USA Farm Labor Breaks Ground on Larger Building
Increasing need for skilled, seasonal farm labor fuels expansion
As one of the leading H-2A agencies based in Haywood County, North Carolina, USA Farm Labor is excited to announce that we just broke ground on a new campus at 6514 Carolina Blvd., Clyde, N.C. The new building is being built in response to the significant growth the company has experienced over the past few years.
USA Farm Labor files more than 1,200 labor applications, places nearly 4,000 workers, and serves clients in 46 states across the country. With nearly 20,000 agricultural employers participating in the H-2A work visa program in America annually, USA Farm Labor’s new construction project will put the company in a position to serve more of America’s farmers and agricultural producers.
It all began from humble beginnings
Owners Manuel and Kathy Fick immigrated to the U.S. from South Africa in 1998 with a vision of finding a mutually beneficial way to link the needs in their home country with the needs and opportunity in America. It wasn’t long before they identified U.S. farmers’ unmet need for skilled, reliable labor and that South African workers were an ideal source. They founded USA Farm Labor, Inc. in 2003.
Their first ‘office’ was in the basement of their home in Logansport, Indiana. Outfitted with makeshift shelves from a school, Manuel placed cold calls to Help Wanted ads. He, along with a staff of two, typed out ETA-790s on paper, cut and pasted these onto 790 forms, and made photocopies before sending applications off to the government. They added two children and 60 clients between 2003 to 2008—all from this modest space.
Hello Waynesville, NC
During their travels and search for new property, the Ficks found Waynesville, NC, and it was a breath of fresh air. From 2008 to 2017, still operating out of a basement, they grew from four to 16 employees. Before long, it was time to move again, this time to another house that required quite a bit of refurbishment, including building extra rooms, to satisfy the growing demands of the business. But it quickly became evident they needed an actual building, not a house, to support their expanding needs.
An office building at last
In 2018, the Ficks purchased the company’s current building, located in Waynesville. Since then, they’ve purchased two cabins adjacent to the main building, which is bursting at the seams, to tide them over until the new building is completed.
Here we grow again
The new building is estimated to be completed by August 2026. It spans 20,000 square feet, nearly four times the size of the company’s current facility, with space for 100 employees—double the size of the company’s current workforce. It includes space for on-going training to keep pace with the ever-changing H-2A Program rules and regulations, as well as an outdoor space for hosting company functions and events.
Purpose-driven growth
USA Farm Labor connects U.S. farms and agribusinesses with skilled, legal, and reliable seasonal workers through the H-2A Visa Program. This includes fixed-site farms as well as Farm Labor Contractors and Custom Harvesters that provide vital services to other farmers. The company’s Case Managers simplify the complicated H-2A employer process by managing the paperwork required to obtain a Temporary Labor Certificate. H-2A employers gain access to a proprietary database that houses 3,000-plus vetted, skilled farm workers on average. The company’s USCIS department manages visa petitions. Worker Placement Coordinators provide a liaison between employers, workers, recruiters, and consulates while ensuring workers arrive on time and everything goes smoothly throughout the job contract period. The Farm Labor Contractor team helps these providers meet the additional licensing and document requirements to participate in the H-2A Visa Program.
“We’ve taken a more personalized approach that includes assigning a dedicated Case Manager and Worker Placement Coordinator to each client,” said Manuel Fick, CEO of USA Farm Labor. “While this requires a higher headcount, it’s well worth it in terms of client satisfaction and relationship building.”
USA Farm Labor has served the workforce needs of the agriculture industry in America for more than 22 years. This new complex will give them the opportunity to continue building on that legacy.
“This new space will give us the room we need to continue providing the hands-on level of service our clients deserve,” said Laura Miller, USA Farm Labor’s Fixed-Site Case Manager and Operations Supervisor. “H-2A is a complicated process and we want to be there for our clients every step of the way.”
