A WomAn’s Guide To RUnning a Farm
I’ve joked that I've never been able to find a book titled, “How to Run a Farm as a Woman”. In the process of looking for guidance, I've read a few management books for women, but always felt disconnected from the corporate women who they’re written for. There are some similarities, but the version of old school sexism that women encounter on farms, ranches, and barns is a whole other beast. Like the corporate world, men traditionally hold positions of power and leadership on a farm. But the elements of physical strength and skills that most women are never taught (how to fix a broken pipe or drive a tractor) make the divide even more dramatic. So here’s my version of that book that doesn’t exist (yet). Or part one at least.
Know How To Do It Yourself
This does not mean “DO IT ALL YOURSELF” … every day… always… But knowing how to do it all is the key. This means knowing how to muck stalls, groom horses, drag the arena, turn on the sprinklers, work the timers, etc. Yes, it is a lot, but when you manage it, you have to know it.
The main reason is to create reasonable expectations for your staff. How much time does it take to clean a stall, put a horse on the walker, turn out etc? What is the optimal flow? What takes the least amount of time while also being beneficial for your horses and your program? Answering all of these questions for yourself will ensure a smooth daily operation. In the beginning, I made the mistake of leaving the flow up to my employees, thinking they would manage their time the most efficiently. And generally I have had to change my own tendency to be “democratic” with the way I manage my employees. Not because they are unreliable, but because the bigger picture of how the farm runs can sometimes elude them. So stepping in and establishing your flow is crucial. It might seem a bit overbearing and “bossy” to show your employees everything exactly how you want it, but when you have a strong knowledge of how it all works, your employees will be glad to have clear and reasonable expectations.
An added bonus of knowing how to do everything on the farm is the competence factor. You will gain the respect of your staff 10x if you show that you are competent and capable. This is especially important as a woman because it inevitably softens the stigmas against us. The men will see their values in you: strong, hardworking, skilled. As stereotypical as it sounds, men are often the “doers”. They don’t value the spreadsheets you’re filling out or the orders of hay you’re coordinating. Can you get on the tractor and move some dirt if it really came down to it? That’s what matters to them.
CHOOSE PEOPLE WHO SHOW YOU RESPECT
I’ve been told, “Just smile more!” when contractors have made insane, dumb mistakes. I’ve been asked to calm down when I’ve been neutral and firm. I can’t even count the times people have asked for “the boss”. Hour long walkthroughs to inevitably be asked, “So I’ll send this off to your dad.” Sometimes a firm half halt is all these guys need… “Nope, send it to me, I’m the one you’ll be dealing with.” But more often than not, these little comments aren’t something to brush off. They’re indicators of how they truly feel and how they will treat you. In their mind, you are the complacent woman who can wait and doesn’t know what she wants or needs. Or you’re the bitch whose requests are unreasonable, unpleasant, and overly demanding. Unfortunately, I haven’t been able to find a way to get through to these types of men. Instead, I avoid them at all costs.
Assemble a team that respects you and makes your life easier. This can be challenging in the early phases when you haven’t established rapport yet, but, as time goes on, you will inevitably find the people who you can trust. Do not underestimate their value. I have used contractors that have been slightly more expensive or taken a bit longer to finish a project simply because they are easy to communicate with and treat me with respect.
SET CLEAR EXPECTATIONS
This applies to life and communication in general, but it can be harder for women to maintain clear boundaries and expectations especially on a working ranch. The main problem I’ve found is that people hate working more than they think they should, so they will take any opportunity to weasel out of what they perceive is “extra” or “unnecessary”. Contractors will try to convince you that their shortcuts are perfectly fine and it will be a real pain in the ass to redo it. This is the moment you might feel your face get hot… Trust me, it makes my blood boil how many times this has happened to me. You feel them inching closer and closer to taking advantage of you and your perceived leniency and you can see what you want being pushed further and further into the background. But the key is to stay as neutral as possible. Clear, no bullshit. This is what I asked for and this is not what you’ve given me.
This makes having clear expectations in writing so critical. Whether that’s a quote or brief summary of the job, make sure every bullet point is accounted for. It gives you something to point to and shifts the onus onto them. It also helps you avoid extra “hidden” charges.
Although this will help you get what you want with less face boiling moments, it is not a perfect system. Sometimes legitimate issues come up that can call for changes in the the plan and push you into plan B, C, or D. But the cycle then repeats itself. Clearly communicate the expectations about what you want, have it in writing, and let the contractor handle the rest.