handle all the milk and this is our last year to have any breeding sows.

Curious to know if a kid today would even consider something like this or not. TIA

[throwback]

My kid would have as a teen, she did lots of stable work for neighbors who didn't want to work weekends, or like to be gone a weekend or two a month. Not much help, I know, but if you find the right kid it sounds like a good idea.

[Cowlicked]

I would find a nearby homeschool group and contact them and ask. Seems those kids are better suited, more responsible and may be more interested

[bestyet]

The other possibility with FFA, and this depends on the advisor and the kids, of course, is for an FFA member to actually have helping you as their recordbook project. You and the student and their FFA advisor would tailor-make a plan that works best for all. This gives a little more motivation and structure, and then gives them the opportunity to take their project to contests where they are interviewed about it, etc.

We know some dairy farmers who have had various FFA kids involved in this way and it was of mutual benefit.

[Shawn]

Call the local high school, too, and ask for the counselor. Usually they know what kids might be suited for this type of assignment/responsibility. It was always a great way for me to find a responsible baby sitter. Since it's summer, you might have to locate a teacher who knows how to contact the counselor.

[jerseyrose]

3cows My youngest son would have done this job happily as a teen ( he is 20 now) So yes, there are kids out there that can more than do a good job.

The local FFA / 4-H groups would be a great place to look and talking to the leaders should help you choose the most reliable young person.

Shoot-- I would do it for you if I was closer as I can always use a little cash!!

[rosalind]

Don't limit your search to kids. I farm sit for a neighbor, and if she was offering those prices, I'd be a very loyal employee!

[marseydoats]

Or you could ask your vet for some recommendations. One of the teenagers she has working for her now reminds me of myself at that age. She's totally fearless and doesn't loose her cool in hairy situations. I would trust her with my animals, and that's saying something. Of course, I'm just an old stick in the mud and I'd rather stay at home with a good book and just hang out with the animals than go anywhere.

[Deleted]

Do any community college or universities near you have ag programs? That amount of money and experience sounds like a nice scholarship and internship experience.

[3cows]

Jun 10, 2018 15:45:22 GMT -5 @amyp said:

Do any community college or universities near you have ag programs? That amount of money and experience sounds like a nice scholarship and internship experience.

The closest school with an ag program would be either probably U of MO at Colombia, and that's too far. The closest university to us is a science, technology, engineering school and its more than an hour away, still too far. So I figure high schools will be a better source.

throwback - Do you think I am offering enough money to get a kid to want to do this, based on your daughter's experiences? Our boys both worked summers from about the age of 10 to 13 with a local produce farmer and then from 13 to adulthood with their dad in masonry, coupled with hay hauling, but that was two decades ago. I actually have a great nephew that needs the money and would be good with the animals, but he walked off his first hay hauling job last summer on the first load because it was too hot and sweaty, so I don't know how trustworthy he would be and kinda hesitant to try.

@cowlicked a homeschool group is a good idea - my dream hire would be a teen with a younger brother or sister who could step into the job when the first one goes on to college or a full-time job, I will look around and see what groups I can find near me.

bestyet

I generally write 60 hours a week, so I really don't have time to be a participant as an FFA project and I am far too private a person to ever give out numbers other than what is required by the IRS.

@shawn good idea, this fall I will contact the local high schools, if I haven't found someone, and talk to the counselor and try to get in touch with the FFA chapter and ag programs.

jerseyrose rosalind - good to know! And I am not solely looking for a kid, I just don't know ANY adults who would do this for that amount of money... course by choice I rarely leave the farm and if I do its to see the kids and grandkids, go to the store, or go to the river or lake.

marseydoats - my vet's clientele is 99.99 percent dogs and cats, he will work on cows but admits to having no experience with dairy animals and he pretty much tries to avoid farm calls in favor or more lucrative small animal stuff. We have a longstanding agreement that I pay for an office visit every six months or so and he gives me his private cell number, sells me bottles of the RX meds I want to keep on hand for ten percent over his costs and offers me dosage advice if I need it. I never see his staff in action...

Thanks everyone for the advice, I will poke around this summer and look at possibilities and hope to hire someone by October.

