Thinking outside the box – working at AgroVation
Lending a hand, taking responsibility, working independently – some of our apprentices had this opportunity at the AgroVation farm in the Czech Republic and became an indispensable support during the season.
Gaining experience on a large agricultural farm, helping at AgroVation in the Czech Republic and working with HORSCH machines – this was the wish expressed by some apprentices after a presentation held by Constantin Horsch during the Follow-Up Days. Foreign assignments during the apprenticeship are not uncommon at HORSCH. In the past, apprentices were in Brazil and Australia to gather new impressions, learn about different ways of working and broaden their horizons.
The apprentices’ wish coincided with a challenge that many agricultural farms face: work peaks during the harvest season. Therefore, the idea was to combine the apprentices’ interest with the need for additional harvest workers. This provided our apprentices with the opportunity to work at AgroVation in the Czech Republic, to learn about large-scale arable farming and to expand the experience that many had already gained at home where agriculture tends to be small-scale.
AgroVation
- HORSCH test farm in the Czech Republic
- 4 000 hectares of arable land
- Crops: wheat, maize, rapeseed, soya and sugar beet
- Seeding methods: mulch seeding, minimum tillage and direct seeding
Start in the harvest season
The option was open to all apprentices at the three German HORSCH sites. However, a few requirements had to be met for participation: the apprentices had to be at least 18 years old, have a class B and T driving licence and already have experience in working with agricultural machinery. Equally important was their previous commitment during their apprenticeship – because the assignment in Knezmost was not only a special opportunity, but also a reward for good achievements.
As a result, a total of 14 apprentices alternately worked in teams of two in the Czech Republic for up to two weeks. The first two apprentices started right on time for the barley harvest and were immediately thrown into the thick of things. From the very beginning, they had to take on responsibility. They were supervised by Juliane and Constantin Horsch as well as the eight employees at AgroVation who were always available as contact persons. At the same time, however, great importance was attached to independence. Help was there when needed, but first everyone had to try to find solutions themselves, e.g. replacing defective items themselves and improvising when something didn't work. This meant taking responsibility, recognising mistakes and making decisions. For many apprentices, it was a valuable experience to learn how far their own competence would take them – and to recognise when it makes sense to call in support.
The whole system was organized in such a way that the apprentices could train each other. Ideally, each pair stayed for two weeks, with a two-day overlap with the next group. This time was used to pass on experiences, exchange tips and thus ensure that everything ran smoothly. Even after the first group returned home, they were still available to answer questions from their colleagues.
The tasks were varied and provided a realistic insight into the work processes on a large agricultural farm. Among other things, the teams helped with the grain harvest, took on tasks in tillage and ensured that the work results were satisfactory. Maintenance and repair work was also required, as were activities such as mulching field edges and working in grain processing and with conveyor technology. You can't make an omelette without breaking eggs. Thus, as lot of work was done, minor damage was inevitable. In such a case, it was important to take responsibility and, for example, bend the lighting bracket back into shape.
All the apprentices participated actively, took responsibility and showed a high level of commitment. Thus, they provided excellent support to the workforce at AgroVation and gained valuable experience at the same time. This also included being allowed to make mistakes, taking responsibility for them and learning from them. It was a great time for Hannes, Jonas, Daniel, Simon, Valentin, Bastian, Korbinian, Thomas, Yannik, Timo and Sebastian.
On behalf of the apprentices, Sebastian and Jonas describe their impressions:
Why were there apprentices in the Czech Republic at the AgroVation farm?
Sebastian: We apprentices supported the permanent employees during the peak periods. We mainly worked as tractor drivers. I was at the farm during harvest time and helped to transport barley with the auger wagon. After the harvest, I was allowed to spread various mineral fertilisers and carry out the shallow tillage measures.
Would you go to Knezmost again?
Sebastian: Yes, definitely, as you get away from home and meet other people. It was also very interesting for me to gain an insight into a farm like this as I have an own farm at home. You can learn a lot of new things. For example, how to best cultivate the different soil structures or what Constantin pays attention to. You gain new insights into how others think and work, and you can take with you new, good ideas, also for your own farm at home.
What was an outstanding moment you still remember?
Sebastian: A particular highlight for me was combining with three combine harvesters and two auger wagons, one of which I was allowed to drive. We were out in the field until late in the evening. I was particularly surprised by how much the soil structure can vary from one field to the next.
What was expected of you?
Jonas: Above all, it was important to show full commitment and be flexible – there are hardly any fixed working hours in agriculture. We had to work independently, solve problems ourselves and remain open to new ideas. I also looked after the new apprentices, explained the machines to them, gave them training courses, for example on how to use FendtONE, and instructed them with regard to the processes. I also supported the apprentices who were on site at the time wherever I could.
How did the hand-over between the apprentice groups work?
Jonas: There were always two of us in the Czech Republic for around ten days at a time. The new apprentices were trained directly by the previous group which also took some of the workload off Juliane and Constantin Horsch. We showed them around the farm premises and the outdoor storage areas, explained the machinery and gave them an overview of the fields. We shared photos, educational videos and experiences via a joint team chat. When problems arose, we documented them and passed them on so that the next group could learn from them. We tried to solve problems ourselves – so every apprentice was there for the others.
What was special about this time for you?
Jonas: There were so many new impressions. I learned a lot professionally and personally, met new people and experienced how varied the working days are on such a large farm. You get a feeling for how agriculture works in a completely different dimension.
For me, it was a tremendous experience – even with hurdles and problems which we mastered very well together. A big highlight was that we were a good team that supported each other.
