October is National Disability Employment Awareness Month, and the Wisconsin’s Division of Vocational Rehabilitation recently recognized MacFarlane Pheasants. An article published in the local Janesville Gazette, quoted consultant for the state agency, Susan Paul, as recognizing our farm for “fostering an inclusive work culture that values the skills and talents of all individuals, including individuals with disabilities.” We feel honored.
The Division of Vocational Rehabilitation program helps to place workers with disabilities with jobs, and we have been working with them for years. One of our current employees from the program, Nick Belfield, has been with us now for 10 years! He is an integral part of our work in the pheasant chick barns. His responsibilities include cleaning, equipment set up, and keeping the feeders full.
Another long-time employee from the program is Cody Gannon. According to manager Brad Lillie, Cody is one of our most skilled laborers. He is hard working, strong and dependable. Being deaf does not slow him down at all. In fact, Cody alone catches anywhere from 250-500 pheasants on a daily basis! He is part of a crew responsible for catching 3,000 to 5,000 pheasants, each day!
We have participated in programs such as these for years. We’ve been helping people who may otherwise have a hard time finding work, gain employment. It has given us the opportunity to not only get to know some pretty amazing people, but hire some very dependable employees as well! It has been a win win situation!