Howdy partners! Can you believe it? Five whole months have galloped by since our last chinwag about my H2A and H2B adventures here in the land of the free and the home of the… well, you know! This South Dakota saga has been more thrilling than a bucking bronco, let me tell ya!
Now, y’all know I’ve been wrangling work on the American plains for three glorious years. But this year? This year’s got extra sparkle because after what felt like a dog’s age, my amazing wife finally joined me! Cue the confetti and maybe a little bit of awkward country dancing! See her experience here: https://youtu.be/7WDLD19WfZg?si=SXXYaRJeWpfKDC17
Getting her here wasn’t exactly a smooth ride on a freshly paved road, mind you. There was an agent involved… in Honduras. Let me just say, that was an “experience” with a capital E! It was about as straightforward as trying to teach a coyote to yodel. But hey, she’s here now, so who’s laughing? (It’s us!) I’ll spill the beans on that agency down the line – they mostly focus on their own folks, but a little nudge from my employer (who they do business with) and bam! My better half landed a gig!
She’s now rocking it at a local convenience store, clocking in around 45 hours a week with a schedule that’s… well, let’s just say our calendars look like a game of Tetris. But who cares about matching shifts when you’re sharing the same zip code, right? We even squeezed in some rodeo action! If you’re into chaps and close calls with angry bulls, you can check out the snaps here: https://youtu.be/vQvEGnYwNLg?si=_iTHRSXvQ8DbxkfD
Now, hold your horses, because things got a tad more serious on the prairie this year. There’s been a whole heap of hullabaloo about the Refugee program. Folks keep asking if I’m gonna jump on that bandwagon. Honestly? I’m in a pickle! America’s got opportunities that could pave a golden path, but South Africa? That’s where my heart roams free. It’s a tough decision, tougher than a two-dollar steak! On the other hand, this program could be a lifeline for folks in a real bind, maybe their only shot at a better tomorrow. You can dive deeper into the nitty-gritty here: https://za.usembassy.gov/refugee-admissions-program-for-south-africans/ and even watch my two cents on the matter right here: https://youtu.be/5_hmf9qCAb0?si=wiNVQatASYozPS4g
But enough serious talk! You know why my Facebook channel’s been busier than a one-legged cat in a sandbox? WORK, folks! I’m practically a walking, talking job board, posting opportunities I stumble upon here in the good ol’ US of A almost daily! So ditch the snail-mail newsletter wait and mosey on over to my Facebook page for real-time updates and potential job gold: https://www.messenger.com/channel/jvt007. You snooze, you lose, as they say!
This year’s been a bit of a meteorological rollercoaster here in South Dakota. Mother Nature’s thrown us more curveballs than a rookie pitcher, halting our farming activities more times than I’ve had hot dinners! But we’re a resilient bunch, and we got ‘er done eventually. Now we’ve got a little breathing room before the harvest hoedown kicks off again in September.
And here’s a little nugget of wisdom I’ve gleaned from my time slingin’ fertilizer: operating those floaters and sprayers? That’s the golden ticket, my friends! Farmers are practically lining up to snag good operators. So, if you can snag some experience on those magnificent machines – even just one season under your belt – your chances of landing a sweet work contract will skyrocket faster than a rocket-propelled pumpkin!
Speaking of leveling up your skills, I stumbled upon some short courses on H2aBuddy.com that look mighty helpful for boosting your agricultural know-how. Go have a gander:https://h2abuddy.com/short-courses/
Hold onto your hats again, ’cause this is a goodie! Turns out, H2aBuddy.com is now offering a $500 REWARD for anyone who ropes in a farmer interested in hiring international workers through the H2A visa program! And they’ll hand over the cash once that farmer successfully signs up. You bet your bottom dollar I’ve already got my lasso out, lookin’ for potential referrals!
Did you know that out of 1.8 MILLION registered farmers in America, only around 12,200 use the H2A program? That’s a teeny-tiny drop in a massive irrigation pond! I reckon there’s a real opportunity here for someone with a knack for marketing or just plain old networking. Not only do you pocket some cash, but you’re also helping someone else find an opportunity. That’s what I call a win-win, y’all!
I count my blessings every single day for having work here and my own little slice of the American pie. It’s easy to forget, living with your own space, how challenging it can be sharing cramped quarters with other workers for months on end – which is the norm on most farms. I had a heart-to-heart with a fellow H2A visa holder about the ups and downs of living and working with fellow South Africans on farms, and it got me thinking about my own past struggles. So, I dusted off some old memories and made a video sharing my experiences and how I navigated those situations. If you’re curious, take a peek: https://youtu.be/K0DOnGsFcEE?si=xzHAAO4eIplxkUiO
And for all those H2B hopefuls out there, you’ve been asking for a list of agents. Here are a few that might help you on your job-seeking journey:
1 – Away2Xplore (mostly for younger people to work on carnivals)
2 – Agri Placements International (listed as H2a recruiters)
3 – CVPlacements (farm work, does uk placements also)
4 – Eagle Hour Farm Work ( mostly farm work)
5 – FarmWork in Northern America (FWINA) (farm work)
6 – GetGoAgri ( indicate both h2a and h2b work)
7 – Nuhorizon ( does mostly h2b, but also do placements in UK)
8 – Recruiting 4 USA (mostly farm work)
9 – Work Abroad Network (mostly farm work)
Remember to do your own research and due diligence, folks!
Wishing you all the best for the rest of July! May your job searches be fruitful and your days be filled with sunshine (and maybe a little less crazy weather than we’ve had here!).
Here’s a little something I live by, and it always seems to ring true in my life when I’m scratching my head about what to do next:
Matthew 7:7: “Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you.”
Blessings from the wide-open spaces of South Dakota!
Your pal,
Jacques Faith van Tonder