Ag job fair debuts at Black Hills Stock Show

Riding a good horse across a pasture belly-deep in green grass. Helping new calves take their first breaths. Driving a combine over acres and acres of wheat. Those are some of the images that attract job-seekers to the ag industry. The tough part is matching the skills and dreams with the dream job—or the dream employee.

Tri-State Livestock News and The Fence Post are hosting HIRED, an ag-industry job fair, during the Black Hills Stock Show, with educational workshops for both job seekers and employers. The job fair will be Wednesday, Feb. 3 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Holiday Inn Rushmore Plaza in Rapid City, South Dakota, during the Black Hills Stock Show.

The two workshops will be targeted at each side of the interview desk. “Job-Seeking Education” gives tips on resume writing and interviewing andstarts at 11 a.m. “Needing to Hire” will give employers guidance for the hiring process and conducting an effective interview and begins at 2 p.m. The presenters are Dr. David Scarborough of Black Hills State University and Dr. Susan Dana of the South Dakota Department of Labor.

“The agriculture industry provides jobs for nearly one million workers annually and every operation demands a unique set of requirements, work style and identity,” said Kelsey Snyder Ruzicka, HIRED director. “We hope to provide the valuable tools to help find the right job or employee for unique and individual needs specific to agriculture.”

Employment vendors and job postings will showcase opportunities available in the ag industry and give attendees a chance to visit one-on-one, outside the pressures of an interview. The event is free to job-seekers and registration is not required. On-site resume-writing help will be provided by the South Dakota Department of Labor and refreshments will be available.

If interested in participating as an employer, or for more details, contact Ruzicka at 877-347-9109 or kesnyder@swiftcom.com.