Tiaan Smith-Shedden

I was involved in all aspects of the 4500 head cattle feedlot with several irrigated corn and rye fields with multiple pastures for grazing of cow/calf pairs, I had to be self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility. Most of the time I worked without any supervision.

Duties involved Field preparation, planting, cutting and baling. Service and maintenance of irrigation pivots, equipment, vehicles and cattle pens. Welding of the continuous fencing in the cattle pens as well as the irrigation pivot pipes. Fence building (electric and barbed wire) and repair, as well as inspection of pasture conditions. Hauling of materials and animals with semi-trucks. Calving, feeding, doctoring of cattle.

I had to work independently and work in a small team throughout my time working for the Corzines. Due to the scale at which we worked time management was an essential skill to make sure that all tasks were completed during their allotted time frames.

My duties ranged from field cultivation, planting, and seeding of wheat and cotton as well as other cereal crops, and the inspection, harvest and storage thereof. I sprayed throughout the season, applying various herbicides, pesticides and fertilizers as crops and fields required to maximize yields. Regular maintenance and servicing of vehicles and equipment. Cattle feeding, doctoring and hauling as needed. Building and maintenance of fences.

This job required that I be able to work in smaller as well as large teams. Communication was a big factor in the success of operations.

Duties for this job included harvesting of multiple grains and cereal crops, as well as planting for customers of the company. Hauling of harvested crops and loading / unloading thereof. loading/unloading of cattle.