Work Matters: Harvesting future talent in local agribusiness

By JOANNA HINTON

As the late-summer heat gives way to crisp autumn air across Kentucky, our fields transform. Pumpkins ripen on the vine, apple trees heavy with fruit line the orchards, and families prepare for seasonal weekend visits. For many in our community, fall is a time for farm fun, corn mazes, and fresh fried apple cider donuts. But as small business owners, Jeremy and I see another vital harvest taking place every autumn: the growth of our local workforce.

Agribusiness and agritourism serve as major economic engines for the Lincoln Trail region. Fall agritourism brings crucial revenue into our rural communities, attracting visitors who support not just local farms, but nearby restaurants, gas stations, and main street shops. Yet, the economic impact goes far beyond dollars spent at the farm stand, it directly invests in our area's future labor pool.

Every autumn, seasonal operations like ours hire local teenagers, often giving them their very first job. In an era where soft skills can be tough to teach in a classroom, the farm serves as an ideal training ground.

Working a fall season teaches young employees critical workplace fundamentals:

• Customer Relations: Greeting guests, assisting families, and navigating busy weekend crowds build real-world communication skills and poise under pressure.
• Work Ethic & Responsibility: Managing daily farm operational tasks — from retail cash handling to maintaining safety standards on hayrides — instills accountability.
• Problem-Solving & Teamwork: Farm work is dynamic. Teammates must collaborate quickly to keep operations running smoothly when weather changes or foot traffic surges.

When young people learn how to show up on time, communicate clearly with supervisors, and deliver thoughtful customer service, they gain foundational professional habits. These transferable soft skills make them vastly more employable down the road, whether they choose to pursue a permanent career in agriculture or step into healthcare, manufacturing, business, or public service.

When you support local agritourism this fall, you are doing more than enjoying a day out with your family. You are investing in our regional economy and helping our youth cultivate the skills they need to succeed in tomorrow's workforce.

Joanna and Jeremy Hinton own and operate Hinton’s Orchard in LaRue County. For more information on workforce initiatives and local employer resources, go to the Lincoln Trail Workforce Development Board at ltcareercenter.org/board/.