Learning the Ropes

Ever been hired for a position and not properly told how to do the job? It’s a frustrating experience—and it happens in every industry. But in agriculture, a lack of proper training can lead to costly mistakes, safety issues, and serious consequences on the ranch.

Aaron Paulson, ranch manager at the Switchback Ranch, says he makes onboarding a priority so both the employee and the operation are set up for success.

“I don't have military experience, but they just ingrained it upon us, even though we were the educators: see it, do it, teach it. Not something that was familiar to me, but I take that motto with our seasonals. It's like we have to buckle down and spend that first—I would say two weeks probably. Sometimes it's abbreviated down to a week. But you're going to go to work with me. If it's changing gated pipe, moving electric fence, or moving cows, I'm going to show you the baseline of what this is going to look like and how you're going to do this and teach that to you. You're going to show me you can do it, step two. And then step three is you're going to teach me how to do it.”

To hear more from Aaron about onboarding employees, visit https://www.buzzsprout.com/2166701/episodes/18858820