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Host Training Plan
Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Company
| Name | Jere Gettle | [email protected] | |
| Steward(s) Selected | Sandra Mercedes – | ||
| Training Start Date | 06/10/2022 | Training End Date | 06/09/2023 |
| Steward Training Hours per Week | 40 | ||
| Compensation (Stipend or Wage) | Yes | If Yes, how much/how often? | [1156] |
| Non-Monetary Compensation and Estimated Value | $20,000 (est. lodging, food, local transport, insurance, program fee) |
| Name of your Workers’ Compensation Carrier | Missouri Employers Mutual |
| Will your Workers’ Compensation policy cover the Steward? | Yes |
| Number of Employees at training location | 100 |
| Number of Interns/Trainees/Apprentices at training location | 2 |
| Annual Revenue | $25 Million or More |
[Phase 1]
| Phase Name | Farm orientation | ||
| Start Date of Phase | 06/10/2022 | End Date of Phase | 06/27/2022 |
| Primary Supervisor during this phase | Kathy McFarland | Supervisor Title | Media and Public Relations/Events |
| [email protected] | Phone Number | 417-650-1883 | |
| 1. Describe the Trainee/Steward’s role for this phase |
|
The trainee will meet all the employees at both Baker Creek locations and will get a full overview of operations at both locations. |
| 2. Specific goals and objectives for this phase |
|
1. The trainee will identify employees in the greenhouses. 2. The trainee will identify which types of plants are grown in each greenhouse and outside garden. 3. The trainee will become familiar with the seed store and its setup/operation. |
| 3. Primary Supervisor’s qualifications |
|
Kathy is a life-long gardener and a 13-year Baker Creek employee familiar with all aspects of the company. |
| 4. What plans are in place for the Trainee/Steward to participate in cultural activities while in the United States? |
|
The trainee will live with veteran employees and participate in daily life on a working farm. The Missouri Ozarks is flush with cultural activities that include many outdoor activities. Baker Creek’s proximity to Springfield also gives easy access to shopping, concerts, sporting events, theater, etc. |
| 5. Specific knowledge, skills, or techniques to be learned during this phase? |
|
The trainee will learn which employees work in which area and what those employees actually do. The trainee will learn the order in which seeds are displayed in the seed store and how they are sold. |
| 6. How specifically will this knowledge, skills, or techniques be taught? Include methodology of training and chronology/syllabus. |
|
This phase will be much observation, communication during visits to various sites on the farm, hands-on training in the greenhouses, gardens, and warehouse. Supervisors in each area visited will explain what is taking place in each location. Trainees will practice some hands-on techniques. |
| 7. How will the Trainee/Steward’s acquisition of new skills and competencies be measured? |
|
Trainee’s new skills and competencies will be measured by observation and documentation by supervisor. |
| 8. Additional Phase Remarks (optional) |
|
My background in education has taught me that the proper orientation to a training program can be one of the most important components of the program. |
[Phase 2]
| Phase Name | Garden planting | ||
| Start Date of Phase | 06/27/2022 | End Date of Phase | 08/09/2022 |
| Primary Supervisor during this phase | John Lentz | Supervisor Title | Director of Greenhouses |
| [email protected] | Phone Number | 515-393-8776 | |
| 1. Describe the Trainee/Steward’s role for this phase |
|
Trainee will actively participate side-by-side with veteran employees putting seeds and plants into the gardens and greenhouses. Trainee will also participate in both the June and July monthly Festivals on the Farm. |
| 2. Specific goals and objectives for this phase |
|
Trainee will learn requirements for planting both in outdoors soil, as well is in greenhouse. |
| 3. Primary Supervisor’s qualifications |
|
John Lentz has extensive background in landscape design, vegetable and flower gardening, and greenhouse growing. |
| 4. What plans are in place for the Trainee/Steward to participate in cultural activities while in the United States? |
|
There are multiple opportunities for fishing, river floating, and many other activities. Because this phase includes the July 4th holiday, Trainee will be exposed to America’s Independence Day celebrations with fireworks, BBQ’s, picnics, etc. |
| 5. Specific knowledge, skills, or techniques to be learned during this phase? |
|
Trainee will learn depth of planting for various types of seeds. Trainee will learn fertilizer or soil amendment requirements for various types of plants. Trainee will learn various methods of organic or natural pest control. |
| 6. How specifically will this knowledge, skills, or techniques be taught? Include methodology of training and chronology/syllabus. |
|
Trainee will actively participate side-by-side with veteran garden and greenhouse employees using hands-on activities. |
| 7. How will the Trainee/Steward’s acquisition of new skills and competencies be measured? |
|
Trainee’s skills and competencies will be measured by supervisor observation and documentation. |
| 8. Additional Phase Remarks (optional) |
|
The gardens and greenhouses are important parts of Baker Creek. While we do harvest some seed to sell, we consider many of them to be trial gardens where we try out new varieties and grow many varieties for photography purposes to use in our catalogs and marketing programs. |
[Phase 3]
| Phase Name | Seed Saving and Seed Acquisition | ||
| Start Date of Phase | 08/09/2022 | End Date of Phase | 09/15/2022 |
| Primary Supervisor during this phase | Martin Walsh | Supervisor Title | Seed Production Manager |
| [email protected] | Phone Number | 417-554-7044 | |
| 1. Describe the Trainee/Steward’s role for this phase |
|
Trainee will actively participate side-by-side with veteran garden seed savers to learn the techniques of successful seed saving. |
| 2. Specific goals and objectives for this phase |
|
Trainee will learn how important proper seed harvesting and seed saving are to the garden seed industry. |
| 3. Primary Supervisor’s qualifications |
|
Martin has worked in his position for more than 10 years. He is is both personable and professional in his job. He pays great attention to detail and loves to teach others about seed saving. |
