October at AGRI-SEARCH: Maneuvering Life’s Dangers, Toils, and Snares

Each year, National Farm Safety Week is promoted in September across the United States. In reality, safety should become a focal point of our lives every day. From using the stove in our kitchen, filling our vehicle and machinery with fuel, to herding livestock or climbing grain bins, danger abounds all around us. Keeping safety principles in mind is always a good practice no matter where we live or work.

Certain events that occur during our life can drive safety deeply and directly into our minds. Accidents, near-misses, and a variety of “incidents”, whether happening to us or shared by others, impact our lives greatly. We connect dots to certain reminders, events and people that refresh our memories and help us stay safe as we encounter the many snares of life.

What are you doing to embed solid safety habits in your life? Have you and your company made safety training and education a common part of your cultural conversation? Are you bold enough to share the

mistakes you have made that might help someone else avoid an injury or harmful situation? Talking regularly about real-life run-ins with danger can help make safety a mindset that leads to proper action and safer, healthier lives.

Agriculture is a dangerous industry. Combined with stress, fatigue, and distraction, the daily dangers of farming and agribusiness create many hazards, both seen and unseen. Even with the most thorough safety preparation, we cannot prevent all dangerous events and accidents from occurring. We must, however, do all we can to minimize them.

Take some time to reminisce on some of the “dangers, toils and snares” that you have already been through. Share your stories with the mindset of helping others be safer. Evaluate your safety practices. Ponder this year’s National Safety Week theme, “No One Can Take Your Place.” Paradoxically, we are all replaceable, but no one can take our place! Be safe!

Then, gain some additional insight by reading, “The Road to Perdition is Paved with Wrong Assumptions” elsewhere in this newsletter. It connects how false assumptions not only lead to physical danger, but they can also lead to poor outcomes in the job search process.

5815 - Processing Equipment Business Development and Sales Manager

A highly successful equipment manufacturer is seeking a Business Development and Sales Manager to work in a vital role in the oilseed industry. The client is seeking a self-motivated, team-oriented professional to join their growing team as they look to take their business to the next level.

1067 - Ag Equipment Sales - Central Illinois

A full line agricultural equipment dealership is looking for a salesperson to sell new and used farm and lawn and garden machinery. This is a premier dealership group. They will expect you to communicate professionally both verbally and written. You will learn the brand and become an expert with technology. This role is one where you learn the operations of your customers and help them make the best equipment decisions for their operations. The preferred candidate will come from central Illinois with at least one year of agricultural sales experience.

6249 - Feed Mill Manager - Indiana

A third-generation family-owned global manufacturing, distribution, and swine production company is looking for a Feed Mill Manager. The primary responsibilities of this role will be to coordinate and manage the overall feed milling operations including being responsible for a delivery fleet, developing a network of local grain supply, and in addition to the purchasing of ingredients and inventory management.

5817 - Merchandiser - Central Kansas

A Kansas cooperative is seeking an experienced Merchandiser to help lead their team forward. You will be working closely with commercials and keeping the operations team well-informed of grain movement. The company is seeking somebody who can step in and hit the ground running. The successful candidate will not be micromanaged and must have the entrepreneurial spirit to make marketing decisions quickly.

4116 - Ag Processing Company CFO - Wisconsin

Successful and expanding agricultural processing company is seeking a top-notch CFO to strengthen and bring additional talents and structure to their leadership team. This individual will have a strong accounting and finance background and will assist and challenge the board and CEO as they continue to explore and carry out key growth initiatives.

5814 - Grain Marketing Consultant - Illinois/Indiana

A reputable risk management company in northern Illinois is seeking an experienced Grain Marketing Consultant to lead producers through the entire crop marketing and planning process. This company prides itself on offering an excellent work-life balance while providing top-notch service to their clients.

3932 - Agronomy Retail Sales - Central Illinois

An Illinois agronomy retail company is seeking a salesperson to sell a full line of chemistry, fertilizer, professional services, and seed direct to farmers from their location in Central Illinois. This company is very relationship focused and will want you to have a very good rapport with your customers and take a vested interest in their operations.

2068 - Senior Project Manager - Indiana

One the country's premier construction companies in agriculture is seeking a Senior Project Manager based in Indiana.

5819 - Rail Terminal Manager - Northern Illinois

Highly successful and growing grain company is seeking a Rail Terminal Manager to lead and mentor a good, young team at one of their key elevators in Northern Illinois. The ideal candidate will have experience managing operations, safety, and people in a grain facility, preferably rail. A minimum of 5-10 years of grain experience and three years' supervisory experience is required, however more experienced candidates could be a great fit as well.

