The dairy industry is like many other industries in today’s economy. There are too few people to fill available jobs. Many farms and ag-related businesses are looking for creative ways to find employees needed to fill vacancies.
I have been a hoof trimmer for over 26 years. In my first several years of trimming, I worked alone – but as I started to pick up more and larger clients, I needed help. At first, I would only hire part-time help as needed, which eventually led to a full-time helper. Finding help used to be fairly easy. In fact, people would contact me to ask if there was a position available. On other occasions, if I needed a new employee, I would ask around or post on Craigslist and have multiple applicants to choose from. These past several years, finding help has gotten much harder.
One solution to the labor challenge that has worked for me is hiring a J1 student. J1 refers to a specific type of visa. A J1 visa is for college students who are near or have just recently graduated and are looking to come work in the states for a specific amount of time, typically one year. They are both looking to earn some money and gain experience in their designated field of study.
I currently have a J1 student working for me. Her name is Carmen Corea. She is from Nicaragua. She has completed her coursework for college and is working for me as an intern for a year. On her return to Nicaragua, she will present her final research paper and graduate. She has worked with me learning hoof trimming and running an ag-related business.
I first started working with foreign interns about four years ago. I was contacted by a company called Global Cow. They specialize in placing foreign students looking to work in agriculture in the U.S. The owner of Global Cow, Jill Stahl Tyler, had an intern who wanted to learn hoof trimming. As it turned out, the employee I had at the time was going to be leaving shortly, so I gladly accepted.
My intern was Vicky Alban, who was on a four-month visitor visa. It turned out to be a wonderful experience for both of us. Not only did she learn about trimming, but I was also able to bring her to a Hoof Trimmers Association meeting in New York.
Fast-forward to 2021, and I was struggling again to find help. This time, I reached out to Global Cow asking for another intern or other options. This is when I learned more about the J1 program. Rather than a limited stay, the J1 program is for a year. We were able to make a match and, a couple of months later, Carmen arrived.
How it works
Some of the requirements for businesses participating in the J1 program are to pay a competitive wage, provide health insurance, housing accommodations and workman’s compensation insurance. Global Cow has an insurance provider that covers their interns, and because they are young and healthy, it is very reasonable at only $100 per month. I have a furnished one-bedroom apartment where Carmen stays, and I also let her use one of my vehicles. Workman’s compensation insurance costs about $500 per year. The way I pay Carmen is by salary. It makes it easier for me rather than to keep track of hours. Some days are short, while others are long. A salary also helps her in budgeting her finances.
One of the better parts of this program is knowing I have an intern who is eager to learn and is dedicated to staying for a year. It is not all without some trying times, though. If you decide to take on an intern, you will have to learn to work with one another, get to know each other’s personalities, likes and dislikes. They will experience some homesickness and some cultural differences that may be hard adjustments; however, it may be an answer to finding an employee.
Overall, I have had a positive experience with Carmen, and she has learned a lot about trimming. She arrived in mid-May 2021 and departed in May 2022. On a couple of her days off and weekends, she has spent time at a nearby farm, as well as working with a local artificial breeder. She was also provided an opportunity to give a presentation at the Wisconsin Hoof Trimmers’ Getaway on agriculture in Nicaragua. My experience was positive enough that I have already been matched with another J1 student who will be replacing Carmen. This time, it will be a young man from Tanzania.
