Farm Technician

Position Summary

Howell Farms is a diversified, second-generation family farming operation headquartered in central Indiana growing top quality processing tomatoes, corn, soybeans, small grains, and grass-fed beef. Our team is innovative and our company is structured and positioned for successful growth today and in the future. Our entire team is driven to continually increase production while preserving our most valued resource – our land.

The Farm Technician role includes equipment and facility operation, equipment and facility maintenance and repair, truck driving, and general labor. This position is extremely hands on. We are looking for a detail-oriented and driven person with the ability and desire to learn and grow. There is plenty of room for advancement in various directions for a person that consistently demonstrates responsibility, interest, and excellent performance. This role requires a person that embraces the demanding seasonal schedule of producing and harvesting a variety of crops and particularly perishable crops.

This position may be combined with other available positions.

Essential Job Functions

• Equipment operation:
  • Safe, efficient, conscientious operation of late-model equipment
  • Proper operation of current on-board precision technology for controlling, monitoring, and recording application and harvest data
  • Operate all types of equipment, including grain and vegetable harvest equipment, harvest support equipment, spraying, planting and tillage
• Facility operation:
  • Grain drying and storage
  • Weigh, test, and record in-bound grain
  • Monitor, operate, and troubleshoot grain dryer and handling equipment
  • Manage stored grain
  • Load outbound grain
• Truck driving:
  • Hauling grain
  • Tending planters, sprayers, and dry fertilizer spreaders
• Equipment and facility repairs and maintenance:
  • Efficient and timely in-field repairs of busy equipment
  • Ongoing in-season maintenance
  • Pre-season equipment preparation
• Professionally represent Howell Farms in all dealings with customers and other stakeholders:
  • Be fair and honest in all dealings because you are representing yourself and Howell Farms.
  • Uphold the operation’s Core Values and codes of conduct in the Employee Handbook.

Qualifications

Below is a partial list of the knowledge, skills and abilities required to perform this job with excellence.

• Education: No minimum formal education required, but a willingness and ability to continually learn and improve is required.
• Interpersonal Skills: Work effectively in an operations support position with owners, managers and other employees. Possess ability to maintain satisfactory relationships with others, excellent customer service skills and a good overall understanding of appropriate human relations behaviors.
• Computer Skills: Must be comfortable using mobile devices for data entry.
• Familiarity with Agriculture: Must have knowledge and experience with agricultural enterprises.
• Adaptability: Ability to adapt to changes, delays, or unexpected events in the work environment; ability to manage competing demands and prioritize tasks; ability to change approach or method to best fit the situation.
• Attendance and Punctuality: Ability to consistently be at work and on time. Ability to be happy with a work schedule determined by weather and crop needs.
• Dependability: Ability to follow instructions, both in written and verbal format; ability to respond to management direction; ability to complete tasks on time or notify the appropriate person with an alternate plan when necessary.
• Ethics: Ability to treat all people with respect; promote a harassment-free environment; uphold organizational values.
• Judgment: Ability to make prudent and timely decisions; ability to exhibit sound and accurate judgment; ability to explain reasoning for decisions.
• Mathematical Ability: Ability to add, subtract, multiply and divide in all units of measure, using whole numbers, common fractions, and decimals. Ability to compute rate, ratio, and percent. Ability to draw and interpret various graphs.
• Safety and Security: Ability to observe safety and security procedures. Ability to report potentially unsafe conditions. Use equipment and materials properly.
• Communication: Ability to express thoughts and ideas in a concise and relevant manner in all mediums and forms of written and verbal communication.
• Physical Ability: Ability to lift heavy objects. Ability to climb, stoop, crawl, kneel, stand, and walk in a variety of environments.

Preferred Qualifications

• Proficiency in operations of large late-model farm equipment preferred
• High school diploma or equivalent required, further education or experience preferred
• Class A commercial driver’s license and/or tractor-trailer experience preferred

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