5820 - Project Manager Grain Systems - Central Illinois

A reputable, growing, and financially sound company that specializes in grain handling equipment design and installation is seeking a Project Manager in central Illinois. The ideal candidate is driven, confident, creative and must have excellent interpersonal skills. You will be working directly with company leadership, the design team, vendors and customers. Day-to-day tasks will include project sales & design, estimating, project procurement, jobsite visits, and excellent communication between office/management/shop/field.

As I write this article, it is a beautiful September day. Harvest is underway here in central Illinois. It is also National Farm Safety and Health Week. This is a week set aside each year since 1944. The theme this year is "No one can take your place."

Growing up on my Grandparents’ farm, I learned about machinery and to keep away from moving shafts, chains, augers, flowing grain, etc. When I joined 4-H, one of my projects was Tractor and Farm Safety. I recall a community meeting at our 4-H center one winters night. The speaker was Ordie Hogsett, a Farm and Home Safety Specialist from the University of Illinois Extension. He had sustained injury on the farm and made it his life’s work to prevent accidents on the farm. I recall Ordie’s slide show. It was gory and graphic, and it made a lasting impact on me.

Agriculture is one of the most important and respected industries, yet it is one of the most dangerous with over 400 people killed each year. Harvest time is an intense season with pressures placed on the operators and equipment from the farm to the table. The rush is on to get the crop in before cold weather. While some accidents are unavoidable most can be prevented by a watchful operator. Companies spend millions of dollars each year to prevent accidents and loss of life. While it may seem silly to some to take extra precautions, it is not silly to your friends and relatives. I encourage you to be alert. Take frequent breaks. Be aware of your surroundings Don’t be a statistic and remember "no one can take your place." Have a safe harvest!

Many years ago, the National Safety Council discovered that most accidents do not occur out of ignorance – but rather from false assumptions. For example:

"I can read this text or book and keep my eyes on the road at the same time."
"I can skip the safety goggles just this once."
"That electric circuit can’t be live."

Clearly, wrong assumptions can be deadly – and those we make in our careers are no exception.
For example:

"The company will promote me when I’m ready."
"If I lose my job, a recruiter will find me another one."
"There’s no need to toot my own horn."

If truth be known, it’s easy to make false assumptions about many things, and a complacent attitude at work can spill over into one’s job search as well. For example:

"I’m sure I can dress casually for the interview."
"If the visit goes well, there will be plenty of time to read up on the company later."
"It’s best not to seem too eager."

Guess what? The interview panel all wore ties, the candidate’s lack of knowledge about the company was considered appalling, and the lack of apparent interest became the nail in the coffin.

We are seeking an office professional to join us at our headquarters in Arthur, Illinois!

As Office and Data Administrator, you will organize and coordinate office administration and procedures to ensure organizational effectiveness and efficiency. Regular and effective communication with all staff in a variety of ways is key. Your role on the AGRI-SEARCH team is to assist all recruiters in providing leadership and professional assistance to our agribusiness client companies.

The ideal candidate will be experienced in handling a wide range of administrative and executive related tasks and will be able to work independently with little or no supervision. You must be exceedingly well organized, accurate and detail oriented, flexible, and enjoy the administrative challenges of supporting a diverse team of both in-office and remote recruiters. Proficiency with technology and social media is desirable.

If you or someone you know enjoy a team environment and are customer service oriented, highly organized, and detail oriented, please send a resume to Dave Allen at dave@agri-search.com or call 217-543-5208 today!

Do you have the grit to not give up and stay true to the course, no matter how difficult it may be? Are you competitive and possess a strong sales mentality where every “no” is just one step closer to a “yes”?

If so, and you have a passion for connecting with and helping people, plus a strong agricultural industry background in agronomy, grain, or other areas, please contact Dave Allen. We would enjoy having a discussion with you about how a recruiting career may be a great fit for you.

Founded in 1995, AGRI-SEARCH is a professional recruiting firm providing clients with customized recruiting solutions in various niches within the agricultural industry. Our success results from our industry focus, our specialized approach to recruiting, and our staff's lifelong roots in, dedication to, and vast understanding and knowledge of the agricultural industry.

At AGRI-SEARCH, our mission states that we “are committed to serving the agricultural industry with integrity, passion and excellence by assisting our candidates to reach their career goals and helping our client companies build successful teams.”