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Post by brittonfaith on Jun 22, 2006 7:26:41 GMT 12.75
We have just been informed that the school will be selling it's dairy herd and farm operations sometime within the next few months. This means we will not only be without employment/income (there is no severance pkg), but we will also be without housing.
Should anyone know of a farm or ranch that is looking for an experienced long-term to permanent worker, please let us know. Mike has a cumlative 20 years experience in agriculture (mostly dairy) and has AI training, mig welding and machinery repair/operation experience. He was co-recipient of the 2006 Ohio Dairy Producers' Environmental Stewardship Award given by the Ohio Livestock Coalition & Ohio Dairy Producers.
We are willing to relocate anywhere in the continental USA. (If we knew what it takes to legally work/live in Canada, we would also consider.)
We may also consider other trades providing salary is enough to obtain housing and necessities.
Thanks!!
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Post by Paws on Jun 22, 2006 9:12:08 GMT 12.75
You both have a ton of skills Faith. Have you posted resumes to Hot Jobs?
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Post by Bro. Freddie on Jun 22, 2006 11:09:35 GMT 12.75
I don't know if they have any where ya'll are, but you might want to check into either taking care of some chicken houses or hog houses. Usually the owers have a place for the help to live or they do here in Ark.
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Post by Toby Benoit on Jun 23, 2006 10:01:49 GMT 12.75
I looked in the Farmers bulletin and the local papers, but there's nothing agricultural. However, surveyors are needed badly here in Fl. They're hiring trained as well as untrained.
Mike might have interest in that, at least it's outdoors. I've seen ad's for farm help and farm handy man positions from time to time and I'm gonna keep on looking.
Don't know if you'd want to come back to Fl or not, but I'm looking anyway.
God help you to find something to make you both happy!
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Post by brittonfaith on Jun 23, 2006 10:50:52 GMT 12.75
Thought about it last night. Just haven't called granny yet cause she's so stirred up as it is about Robert. I'm gonna give her a day or two then call with this news. I've got a few cousins down around Eustis & Leesburg that seem to have made pretty good lives for themselves around there. Maybe we could make a go of it too. Just don't know what Mike would think of the high population rate & traffic. A big issue is of course going to be housing. As it looks right now, we wouldn't qualify for much more than a paste board box. So we would have to find somewhere that could provide a roof over our heads at least until we got our feet back under us. Maybe that's why I went and bought that 10-man nylon palace this spring! Will spend tomorrow evening getting resume's updated and posted online, picking up all the farm publications my dad & brother subscribe to, and talking to our auctioneer about having a sale for us. Gonna need to sell a bunch of stuff to pay for trips to interviews and the impending move. Guess we moved here with nothing and we will leave here with about that much. But I bought this stuff to sell when we got in a pinch to start with. Can't take it with ya when ya go anyways. ;D I've always been told to keep one item from each side of your family as an heirloom when these kind of times come. So, I'm keeping my grandma Scheiderer's china set and the Oiler brother's Civil War discharge medals. The GAR encampment watch fob and a bunch of other dust collectors are going though.
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Post by brittonfaith on Jun 27, 2006 16:38:59 GMT 12.75
Getting the ball rolling. Resumes are sent and phone calls are being made round the clock. Had our first "nibs" from a national agri-placement firm based in Nebraska. They called, then emailed a self-eval form to Mike. What a hassle but we got it all filled out and sent back tonight. There was a list of 200 tasks. You had to rate your hands-on experience as either "excellent", "average", or "none". My question was based on what? An excellent on a small farm very well could equal an average to marginal on a commercial farm. So we had to try to put everything in perspective as to the size of farm we are trying to attract. Hope it doensn't whack him too bad. They wanted to know EVERY single piece of farm machinery and shop equipment he has ever operated, too-- including model numbers, horse power, draw bar rating, planting/harvest widths, and modifications. Jeez! This part alone covered two pages and sounded more like the inventory from a farm implement museum than what someone today would use on the job! We intentionally left off the Ford-Massey-Cockshutt supercharged special! They'd never believe it, even if they saw it.
Was out on the porch again this evening. I'm gonna miss the quiet when we leave. Nothing out tonight but the stars, a few tree frogs, the cat and one Amish buggy. Guess they've even got word of our leaving. Levi & Rachel stopped and wanted to know if they could have my mason jars, beans and maters. I told them when they see a U-haul in the driveway, anything that's left out there is theirs.
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Post by brittonfaith on Jul 4, 2006 0:24:37 GMT 12.75
Hey Rogue it's over here! Checked that link out you mentioned. They're targeting existing organic farms. Thanks though!
