Building a successful farm business where both production and human relations are thriving is no easy task – yet both sides of the equation are essential. Even so, it’s not uncommon for farmers to feel unprepared or uncomfortable in their role as a boss.

Becoming the Employer of Choice for Vegetable Farmers was created to address this exact need.

Being a boss and leading a team requires a set of skills somewhat different from those used on the production side of things. And while making time to strengthen those skills can be challenging, it can pay off for farmers in big ways – from improved efficiency and product quality to higher employee satisfaction, labor retention, and overall quality of life.

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“This program has been pivotal for us to move our farm to the next level. I used to poo-poo these skills as unnecessary fluff. I’m not that person anymore. We need this for our staff and for ourselves in order to sustainably grow our business, thrive, and be happy on our farm.” – 2024 BTEC participant

Throughout BTEC’s 8 sessions, you’ll learn with and from your farmer peers. We will dig into more concrete topics like hiring, onboarding, training, and reviews and feedback. We’ll also explore farm culture, intercultural competence, and emotional intelligence – topics that may feel less tangible but have an important role to play in the overall farm environment. As a BTEC participant, you’ll also have access to an ever-growing online library of supportive resources that will help you put what we talk about during our sessions into action.

All sessions are on Mondays and Thursdays from 9:00 AM – 11:00 PM Central Time

Nov 13: Developing Intercultural Competence
Nov 17: Strategic Leadership
Nov 20: Farm Business Culture
Nov 24: Building an Effective Hiring Process
Dec 1: Onboarding and Training
Dec 4: Developing a Motivated Workforce
Dec 8: Reviews and Feedback
Dec 11: Engaging with Conflict

If you’re an experienced farmer serving in an employer or manager role, BTEC is the program for you. Most BTEC participants have 8 or more years of farming experience. If you’re an aspiring or early-career manager, consider joining us for the TEAMs program in March 2026.