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April 18, 2007
Sun-drenched job All ages Will train Plenty of positions
About the only job indoors at Blue Grass is looking for An interest in plants is the only Blue Grass is a diverse company
Blue Grass is the accountant. employees of all ages, whether it’s thing an employee needs to have. and has jobs on the farm, driving
Everyone else works outside, students or retirees wanting a Blue Grass teaches the rest. trucks and at the cash register.
mostly during the summer. healthy summer job.
Blue Grass Sod Farms Ltd.
The busy season for Blue Grass Sod Farms
is about to bloom as homeowners and
commercial operations put down green
lawns and plants for summer. In spring, the
company’s year-round complement of
about 10 staff grows to over 80. This year,
Blue Grass was still looking for dozens of
new employees in mid-April. NO W H IRING : B LUE
Blue Grass started off as a sod farm but the business has G RA S S S O D F A RMS LTD .
diversified widely into landscaping, trees and an expanding
garden centre. The enterprise needs a variety of people to
handle machinery, sales and trucking. To apply visit www.bluegrassnursery.com
But the one overarching need is for people who enjoy the and go to ‘Jobs.’ Applicants can also email
outdoors. Even working as a cashier means plenty of time
outside dealing with customers and handling product. bluesod@telusplanet.net.
Blue Grass offers students and older workers a healthy
temporary job for the summer, and there some permanent
positions. Many of the positions need people who can handle
manual labour but a few jobs are relatively light.
Employer Connections - Alberta Employment, Immigration & Industry - Central Region
April 18, 2007
plenty of physical activity such as looking for a well-rounded mechanic
mowing, aerating, power raking and who can fix a truck, and repair farm
hand raking. Since employees are going machinery.
directly to homes, good customer • Sod harvesting labourer
Moving up in the business service skills are a must. The job also
One of the few jobs at Blue Grass that
requires staff to be aware of safety
Blue Grass is a mid-sized company doesn't involve a lot of dealings with
issues at all times.
looking to expand, and many of the customers is at the farm, where staff
best ideas can come from employees, • Garden centre personnel harvest the sod for delivery. This is a
who turn them into reality under the Staff working at the garden centre are physically demanding job that requires
Blue Grass name. “I’m always on the constantly dealing with customers, an ability to work with machinery. It’s
lookout for new business ideas, making interpersonal skills a top farm work, and there’s little time spent
particularly for the winter,” says general priority. A good phone manner is also a indoors.
manager Larry McCordick. “You just plus. The job isn't as physically
never know when the next downturn is demanding as a landscaper, but it is
Wages
coming and we need to be diversified.” outdoors and there will be lifting Pay at Blue Grass varies with
One of the latest additions to the Blue involved, so employees have to be fit. experience and the job, but as a
Grass portfolio is a business unit selling While the job doesn't require a benchmark staff at the garden centre
campfire wood. “It’s great for us background in plants, an interest is start at $12/hr, and a driver with a
because we can cut and stack the wood essential. As for the details, Blue Grass Class 1 licence can expect to earn $22
in our slow season.” trains its employees on all the plants, per hour plus bonuses. A mechanic will
trees and shrubs they sell. start out at $25 per hour.
Fun work environment
• Yard personnel All ages
Since half of Blue Grass’ year-round Working at Blue Grass isn't just for
business is done within a few months in The primary job of yard staff is to load
the cars and trucks of customers. The students. The company has a long
spring and summer, work can get tradition of hiring older workers
hectic, but it doesn’t mean it’s all position requires physical strength and
safety is a big issue. As with nearly looking for some extra income, or
chores. “You have to have a laugh simply wanting to get out during the
everyday,” says McCordick who takes every job at Blue Grass, customer
service is important, and staff will be summer months.
pride in a fun work environment. And
with a 60 per cent return rate for trained on the products. Beyond “We’re actually a pretty old bunch,”
employees one year to the next, staff loading, yard staff are responsible for says McCordick. “and we try to
seem to agree. organizing yard activity and servicing accommodate that whether it’s a less
the equipment. physically demanding job, or with
Requirements • Drivers scheduling a shorter work week”
The vast majority of positions at Blue The economic boom has soaked up Other positions (just ask)
Grass don’t require much training or nearly every driver in Alberta and If you think your skills may be useful
certification, but they all need companies are feeling the shortage— to Blue Grass, send your resumé. The
someone who likes working outside including Blue Grass which is looking company is expanding and new roles
and enjoys plants. “The rest we can for people with a Class 1 driver’s are emerging quickly. For example, the
train,” says McCordick. Here are a few licence. The work can involve loading company is looking at hiring a
of the jobs available, but if you have a and unloading, so physical fitness is dispatcher as the truck fleet grows.
talent or skill that’s useful to a farmer or required, and since drivers deliver There's also a need for an accountant.
a retail operation, it’s likely Blue Grass straight to customers, good
needs you. And of course, if you have any special
interpersonal skills are also a necessity. skills with plants and trees, apply for a
Jobs • Mechanic job. It’s very likely the company will
• Landscaping personnel Like all farms and garden centres make room for you even if the opening
Landscapers keep the lawns of clients there is plenty of machinery to keep isn’t on the job board.
green and clean. The job involves working, and Blue Grass is always
Employer Connections - Alberta Employment, Immigration & Industry - Central Region
