Difficult intern

Robbie, I've had interns on the swine farm with the same problem. The best advice I can think of is that we all need to realize that every person is different. Some just don't have what it takes, and I've shipped them home early (to Brazil), but not due so much to the work ethic, but some other issues...I envy anyone who has help on their deer farms! I have tried some help but how do you learn to trust someone with your babies?

Robbie, I agree with DC. Get on their level and explain that those are your deer, your customers deer, your business and your facility and that the reason theyre getting the opportunity to further their learning is by your willingness to teach and while their at your place they will do things your way...



I was in a similar position last year with and it was a total headache, looking back now we wouldve been better to send them on their way.

Robbie you are in a hard spot...

I have done Dare programs in schools for years and mentored youths and also work K-9Search and Rescue....

We were approved by the state to accept people to work their time off their sentence if they would volunteer to be rescue victims and hide and train my police bomb and narcotic dogs... some are in it to do time others start out that way but grow a passion for it...If there is no spark sometimes you have to cut the rope or someone or everyone could suffer in the long run ...Your decision is is there a spark or are they just doing time and dragging you down also?

Robbie, try stimulating them sure would make me change my mind!!! Sorry couldn't resist. ZZ

That was too funny ZZ we need more of that on these forums lately

Robbie, got 5 good ones! Couldn't hire them all. I think maybe he chose you. Your a hell of alot better looking than I am. Tell him he made the right choice! ZZ

Here's what I tell them................If you can't visually tell the difference between good poop and bad poop and be able to describe it correctly, then we will have to resort to you getting the information the way the doe does. With your tongue! Maybe then, the description of what is good or bad will not be so difficult for you to to explain! If you pass them and they get credit for something unearned, you will not be doing them or yourself or for that matter the deer any favors. (Just one man's opinion)

Scott Heinrich said:

Here's what I tell them................If you can't visually tell the difference between good poop and bad poop and be able to describe it correctly, then we will have to resort to you getting the information the way the doe does. With your tongue! Maybe then, the description of what is good or bad will not be so difficult for you to to explain! If you pass them and they get credit for something unearned, you will not be doing them or yourself or for that matter the deer any favors. (Just one man's opinion)

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Scott,

That is just wrong in so many ways....... but I like it ....

Robbie, I feel for you. My wife and I had an organic tomato business for about 5 years and the hardest part was people! I'm not sure what has happened to us, but work ethic just does not seem to be a part of upbringing any more. In the time that we operated the business, I believe that we went thru over 150 people. It was not hard work and the temp was the same in the greenhouses year round with no worry about rain or cold. What we found was that come the first of the month many just did not show up. We also found that there were more ways to shirk work than we had ever known. Even to throwing rocks at our equipment when taking breaks.

We finally shut the business down since we could not count on one person with any degree of confidence; therefore, we had to be with it every day.

My thoughts in relation to your specific problem is that you are risking a lot by keeping that person on. You have a business! It all comes down to: profit & loss; risk; and most important can that person hurt your babies.

I personally would cut them loose and hope that maybe it would be the best lesson you could ever give them. Responsibility and work ethics.

Good luck.

I have to lean towards Scotts method. Has worked for a lot of years for the does. You can't argue with success! How the hell do you spell that? ZZ

The hardest part of managing any business is dealing with issues like this. But if you are going to run a business it comes with the territory - glad to see you faced the issue and took care of it rather than ignore it like so many managers do.



The people you have are going to determine the success of your business. They can bring in customers and help them or turn them off.

Robbie, next year get with me and I will introduce you to the FFA. These students are awesome at helping around the farm and take their jobs seriously. If you have an FFA chapter at a high school near you, I would encourage you to get to know the advisor (teacher) and get involved in their programs. Not only do you get the benefit of being able to get the cream of the crop of interns, you also benefit the game ranch industry by supporting the chapter.