How Duncan Family Farms Successfully Builds Worker Loyalty
February 2, 2022 
Arnott Duncan, Board Chair of Duncan Family Farms, says the culture is why his farm does so well with labor. Managers are expected to care for and support their team members. Photo courtesy of Duncan Family Farms
Amid the “Great Resignation” and chronic agriculture challenges with labor, Duncan Family Farms stands out. The operation continues to attract and keep its employees.
When you ask Arnott Duncan, Board Chair, why his farm does so well with labor, he says it’s the culture.
“The farm programs were never designed to retain employees. We just hope the people we get to work with choose to stay with us for the culture of the company and hopefully for opportunities created here for them and their families through our mutual efforts,” he says.
Managers are expected to care for and support their “team members” (their preferred term). How? By supporting health and opportunities for advancement.
At Duncan Family Farms (DFF), this means employees and their families have access to education and training for anyone who wants to develop their skills for future opportunities.
To learn more, we talked to Duncan (who got input from Tina Huff, Vice President of People) about all they do to keep the team engaged and satisfied with their work.
You offer all employees tuition reimbursement. How does that program work?
We have a life-long love of supporting education and are so impressed with the number of Duncan Family Farms team members who have completed studies and obtained degrees through the DFF Tuition Reimbursement Program.
The program provides all full-time team members an opportunity to receive up to 100% tuition reimbursement after one year of employment. This program provides 100% reimbursement for team members who are completing studies related to their role or potential future roles with Duncan Family Farms. For other areas of study, Duncan Family Farms provides a 50% reimbursement. Courses can be college courses, technical/trade school programs, or self-improvement courses such as studying English or Spanish as a second language.
Tell us about the DFF Youth Program
The DFF Youth Program was created through the desire to support the educational aspirations of the children in our team members’ lives throughout their junior high, high school, and college years.
We have engaged a fantastic career coach who provides guidance on high school coursework, opportunities for learning about and preparing for potential college or trade school programs, opens understanding regarding potential career pathways, and is basically a cheerleader in their corner!
The program provides gap scholarships for fees, summer programs, and college or trade school courses during the high school years and an opportunity for service projects and internships during the high school and college years.
While financial aid is critical, it never ceased to amaze Kathleen [Duncan, Arnott’s wife and co-owner] and me how many different barriers there were for children of families who weren’t familiar with the educational systems. Part of what we do is make sure that each student can navigate the middle school, high school, and postgraduate educational systems with the highest level of preparedness.
All full-time Duncan Family Farms employees can receive partial or full reimbursement for their school tuition.
Photo courtesy of Duncan Family Farms
You have an online training program, DFF University. What does it cover?
Our program offers a multitude of courses through an online learning platform, instructor-led work-shops, and one-on-one, hands-on training plans. Some of our programs have been developed in-house. Other materials and courses are provided using several great learning partners.
Our goal is to have progressive training opportunities that support career growth and provide a strong talent pipeline for current and future opportunities — the best incentive possible to encourage learning.
Some operations use contract labor for field work. Does Duncan Family Farms directly employ its field workers?
We certainly do have some contract labor partners that provide support during our busiest time periods at some of our farms. However, the vast majority of our workers are team members who are directly employed with Duncan Family Farms, working either full time or returning year-over-year seasonally. We have a great team of both long-term, local domestic hires as well as team members who return each year through our direct-hire H-2A program.
DFF University gives employees the chance to train in any area of the company they wish, allowing them to gain the skills they need to grow within the operation.
How Students Qualify for Scholarships
The Duncan Family Farms Youth Program takes place each year throughout the school year. The funds cover leadership camps, tuition, textbooks, and academic fees. More than 75% has helped students attend college, while 14% went to vocational students, and another 9% helped those entering the military.
To date, Duncan Family Farm has awarded $117,000 to students. To qualify for scholarships, employee’s children
agree to the following:
• Apply – Students must submit a DFF Youth application form
• Attend an Entrance Interview – This helps those running the program better understand each student participating.
• Conduct a Career Assessment – Those close to high school graduation (11th and 12th graders) must complete an assessment that will help them choose where they want their lives to head.
• Participate in Service Programs – Eligible students need to give back to their communities.
• Attend Life Prep Sessions Monthly – DFF Youth sponsors classes each semester designed to help recipients learn life skills. For example, the fall session may cover civic literacy, helping students understand voting, the local candidates, and how to read a ballot. In spring, students tackle financial literacy, which includes learning how to save, budget, and invest.
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