[corrae]

3cows I think that is REALLY generous!!!! And all advice given above is spot on as to finding a farm-sitter for you. I like to be generous when getting a farm sitter... I've found you get what you pay for, and if you pay well, they usually go above and beyond for you. I have a vet tech who farm sits for me, and boy is that sweet... she knows when/if someone needs veterinary care and who to call.

Good luck and keep us posted.

[throwback]

Gosh, it just depends on the kid. She always asked for minimum wage for her time worked. A lot depends on what kind of jobs are available for kids in your area and what they pay. One thing that was a hassle for us was that before she was of driving age, we had to transport her to from her the job. I realize that is what you have to do for you kids, but it was a time factor for us too.

Maybe what rosalind mentioned, finding an adult might be better.

[3cows]

Jun 11, 2018 12:29:15 GMT -5 throwback said:

Gosh, it just depends on the kid. She always asked for minimum wage for her time worked. A lot depends on what kind of jobs are available for kids in your area and what they pay. One thing that was a hassle for us was that before she was of driving age, we had to transport her to from her the job. I realize that is what you have to do for you kids, but it was a time factor for us too.

Maybe what rosalind mentioned, finding an adult might be better.

I know what your are talking about on the driving the kids to work thing, we did that with both our kids when they worked summers for the produce grower before they were old enough to drive and it was a 36 mile round trip twice a day that had to be worked in among our "real" jobs, lol. Often I left the night job at six am and had to be at the day job by 8 so Hubs would take them to a meeting point and I would swing through, grab them, and drop them off on my way through. Since they had a hour to kill after I dropped them off and another after work before me or hubs could get back through there to pick them up, it was an excellent lesson in patience for them and they actually read a lot books during those summers that they might not have made time for otherwise.

My tiny bit of research into teen jobs in this area tells me that my great nephew makes minimum wage working at a Kentucky Fried Chicken joint, which astounds me because he could earn several times that bucking bales in the hay field all summer and there is hay down everywhere here now and farmers cannot find anyone who wants to help with squares. My granddaughter - not technically a teen at 20 but a college student - makes about $9/hour at her job in a nursery school, while going to school full time.

To be honest, I can't think of a single adult that I would trust to take care of my animals (or stay in my house). Heck, most of my siblings do not even have my phone number.

And tbh, I am somewhat of a confirmed hermit and getting worse every single day, so I have no desire to go through the social hell of hiring an adult. Kids are less likely than adults to come preset with bad habits, sloppy care techniques, or loose, gossipy tongues.

[3cows]

Jun 11, 2018 12:15:30 GMT -5 corrae said:

3cows I think that is REALLY generous!!!! And all advice given above is spot on as to finding a farm-sitter for you. I like to be generous when getting a farm sitter... I've found you get what you pay for, and if you pay well, they usually go above and beyond for you. I have a vet tech who farm sits for me, and boy is that sweet... she knows when/if someone needs veterinary care and who to call.

Good luck and keep us posted.

I hope its enough. I have done farm labor at dairy farms, hauled hay and cleaned dog kennels at various points when I was younger and I tried to use that experience to set a number that would compensate for the hours involved, their car gas, and the boredom of being stuck in a strange house for the weekend.

[throwback]

Jun 11, 2018 13:30:22 GMT -5 3cows said:

Jun 11, 2018 12:29:15 GMT -5 throwback said:

Gosh, it just depends on the kid. She always asked for minimum wage for her time worked. A lot depends on what kind of jobs are available for kids in your area and what they pay. One thing that was a hassle for us was that before she was of driving age, we had to transport her to from her the job. I realize that is what you have to do for you kids, but it was a time factor for us too.

Maybe what rosalind mentioned, finding an adult might be better.

I know what your are talking about on the driving the kids to work thing, we did that with both our kids when they worked summers for the produce grower before they were old enough to drive and it was a 36 mile round trip twice a day that had to be worked in among our "real" jobs, lol. Often I left the night job at six am and had to be at the day job by 8 so Hubs would take them to a meeting point and I would swing through, grab them, and drop them off on my way through. Since they had a hour to kill after I dropped them off and another after work before me or hubs could get back through there to pick them up, it was an excellent lesson in patience for them and they actually read a lot books during those summers that they might not have made time for otherwise.

