By Roelof Bezuidenhout

Being a general farm manager – sometimes still called a foreman – can be either fulfilling or hell on earth. The joke that some employers treat their foremen like a son, while others treat their sons like foremen sums up this unique occupation quite well.

Note though that this article does not cover employment with large company farms – we’re dealing here with a job on the average South African commercial livestock or crop farm where the job description is so difficult to formulate; one never knows where one’s responsibility ends in looking after valuable and vulnerable assets such as livestock, vegetables or crops. There are so many things that can go wrong – even within a few hours.

Salaries can be another big issue. Unless the applicant is very well qualified with some needed experience, he or she is likely to work hard, and for long hours, for a relatively small pay check. But the perks of farm life could possibly compensate for this, depending on the individual’s mindset.

Landing a job with an understanding farmer could lead to a secure future in the agricultural industry. But getting a farm manager job could also result in extreme disillusionment – from both the farmer and the new employee. Despite the potential hazards of the job both youngsters keen to live and work on a farm as well as older couples with farming experience apply for such positions – the latter often only too happy to have somewhere to stay, even if it’s in a disused farmhouse. In both cases the applicants are so keen to get the job that they’re prepared to fall in without signing any kind of work contract. That’s obviously a big mistake.

Farmers or absentee landowners advertising for a foreman usually have definite criteria in mind, uppermost probably being responsibility. They want someone they can rely on for 24 hours a day, to do almost anything they themselves can or cannot do. They want someone who is not only enthusiastic about the work, but energetic and inventive. Remember, being a farm foreman is tough.

Some things job applicants should do:

Find out as much as you can about your prospective employer. What kind of person is he? How successful is his business? How does he treat his staff? Has he employed a foreman before?
Are you sure you can make decisions and operate on your own, without having to be told what to do all the time?
Are you good at managing people if necessary?
Be sure you know enough about the kind of farming operation to add some value to the business. You must have some confidence in the job, to start with. If you want to work on a wool sheep farm, for example, the least you should know is how to class wool and fix a windpump. Be prepared to learn the rest quickly and as much as possible in your trial period.
Have a heavy-duty driver’s license.
Be prepared not only to be on full-time duty, but be willing to get your hands and your boots dirty. Sitting around doing nothing will get you into trouble.
Make sure you know your basic working hours per day, if overtime is paid, and what the arrangements are around public holidays and weekends.
Realise that for the relationship to succeed there will have to be some flexibility or give and take from both sides. Even so, ask for a written, reasonable contract that’s acceptable to both parties. This should cover everything from medical insurance to the use of a farm bakkie and in-house accommodation.

Sounds tough but with the right approach you can most certainly become a successful, sought-after, career farm manager. There is a gap in the market for real professionals.

What employers should do

Carefully analyse your reasons for appointing a general foreman and what you expect from that person. Do you have the time and ability to train him or her? To what degree will you tolerate mistakes made by your new employee?
Do a proper record check on your prospective employee. They need to have technical and practical competence, as well as the ability to make sound decisions.