International farmer program, 1988 : an evaluation

farms and a 11-month technical course. External evaluation covers the period 3/88-9/88 and is based on interviews with returned participants, their Jamaican employers, and their U.S. hosts. All participants interviewed stated that the training left them better prepared for employment in the dairy industry, though they complained that their employers do not understand the breadth of their new knowledge and hence will not increase their salaries. Employers, for their part, reported a general satisfaction with the project and claimed that they would hire project participants over other applicants without formal training. In particular, the employers are impressed with the participants' newly found "work ethic." Nearly all the U.S. host families were extremely satisfied with participants and encouraged them to take part in all aspects of farm family life. Although some of the U.S. farmers were cautious about assigning duties that would jeopardize their operations, all felt that the participants were excellent workers and willing to learn from their experience. All families indicated that they would like to have another trainee and would recommend the project to neighbors and friends. Land O'Lakes, the implementing agency, did an excellent job in caring for and coordinating the trainees and in mediating interpersonal problems between trainees and host families.