My tiny bit of research into teen jobs in this area tells me that my great nephew makes minimum wage working at a Kentucky Fried Chicken joint, which astounds me because he could earn several times that bucking bales in the hay field all summer and there is hay down everywhere here now and farmers cannot find anyone who wants to help with squares. My granddaughter - not technically a teen at 20 but a college student - makes about $9/hour at her job in a nursery school, while going to school full time.

To be honest, I can't think of a single adult that I would trust to take care of my animals (or stay in my house). Heck, most of my siblings do not even have my phone number.

And tbh, I am somewhat of a confirmed hermit and getting worse every single day, so I have no desire to go through the social hell of hiring an adult. Kids are less likely than adults to come preset with bad habits, sloppy care techniques, or loose, gossipy tongues.



Hence why we never go anywhere! One time we hired a couple of young guys to do general labor with us, like split or stack wood, haul hay etc. They were 20 something, and working at a local CSA farm, but they both wanted to know more about raising animals for meat since they were vegetarians. Over the course of the summer, they blew up a chainsaw, flattened wheelbarrow tires, left gates open, etc. But the worst part of their time with us was one day while we were eating lunch, they proceeded to tell us about going through all the CSA farm owners household stuff while they were babysitting so the couple could have a date night!!!! We were aghast to say the least. They didn't seem to think there was a thing wrong with them going through someone's personal papers and then talking about it. After that, we suddenly didn't need as much help around here

[throwback]

3cows oops!! ^^

[3cows]

Jun 11, 2018 17:27:14 GMT -5 throwback said:

3cows oops!! ^^

Hence why we never go anywhere! One time we hired a couple of young guys to do general labor with us, like split or stack wood, haul hay etc. They were 20 something, and working at a local CSA farm, but they both wanted to know more about raising animals for meat since they were vegetarians. Over the course of the summer, they blew up a chainsaw, flattened wheelbarrow tires, left gates open, etc. But the worst part of their time with us was one day while we were eating lunch, they proceeded to tell us about going through all the CSA farm owners household stuff while they were babysitting so the couple could have a date night!!!! We were aghast to say the least. They didn't seem to think there was a thing wrong with them going through someone's personal papers and then talking about it. After that, we suddenly didn't need as much help around here

^^^^My exact reasoning for leaning toward a just driving teenager who will be more likely to spend their free time using the internet, watching Roku or sampling the spirits in the fridge than snooping. Maybe I am cynical but my mother taught me well about nosy adults. She snooped at every one of her kid's homes as often as she could get invited and then spent the entire next week trying to piss off the other kids with whatever she found. And of course, she never thought she was doing anything untoward.

[Libelle]

3cows,maybe you could p.m. me with your location. I live pretty close to you, I think, and I have a 16 y.o. son who could be good for this job, and an up-and-coming 13 y.o. daughter who would be outstanding. The 16 y.o. isn't driving yet but will be in a couple months. We live in Steelville, which is 8 miles south of Cuba.

[3cows]

Libelle, I think you are probably over an hour away, maybe closer to 90 minutes, one way, which would be farther than I would ask a kid to drive. I am pretty familiar with that area, one of my Dad's nephews runs a prominent business there, and we lived on a farm in that general area till 1966. My Dad is buried in a little cemetery on 49 Hwy just outside of Cherryville. He and and a carpenter gentlemen I only knew as Old Man Sowings were on the crew that built the big rock school at Cherryville. Mr. Sowings gave me a hand-carved three -legged milking stool when I was just a little kid, which I still cherish today. Small world, eh? I will keep your son in mind, but I think that is much too far.

[Libelle]

3cows, that's too bad, but I think you are right about the distance. Would have been nice to solve your problem through KFC!

So cool about your dad helping build that school in Cherryville. We live maybe ten minutes from there. It is now abandoned, which is such a shame. My husband remembers when squatters were living in it in the Seventies.

Yes it is a small world!