By Blake Jackson
The University of Wisconsin-Madison Division of Extension has opened registration for Becoming the Employer of Choice for Vegetable Farmers (BTEC-Veg), a professional development program designed to help diversified vegetable farm owners and managers improve their hiring, leadership, and employee management skills.
This eight-session online series focuses on practical, research-based approaches combined with peer-to-peer learning. Participants will explore essential topics such as recruitment, onboarding, motivation, workplace culture, conflict resolution, and effective communication. Each session includes access to an expanding library of online tools and resources that reinforce the lessons taught.
The live online classes will be held Mondays and Thursdays from 9-11 a.m. CST, running from November 13 to December 11, 2025. Farmers can enroll in the full program for $215 or choose individual sessions for $35 each by registering online at go.wisc.edu/BTEC-veg.
Recognizing that many vegetable farms depend heavily on hired labor and management but often lack formal HR training, BTEC-Veg addresses this critical skills gap through hands-on learning and real-world case studies.
Developed in collaboration with seasoned farm employers and University of Wisconsin Extension staff, the program is supported by FairShare CSA Coalition, whose members receive discounted registration rates.
All sessions are conducted in English, with interpretation, translation, or accessibility services available upon request at no additional charge. To arrange these services, participants should contact Sarah Janes Ugoretz at sarah.janesugoretz@wisc.edu or call 608-234-1561 by November 27.
Photo Credit: gettyimages-dmytro-diedov
Categories: Wisconsin, Crops, Fruits and Vegetables, Education