Seasonal Work - Sugar Beet Harvest
We heard about the beet harvest from our friends, Manny and Ali, as they worked the harvest in Minnesota last year, and told us about it. We, along with our friends, the Russells, decided to give it a try this year!
There are beet harvests each fall in Michigan, the Dakotas, Montana and Idaho. We decided to go to the Michigan Beet harvest. Michigan Sugar hires about 1,100 seasonal workers each year at 14 different receiving stations. Local farmers harvest their beets and deliver them to the receiving stations
Originally, the plan was for one person in each couple to work an opposite 9 hour shift, so someone would always be with the kids. Then, we realized there were some 12 hour supervisor positions available, so Aaron, Manny, Justin and Ali got those positions and Michelle and I stayed home with the kids. We realized that since each family only had one vehicle, and it was a 25 minute drive to the job site, it just wouldn’t work for everyone to work.
The guys worked night shift from 6PM-6AM, and Ali worked 6AM-6PM. The actual harvest was weeks, but they had the opportunity to work before and after the harvest, and took the chance, as it meant more money! There was also the opportunity to work longer hours if they wanted, which Ali often took advantage of, leaving her the winner of our group for most money earned!
There are different jobs at the harvest. There are shovelers, who clean up beets after every truckload. There are boom operators, who collect beet samples and are in charge of keeping the beet piles nice and tidy. There are piler operators, who are the quarterbacks of the piler and work the control switches of the piler. There are also bulldozer and forklift operators, called SEOs (special equipment operators).
The highest pay is the supervisor position, which means you supervise the other workers! You are in charge of 3-4 pilers, making sure that:
Beet piles are straight and the right height
Workers are doing what they’re supposed to do (training them if necessary)
Restocking supplies
Giving your operators breaks when needed
Calling on mechanics when things go wrong
Even shoveling when you’re short handed!
...Basically anything needed to make sure the pilers are working correctly at all times.
Beet Harvest Pay
Hourly rates depend on what job you have:
Supervisor: $20.50 per hour
SEO (Heavy Machinery) : $19.25 per hour
Piler / Boom Operator: $15 per hour
Shoveler: $15 per hour
Overtime is time and a half after 40 hours, which you start making after just a few days since you work every day and 9-12 hour shifts (this depends on your assignment). You also get a 10% bonus if you complete the harvest.
If you’re a supervisor, you basically work 7 days a week no matter what, even coming in if the other yard workers don’t due to weather or other circumstances. Depending on your shift and the weather, you might have a lot of down time sitting in your vehicle. You may also be on the go in the muddy and rainy cold for hours and hours.
As a supervisor (which is what Aaron and our other RV buddies were), you can rake in $7-10k for 5ish weeks of work.
Beet Harvest Hours
There are various shifts and schedules:
9 Hour Shifts
6am - 2pm
2pm - 11pm
10pm - 7am
12 Hour Shifts
6am - 6pm
6pm - 6am
Beets can only be processed if the temperature isn’t too cold or too warm, so if the temperature doesn’t fall between certain parameters, certain shifts might not come in that day.
Basically, it’s long hours, you have to work outside in unpleasant elements at times, and you will have quite a bit of downtime where you could easily get bored if you’re not prepared. The smell of beets is unpleasant. You will get dirty. Your vehicle will get dirty. BUT, it’s only a few weeks and you leave with a nice paycheck!
Would we do it again?
It was a new and great experience! One that would be welcome if the right opportunity were to come up again. Aaron usually builds websites and work is in front of a computer. He enjoys working with people and trying new things. Maybe next time around, I’ll get to work it instead and Aaron will stay home with the kids :)
If we were able to work the beet harvest with friends again, were offered supervisor roles again, and we were in the general area (within a 1-2 day drive), we would welcome the experience again!
For more info on the Michigan beet harvest, visit www.michiganbeetharvest.com
If you decide to try the Michigan harvest, we’d love for you to put down Aaron Grijalva as your referral, and he will get a small referral bonus. Feel free to ask any questions you may have in the comments below!