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Post by brittonfaith on Jul 19, 2006 14:16:50 GMT 12.75
Boy are we pooped! 1600 miles since Sunday morning and only stopped to pee/gas up, get supper, and sleep. All I can say for Illinois is AAAGH!! FLAT LAND! FLAT LAND! HORRIBLE ROADS! LOUSY DRIVERS! Drove past the farm we were suppose to have an interview at and kept on driving. Trash, fallen down barns, and a very sickening odor which we smelled 3 miles away that got stronger the closer we got the the farm.
Missouri place was nice, but after listening to the gentleman BS for over four hours, it became clear that he is wanting someone to come in and buy-out his entire farm. I'd estimate the place at $1.3 million. Not these two old birds! He wasn't sure what he'd pay, and "raises" were 1/2 a beef a year.
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Post by Paws on Jul 20, 2006 4:49:03 GMT 12.75
Gee Faith I don't know. If he'd float the loan himself and give you full control a half beef raise per year is a good sized chunk of change. Course he'd probably want 20 percent earnest money down and around eight percent interest . You know he sounds like the guy where I first turkey hunted in MO.
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Post by brittonfaith on Jul 20, 2006 7:01:20 GMT 12.75
Got a suprise this morning. A gentleman from near St. Paul, MN (on the Wisconsin side) called. He is one of the very elite old-time holstein breeders in the world and personally knows the owner of one of the farms Mike has worked at in the past. He also knows my folks. Dad can remember him when they were both little boys. This farm seems more our pace - Old school farming without all the fancy-shmancy automation. Real classy, top notch farm. Very similar to my family farm, but with a lot higher public profile. And best of all, he will not consider hiring anyone that wants to buy-out or buy-in. We'd get to come back to Ohio each year when he brings his cattle to the State Fair.
He's 70 with a 40 yr old wife. Our boys are tickled. We found pictures of their two daughters who are 13 and 15 in one of our dairymen's magazines. I thought I was going to have to hose the boys down!! These girls are 1st & 2nd place dairy cattle judges in WI and the younger one owns and exhibited the Supreme Champion Cow at the world show last year.
He almost hired Mike site unseen last night over the phone! Said it's hard to find anyone who still knows how to do things the old way. But Mike wants to meet him and see the farm first. I think this time we're going Greyhound though. By the time we figure gas, hotels, meals, and "down time" for a 1990 mile round trip, we'd be ahead $700 and 20 hours travel time. Just gotta remember to get the tickets 7 days in advance.
The big thrill for me is that I can finally wear my Minnesota Vikings gear with pride! It's tough being a Vike in the middle of Steelers country.
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Post by Toby Benoit on Jul 20, 2006 12:50:38 GMT 12.75
Bless your hearts! I hope it works out; it's nice to see you excited. My fingers are crossed! ;D
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Post by brittonfaith on Jul 20, 2006 14:27:06 GMT 12.75
Mike told me in no uncertain terms that I AM going with him to Wisconsin and WE ARE DRIVING. Ugh! 'nother road trip - ain't recovered from this past Sun-Tues yet. Momma done created a monster when I introduced him to the Jacuzzi, A/C, and one a day trip to the truck stop buffet. He's become a regular addict! Leaving Friday morning for New Richmond, WI. 855 miles one way. Spending 2 days at the farm in a guest bungalo. Guy up there wants to see Mike in action. Won't be home 'til next Tuesday. Thank goodness for grandma's & grandpap's that will watch our young'ns!! But I'm still excited. I really do LOVE the white chit and heaven knows they get plenty of it up there from Nov. through March!! Down side is that far north the growing season is about 10 days long . But I bet the hunting is super!! ;D Found out the guy that owns this farm is also a probate attorney & judge. Wonder if he has any connections to get me a pair of tix for the Vikings home game with the Packers? Anyone want to watch the fat lady strip naked in -25 degree weather and paint herself purple and gold?? ;DI hope this is the last trip to an interview for a while. Last few days and coming week have just about broken the piggy bank.
