"Mostly because then I understand as much as I can." "I probably enjoy helping in the mechanical shop most," he said. Trevor Horn, 17, is a Hermiston High School student in his first year working for Ditchen.Īs he drove a combine harvesting Kentucky bluegrass seed, Horn said he has been asked to do every type of task on the farm since he started working a few weeks ago. This year, he hired eight high school students and three college students. Still, Ditchen said, he likes hiring high school and college kids to work for him. "The jobs are out there, but it's a hard job." "I've turned a lot of kids away this year," he said. He said that lack of familiarity requires employers to spend more time training kids on how to operate and be safe around equipment. For so many kids, their first job is at 16. "When I was growing up, you saw more younger people working simpler jobs on a farm, like picking berries," he said. In less than 20 years, most machinery has become automated, which limits the number of jobs teens are needed to do. He said the rapid changes in technology has also altered the way farms operate. Among other restrictions, workers under the age of 16 are prohibited from working in places where power-driven machinery is used. The Oregon Bureau of Labor and Industries has several requirements for employing minors both under 16, and under 18. they can't work too many hours," Ditchen said. PENDLETON - Whether pulling weeds, picking berries or driving machinery, many people found their first job on a farm.įor Umatilla County kids, farm labor has been one of many options for making money in the summer, but the way young workers fit into the agricultural industry has seen major changes in the past several years.ĭarrin Ditchen, owner of Golden Valley Farms East in Stanfield, said his minimum hiring age is 16, the age teens have to be to operate heavy equipment.
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