Training and Education for Aspiring Managers (TEAMs)
Training and Education for Aspiring Managers (TEAMs)
Register now for our 2025 TEAMS training delivery.
Hired farm managers play a crucial role on diversified vegetable farms. While having their production, maintenance, and organizational skills dialed in is a major part of the job, farm managers do so much more. They motivate and lead other employees, they support a positive workplace environment, and they keep tabs on unhealthy conflict – all while working closely with the farm owner to support a sustainable farm business. Created in partnership with farm managers, this 4-part series will provide current and aspiring farm managers with the foundational and practical skills they need to succeed.
Are you a current or aspiring farm manager interested in this training? Are you an organization interested in connecting farm employees to this training? Let us know! Click below and we’ll be in touch.
| Cultivating Inclusive Leadership | This pre-recorded session equips farm managers with the tools to foster justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) in their teams and throughout their workplace culture. We cover intersectionality, implicit bias, language use, and more while exploring strategies to build intercultural competence, navigate diverse perspectives, and create a work environment where everyone can thrive. |
| Farm Managers as Leaders | With support from their emotional intelligence skills and different leadership styles, this live session explores how farm managers can put their leadership into action on the farm. |
| Communication and Delegation | Communication plays an essential role on the farm. This live session provides tools to help you strengthen both your verbal and nonverbal communication skills – including during times of stress and when it comes to delegating responsibilities. |
| Delivering and Receiving Feedback | Feedback is essential for learning and improvement, but it can be difficult to give and to receive. In this live session, you’ll gain practical tools to help you become more comfortable identifying which type of feedback is appropriate in a given situation. We also discuss tips to help you prepare to invite, receive, and respond to feedback when others share it with you. |
| Recognizing and Addressing Conflict | Unhealthy conflict doesn’t tend to resolve itself, and when left unaddressed, the consequences can be far-reaching. In this live session, we explore the different ways in which we react and respond to conflict. You’ll leave with concrete tips on how to work through and ultimately resolve unhealthy conflict on the farm. |
Meet the Trainers!
Farm Manager Trainers:
- Sarah Bell (she/her), Farmer & Advocate in Birmingham, AL
- Abby Benson (she/her), Field Production Coordinator at Featherstone Farm in Rushford, MN
- Kaitie von Cosmos (she/they), Food Systems Professional in North Wilkesboro, NC
- Rue Policastro (they/them), Field Manager at Owl’s Nest Farm in Upper Marlboro, MD
- Federica Ranelli (she/her), Farm Manager at Troy Farm – Rooted in Madison, WI
- Fresh Roberson (they/she), Farming Chef at Fresher Together, Beaverville & Chicago, IL
- Katie Willis (she/her), Farm Manager at Jones Valley Teaching Farm in Birmingham, AL
Program Staff:
- Sarah Janes Ugoretz (she/her), Diversified Vegetable Educator at UW Extension and FairShare in Madison, WI
Interested in more Employee Management opportunities? The BTEC program is for vegetable farm employers and experienced farm managers.