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Post by Kirbyhill on Jul 20, 2006 14:54:20 GMT 12.75
Faith, I am glad ya'll are getting a chance at a job Mike will like in a beautiful part of Wisconsin and in prime deer country to boot!! Wish you both the best of luck and hope this works well for you. A Viking shirt!! Boo Hiss! The Minni-Soda Pukes Stink! ;)I'm an old Wisconsin boy that lived in Green Bay for 40 years so I had to say that! Its better to wear Green and Gold than it is Purple in Wisconsin tho!! Just wanted to wish ya'll luck as I think you would fit right in. Good people and nice country. Your boys had better watch out as those Wisconsin girls have a way of doing things to a guy!! ;D ...Bill
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Post by Toby Benoit on Jul 20, 2006 15:02:26 GMT 12.75
He's right about them Wisconsin gals! ;D I spent a week in Rice Lake, near Sheboygan, and met a couple of them farm girls up there while I was up for some deer hunting with friends. I'd tell you about it, but they taught me things I'm not even sure are legal in the South! ;D
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Post by Kirbyhill on Jul 20, 2006 15:35:03 GMT 12.75
Rice Lake near Sheboygan?? I do agree with you about the Wisconsin chicks!
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Post by brittonfaith on Jul 20, 2006 16:29:09 GMT 12.75
A Viking shirt!! Boo Hiss! The Minni-Soda Pukes Stink! ;)I'm an old Wisconsin boy that lived in Green Bay for 40 years so I had to say that! Its better to wear Green and Gold than it is Purple in Wisconsin tho!! ...Bill A Stinky Cheese head ya say?? PEWEE!!!! ;D Don't know why I don't like Green Bay. Somebody must have dropped me on my head when I was born. I was born during the forth quarter of Super Bowl II. Green Bay thumped Oakland 33 - 14. Mom said I popped out and everyone in the hall shouted "TOUCHDOWN!" Guess we can mark it up to being traumatized when I came out in the world. I'll risk treason in WI. Figure I'll be close enough to the Twin Cities should I need a quick get away. My Fran Tarkenton bobble head stays on the dash board, the bumper stickers aren't going anywhere except where I go and the metal cone-bra and helmet are all ready for action. uh... I mean tail-gating.
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Post by Kirbyhill on Jul 21, 2006 0:42:46 GMT 12.75
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Post by Paws on Jul 21, 2006 5:01:53 GMT 12.75
Got to tell you Faith Wisconsin is one of my favorites. The Dells are beautiful and I been up toward the Northern end a couple times at a military base doing lectures and training where they do a lot of skiing too. You will absolutely love it. ;D Go after this one balls to the wall! ;D
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Post by brittonfaith on Jul 21, 2006 7:11:40 GMT 12.75
Mike just filled me in that this man in Wis. watched me fit and show cattle at the Ohio State Fair waaaaay back in '83. He was impressed that a young girl and her baby brother could keep a sting of 20 show cows spotless and in the show ring on time, did all our own cooking, kept the display "done to perfection", and pull off a Reserve Jr. Champion heifer with no supervision and no quarreling all week. Said if Mike's hired, he's interested in hiring me fit cattle on the road when he takes cattle to the World Show and the Mid West National. Now we're talking my league! ;D This has been a life long dream of mine. I'll just have to explain that my style of fitting and showing are what was being done back in the early-'70's. I might look a little goofy with the way things are done any more. Last time I even got close to showing at the Mid West National (or as it was called then, the All-American) was when it was still held at the Ohio State Fairgrounds. I was there but never got to show. That was the year they had the big fire there that burnt all the barns. What was that - '73 or '74? Mom gathered all the little kids and tied us kids to a post next to the grandstands with some twine so we were out of the way and locatable while everyone got the cows out of the barns. Wow that was a long time ago but still seems like yesterday. Every time I hear of a barn fire or see some idiot lighting up around a barn, I have flashbacks to seeing all those cows with burnt off hair, tails and ears tied to the race track railings, and smelling the few that didn't make it out burning up.
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Post by brittonfaith on Jul 26, 2006 8:15:13 GMT 12.75
La-tee-da, la-tee-da!! Just came back from up north. The farm was beautiful! The barn is so clean that you could eat off the floor and every cow is a pampered queen with her own spotless stall and tunnel fan.
This family is waaaayy upper crust. Mrs. Van Dyk and the girls were in Holland visiting grandma while we were there. But I'm sure that if they are anything like Henk, they are super nice and funny people - yet at the same time strict! Henk put us up at his cottage on the lake for the weekend. I don't follow college baseball, but the cottage next door belongs to Dennis Denning. He was coach at St. Thomas College in St. Paul, MN and revived collegiate games between Cuba and the US a few years ago. Seems like a nice guy. Was invited to come over and have a Corona. The view from our dock was breath-taking, fireworks show over the lake on Saturday, bought us dinner at a very nice supper club and showed us all around town then took us to Lumberjack Days in Stillwater.
He's hired!! New Richmond, Wisconsin here we come!!
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