| 4. What plans are in place for the Trainee/Steward to participate in cultural activities while in the United States? |
|
There will multiple opportunities for fishing, river floating, hiking, and many other activities. Close proximity to Springfield will provide opportunities for music concerts, theater performances, shopping, and more. |
| 5. Specific knowledge, skills, or techniques to be learned during this phase? |
|
Trainee will learn to determine when seeds are ready to be harvested for proper seed saving. Trainee will learn seed extraction practices for many types of plants. Trainee will learn seed storage techniques for best germination retention. |
| 6. How specifically will this knowledge, skills, or techniques be taught? Include methodology of training and chronology/syllabus. |
|
Trainee will actively participate side-by-side with veteran employees selecting plants for saving seeds, extracting seeds, drying seeds, and putting seeds into storage. |
| 7. How will the Trainee/Steward’s acquisition of new skills and competencies be measured? |
|
The supervisor will observe and document the skills and competencies learned by Trainee. |
| 8. Additional Phase Remarks (optional) |
|
Saving seeds correctly to preserve their germination rates is of utmost importance to Baker Creek’s business. |
[Phase 4]
| Phase Name | Seed Packing and Order Fullfillment | ||
| Start Date of Phase | 09/15/2022 | End Date of Phase | 10/14/2022 |
| Primary Supervisor during this phase | Rose Lentz | Supervisor Title | Shipping Manager |
| [email protected] | Phone Number | 573-600-2377 | |
| 1. Describe the Trainee/Steward’s role for this phase |
|
Trainee will observe and actively participate side-by-side with veteran employees packing seeds and working the picking line to fulfill customer orders. |
| 2. Specific goals and objectives for this phase |
|
Trainee will learn which seed types must be packed by hand versus which seed types may be machine packed. Trainee will learn to use at least one of the seed packing machines. Trainee will learn to properly place seed packs on the conveyor during the order fulfillment process. |
| 3. Primary Supervisor’s qualifications |
|
Rose has been the shipping manager for a few years, supervising the picking line and order fulfillment process. She has experience shipping orders to domestic and international addresses. |
| 4. What plans are in place for the Trainee/Steward to participate in cultural activities while in the United States? |
|
There will be multiple opportunities for fishing, river floating, hiking, and many other outdoor activities. This phase will also allow Trainee to participate in the many summer and fall festivals of the area. |
| 5. Specific knowledge, skills, or techniques to be learned during this phase? |
|
Trainee will learn about shipping restrictions of certain seeds both within our country and to other countries. Trainee will learn techniques to run the picking/packing line effectively and efficiently. |
| 6. How specifically will this knowledge, skills, or techniques be taught? Include methodology of training and chronology/syllabus. |
|
Veteran employees will show Trainee step-by-step the order fulfillment process–from picking the seeds to packing them for shipping to placing shipping labels on the finished package. |
| 7. How will the Trainee/Steward’s acquisition of new skills and competencies be measured? |
|
Trainee will demonstrate competencies and skills to be observed and documented by supervisor. |
| 8. Additional Phase Remarks (optional) |
|
Seed packing and fulfilling orders are important final steps in getting the seeds out to customers, which is what generates the income for and determines the success of the company. |
[Phase 5]
| Phase Name | Business production | ||
| Start Date of Phase | 10/14/2022 | End Date of Phase | 06/09/2023 |
| Primary Supervisor during this phase | Kathy McFarland | Supervisor Title | Media and public relations |
| [email protected] | Phone Number | 417-650-1883 | |
| 1. Describe the Trainee/Steward’s role for this phase |
|
This phase includes training in all aspects of seed production from planting the seeds in soil to caring for the plants, harvesting the seeds and shipping the seed orders to customers. |
| 2. Specific goals and objectives for this phase |
|
Trainee will learn different methods and techniques of pest management in both the greenhouses and the outside gardens. She will learn the process of preparing orders for shipping, as well as all the steps of actually shipping the orders. Trainee will learn different responses required for customer service email inquiries about orders. Trainee will learn the various methods of packing the different varieties of seeds (some will be hand packed while other varieties will be packed by machine. |
| 3. Primary Supervisor’s name and qualifications |
|
Kathy is a life-long gardener and a 13-year Baker Creek employee familiar with all aspects of the company. |
| 4. What plans are in place for the Trainee/Steward to participate in cultural activities while in the United States? |
|
With our proximity to the city of Springfield, the trainee will have many opportunities to attend concerts, theme parks, drama presentations, and much more. Our location in the heart of the ozarks provides hiking, biking, water sports, winter snow sports, and many more activities. |
| 5. Specific knowledge, skills, or techniques to be learned during this phase? |
|
Trainee will learn different methods and techniques of pest management in both the greenhouses and the outside gardens. She will learn the process of preparing orders for shipping, as well as all the steps of actually shipping the orders. Trainee will learn different responses required for customer service email inquiries about orders. Trainee will learn the various methods of packing the different varieties of seeds (some will be hand packed while other varieties will be packed by machine. |
| 6. How specifically will this knowledge, skills, or techniques be taught? Include methodology of training and chronology/syllabus. |
|
Knowledge of skills and techniques will be taught by observation, explanation, and hands-on practice of completing tasks. |
| 7. How will the Trainee/Steward’s acquisition of new skills and competencies be measured? |
|
Skills and competencies will be measured by observation and documentation by various task supervisors. |
| 8. Additional Phase Remarks (optional) |
