The ‘Part-time job at the farmer’ campaign aims to make young people enthusiastic about a part-time job at an agricultural company, such as an arable farm. The campaign is an initiative of the Proud Young Farmers Foundation, which is a partner of the Brabants Agrarisch Youth Contact (BAJK).
Corrie van Leerzem is chairman of the Proud Young Farmers Foundation. She is one of the initiators of the campaign that started last week. The 26-year-old grew up as a city girl in Bergen op Zoom, North Brabant. Because of her interest in animals and agriculture, she went to study at the HAS. At the age of twenty she started her part-time job on a sow farm in Woensdrecht (NB). She is currently responsible for the farrowing pen and weaning piglets at a sub-breeding sow farm in Waalwijk. She still loves working on a sow farm.
“Looking for a suitable side job. Young people had better start on time, because learned young is done old. The ‘Job at the farmer’ campaign by Proud Young Farmers shows how much fun it is to have a job in the agricultural sector,” says Van Leerzem. “It really opens up a world of possibilities for you,” she says.
Campaign works on multiple sides
The campaign works on three sides. “Many young people are really looking for a suitable side job. On the other hand, many farmers are looking for weekend and/or holiday help. With a side job, young people can get acquainted with the agricultural sector and transfer their enthusiasm to the citizen.”
When looking for work, young people and certainly young people from the city do not immediately think of agriculture, but rather of working in a supermarket or in the catering industry. “In the past, everyone had an uncle or other relative who was a farmer. Nowadays there is a lot of ignorance among citizens about the agricultural sector. There really is a gap between farmer and citizen. We want to close that gap. Moreover, there is plenty of work in the sector. The catering industry came to a standstill last year, but agriculture always continues because food is a primary necessity of life.”
Van Leerzem expects that many young people who enjoy the work will continue to work in the agricultural sector. “Once you’re attached to the agricultural sector, you don’t leave it quickly. In addition, there are sufficient career opportunities in the agricultural sector, both on large farms and in the periphery. Our campaign is good for the agricultural sector so that we can continue to fill all vacancies in the future.”
Video series
Through a video series, the initiators show different types of farms and give a taste of the work on the farm. They also show young people how they can get started in their future workplace. “For example, a teenager or twenty-something rolls up his sleeves after school, increases her farming knowledge and earns a nice penny,” Van Leerzem summarizes. The initiators shared the videos on Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn, as many young people are active on these. In this way they try to create a large reach among young people. Van Leerzem asks farmers who are not looking for staff to share the campaign and the videos on social media.
“Our goal is to enthuse as many young people as possible for the agricultural sector. The campaign will run at least until the end of August. Then we decide how to proceed.” Farmers can support the campaign by buying a sign. “For 30 euros they get the plate sent home. At a dairy farmer here in North Brabant, the sign immediately produced the desired result. The next day he had already found a holiday help.” A plate can be ordered via info@trotsejongeboeren.nl . “Put your name, address and number of plates in the email. After receiving this information, a farmer will receive a confirmation email. We will then ensure that the plates are delivered as soon as possible. “
The initiators were allowed to film at five companies; a poultry farm, pig farm, dairy farm, arable farm and horticultural farm. They published this video about working on an arable farm:
