State of Connecticut Executive Branch

This class is accountable for receiving on-the-job training in agricultural work in the following areas:

• General farm labor (crops, produce, orchards, etc.);
• Farm animal science (dairy, horses, poultry, cattle, sheep, pigs, etc.);
• Plant science - dairy manufacturing.

Works under the close supervision of a higher level Agricultural Worker, Farmer or other employee of higher grade.

• Receives training in the more skilled operations and maintenance of land preparation, planting and harvesting equipment, and dairy plant equipment; 
• Loads and unloads trucks; 
• Stocks supply areas; 
• Operates trucks or vans to move stock items, supplies, produce; 
• Drives a regular delivery route; 
• Pots, repots, waters, fertilizes, fumigates, trims and cuts plants and flowers; 
• Shovels dirt, manure, silage, snow; 
• Hoses down equipment; 
• Cleans animal pens, cages, and holding areas; 
• Builds and maintains farm fencing; 
• Performs mowing, clipping, and general landscape work; 
• Plants, picks, and cultivates plots by hand; 
• Culls poultry, operates incubators; 
• Assists in the mixing, preparing, and processing of dairy products; 
• Feeds and waters animals; 
• Sorts and grades produce; 
• Keeps records and prepares reports; 
• May make minor repairs on buildings and fences; 
• Performs related duties as required.

• Knowledge of
  • methods used in the culture and propagation of crops, produce, plants, flowers, and orchards; 
  • methods of care, health, and management of animals; 
• Skills
  • interpersonal skills; 
  • oral and written communication skills; 
• Ability to
  • learn to operate related agricultural and farm equipment and machines; 
  • follow oral and written instructions; 
  • keep simple records and make reports.

Any experience and training which would provide the knowledge, skills and abilities listed above.

Incumbents in this class may be required by the appointing authority to possess and retain appropriate current licenses, permits and/or certifications.

• Incumbents in this class must have adequate physical strength, stamina, physical agility and visual and auditory acuity, and must maintain such physical fitness as to be able to perform the duties.
• A physical examination may be required.

Incumbents may be required to lift moderate to heavy weights; may be exposed to extreme weather conditions and to risk of injury from machinery or animals.

This class is established to permit agencies to recruit and train employees in agricultural work. An employee may be appointed to this class for a period normally not to exceed one (1) year.

This replaces the existing specification for the class of Agricultural Worker Trainee in Salary Group TC 09 approved effective May 5, 2022. (Reviewed in accordance with Connecticut General Statute § 5-200a. Revised to modernize format and add Acknowledgement section) Final No. 24-173

The following list offers examples of vehicles and equipment that an Agricultural Worker Trainee may operate and maintain:

OPERATE THE FOLLOWING VEHICLES:

• 4 wheel drive vehicles;
• Delivery trucks and vans such as refrigerated van, step van, pick ups;
• Tractors with attachments (i.e., sprayers, cultivators, tillers, seeders, etc.).

USE AND MAINTAIN THE FOLLOWING EQUIPMENT:

• Lawn mowers;
• Small hand tools (hammers, shovels, axes, picks, saws, scales and balances, hand sprayers, etc.);
• Pressure sprayers;
• Rototiller.