The University of Wisconsin–Madison Division of Extension is pleased to announce Hernando Duarte as the new Extension Bilingual Farm Labor Management Outreach Specialist, focused on farm labor management outreach education. This position identifies needs and provides outreach and education for solutions to the most critical issues facing Wisconsin agricultural producers in the area of farm labor and employee management.
“I am very passionate about helping Wisconsin farmers lead their workforce through the best practices of labor management which are vital to have profitable and engaging agricultural operations” -Hernando Duarte
A robust farm labor workforce is essential to Wisconsin’s $100 billion agriculture economy and critical for dairy and other labor-intensive ag industries. The Farm Labor Outreach Specialist position is designed to work with producers and agribusiness professionals to address challenges and incorporate research findings into outreach and education in workforce development/training and human resource management. The Farm Labor Outreach Specialist will help producers develop the skills needed to lead a safe and productive workplace culture, contributing to Wisconsin farm businesses’ successful recruitment and retention of employees.
As the new Bilingual Farm Labor Management Outreach Specialist, Hernando Duarte will leverage his business administration background and 22 years of experience in the Wisconsin dairy industry to benefit Wisconsin’s agricultural businesses. Hernando started his career in the dairy business working as a bilingual reproduction training specialist. In this role, he witnessed firsthand farm businesses’ challenges in recruiting, training, and retaining personnel. He began providing bilingual support to farm managers in implementing best practices in human resource management.
Hernando earned a bachelor’s degree in Business Administration from the University Autónoma of Bucaramanga, Colombia, and a certificate in Management from the University Industrial of Santander, Colombia. He has operated an independent consulting firm specializing in labor management and human resources, serving Wisconsin dairy farms since 2009. His ability to communicate effectively with diverse groups has enabled him to build lasting relationships with farmers, farm employees, and leaders in the Wisconsin dairy industry.
Hernando started as an Extension statewide Outreach Specialist on January 15th. His work will add value to that of partner organizations and community members through collaboration to develop and deliver educational programs for dairy and other agricultural labor-intensive industries across Wisconsin. His office will be at the new Extension Building at 3500 University Ave. Madison WI. Please get in touch with Hernando directly via email at hernando.duarte@wisc.edu, or phone: 608-262-8348. Learn more about Hernando and the Extension Farm Management Program at https://farms.extension.wisc.edu/people/