How to Find a Farm Sitter

There are times when we need to be away from the farm and will need to know how to find a farm sitter. Perhaps it’s for a well-needed vacation, but other times there are weddings, funerals, business trips and college visits that require us to leave town.

Finding a farm sitter that you can depend upon to take good care of your property and animals isn’t easy, I’ve been through a few of them.

I’ve got some advice and tips about how to hire a farm sitter, based on my experience.

Don’t wait until the last minute!

Plan months in advance if possible. Good farm sitters are busy, and need plenty of notice to be able to make time in their schedules.

So, where do you find a good farm-sitter?

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Get Personal Referrals

Leads through personal referrals are very important. Never consider someone that you do not know and/or can’t link someone to them who you know very well (like from an ad on Craigslist, etc.). But definitely, ask your friends and people you trust!

It may seem obvious, but other homesteaders and stable owners in the area would be my first choice.

Folks who regularly work with their own animals make the best sitters, and while they may not be able to keep the exact schedule you do because they have their own chores to do, they are always my first choice.

I prefer adults over teenagers as farm-sitters, and I have experience with both.

One exception would be older kids who are being supervised by their parents.

For example, I have a good friend with three sons, whose husband farms hundreds of acres of land. One time when I needed to be out of town, I hired her boys, who of course are very knowledgeable about animals having grown up on a farm.

My friend drove them over daily and oversaw everything. This was a great way for the boys to earn some money, but they did not have all the responsibility. You always want an adult involved.

Check with Farm Organizations for a Farm Sitter

Other places to find good qualified farm sitters would be your local 4H club or Future Farmers of America.

There are many parents and older kids who live in your area and might be interested in taking care of your place. I would speak with the club leader and ask for some referrals, putting the emphasis on dependability, honesty and responsibility.

Your county’s extension office could prove to be another place for farm sitter prospects. Again, call and let them know what you’re looking for, and for names and phone numbers.

Once you find a potential farm sitter, interview them by phone first. You’re going to want to know about their level of experience with the types of animals you have. Depending upon what you need them to do, you’ll have to decide what kind of previous experience you require. Ask open-ended questions and allow them to tell you a bit about themselves. Listen carefully for any red flags.

You will also want to ask if they have ever done any farm sitting in the past, and ask for names to follow-up with those people. You want to know how they did on previous jobs! Don’t be afraid to ask this question, believe me. If they’ve done good work in the past, they aren’t going to mind you checking! It’s not worth coming home to an absolute mess.

After you’ve established a level of trust, then you may want to schedule a time, long before your trip, for them to come out and take a look at what you want them to do.

Put Everything in Writing

I suggest putting your “chore list” in writing, step by step, and make sure you both have a copy.

Be as specific as you can be, and go through your list as you walk around the farm with your prospect. Show them clearly what you want to be done, don’t be vague.

Remember, they need something to refer to if they aren’t able to speak with you, better too much detail than too little.

You’re going to want to leave phone numbers for your vet, neighbors (in case of emergency) and a close friend of yours, if needed.

Make sure they have access to extra feed, grain and other supplies, if needed.

Discuss Pay Up Front with Farm Sitters and Pay Well

Let them know what the farm sitting job pays as you’re discussing the job, put that in writing as well.

The way I like to handle it, especially with younger people, is to give them a range of pay, say for example $100-150. If everything looks the way I described that I wanted it to be when I return, then I will gladly pay them the highest part of the range, and if not, I’ll deduct. This gives them the incentive to work hard to please you and do a good job.

Go through your list with your farm-sitter once more the day before you leave, to make sure everything is clear and allow for any questions that they may have.

Make sure that you leave them with a way to contact you, if possible. I prefer to receive a text each night, letting me know that everything is fine, I just sleep better that way.

When you return, do a walk-thru along with your list and make sure your expectations have been met. Don’t be afraid to let your sitter know how you felt about the job, especially if they did a good job for you!

If you’re pleased with them, remember to refer them to others! Good people are hard to find!

How to Find Farm Sitting Jobs

You may find yourself with the qualifications needed to be a great farm sitter! So, why not create a side hustle for yourself??!!

Being successful when applying for farm sitting gigs will include the following:

Present Yourself Professionally – Make sure you’re clean and tidy, but don’t be afraid to look the part! Jeans and a flannel shirt are definitely appropriate attire for a farm-sitting interview, as long as you are showered and present yourself well.

2. Be a Respected Person in the Community – People talk, so make sure you have a truth-worthy reputation among other farmers in your surrounding area. When disputes happen, make sure you clean up your side of the street and put issues to rest. Those things will come back to bite you.

3. Offer Referrals – It’s always a good idea to offer up referrals from past customers, including their contact information. If you’re new to the farm-sitting business, perhaps your veterinarian, current employer or even pastor would be willing to give you a good reference. Referrals make a difference!

4. Be Clear About Payment Expectations – Ask around and decide what you plan to charge before you go to an interview. When hiring someone, I would much prefer that they have a set rate ahead of time – I don’t like to play games with people.

Tell them what you would like to be paid and allow them to accept it or to counter-offer. Then you can decide if the job is worth it for you.

You could also set your payment up where you take a deposit before the job starts, and have a chance at “Bonus” pay (on top of your regular fee) if the job is perfect! This is added incentive to do a great job!

5. Don’t Be Afraid to Ask for a Positive Referral – After completing a farm sitter job to the farm owner’s delight, don’t hesitate to ask them if they would be a positive referral for you!

Happy customers are almost always willing to do this for you!

I would love to hear about your experiences in finding farm sitters as well as being hired as one in the comments below!