Finding the Right Fit for the Farm 

For a dairy farm, finding someone is one thing. Finding someone who fits the operation is another.

When Timo Feige Landwirtschaft began working with Bixter in 2022, the farm wanted the ability to look at candidates individually, including their education, vocational background, practical qualifications and whether they suited the realities of the farm.

Bixter provided several candidate suggestions, giving the farm the opportunity to compare profiles before making a decision.

Quick Facts

• Industry: Agriculture, Dairy
• Location: Germany
• Host Company: Timo Feige Landwirtschaft 
• Partnership Since: 2022
• International Skilled Candidates Placed: 5
• Average Process (Visa and arrival) : Approx. 3-4 Months
• Program Duration: 12 months, initial contract
• Longest contract: 3 years

The employer could look at practical details such as whether a candidate had a driving licence, their vocational training, what they had studied and how well their background matched the needs of the dairy farm.

This gave the farm more control over the selection and made it possible to narrow the options down to the person who appeared to be the best fit.

“It was very easy. We received several candidate suggestions and could narrow it down to find someone who would also be a good fit for this farm.”

Dairy Farmer

Since the partnership began in 2022, five candidates have joined Timo Feige Landwirtschaft through Bixter.

This position works better because the quote now confirms the story the reader has just been told, rather than interrupting it. I would also remove the shorter “It was very easy” quote completely elsewhere in the article so the employer’s statement only appears once and has more impact.

Hear Directly from the Farm 

The interview brings together both sides of the experience. The employer explains how the selection and integration worked, while Joshua from Tanzania shares why he chose Germany and what he hopes to learn. 

From Application to Arrival

Once the farm selected a candidate, the process moved into visa preparation and mobility. For Timo Feige Landwirtschaft, the complete journey from application through the visa process to arrival has typically taken around three to four months.

But arrival was only the beginning. When one of the first international candidates joined the farm, communication was entirely in English. That was unusual for the team at first. It did not remain a barrier for long.

The employer recalls that the candidate settled in quickly, while the farm team also adapted quickly to working with him. Over time, his language skills developed considerably, and the employer says he now speaks very good German.

What initially felt unfamiliar gradually became part of everyday farm life.

Learning More Than the Daily Routine 

The typical initial contract at Timo Feige Landwirtschaft lasts 12 months. During that time, candidates gain practical experience inside the dairy operation, learn its routines and develop alongside the existing team.

For some individual contracts, that cooperation has continued for up to three years. That additional time creates new possibilities. Once someone understands the farm and the cows, development can move beyond basic routines.

The employer sees opportunities for candidates to learn skills such as:

• artificial insemination;
• hoof trimming;
• calf monitoring;
• broader cow and herd management.

Over time, this can create a path towards greater responsibility within the dairy operation.

Joshua Came to Germany to Learn

For Joshua, coming from Tanzania to Germany had a clear purpose. He wanted exposure to agricultural technology and dairy practices that were different from those available in his home country. Germany was one of the countries he had hoped to experience for exactly that reason.

Since arriving, he has gained practical knowledge about cows and is already thinking about what comes next.

“I experienced a lot about the cows. And now I’m looking forward to learning about insemination. I’m really happy here.”

Joshua, Dairy Farm Trainee from Tanzania

For the farm, international programs create access to candidates who want to develop. For the candidate, the farm becomes a place to turn existing education into practical experience and new skills.

A Selection Process Built Around Fit 

Since 2022, five candidates have joined Timo Feige Landwirtschaft through Bixter. The process begins by giving the farm a choice of profiles rather than expecting it to accept the first available candidate.

Once the right match is identified, Bixter supports the process leading towards the placement, including the visa and mobility stages. This allows the farm to concentrate on what happens once the candidate arrives: teaching its own routines, building trust and developing practical ability.

For Timo Feige Landwirtschaft, that development can continue beyond the initial program when the circumstances allow.

What Timo Feige Landwirtschaft Gained

The partnership has created a repeatable route for bringing international candidates into the dairy operation.

The results are practical:

• five candidates have joined through Bixter since 2022;
• the application-to-arrival process typically takes 3 to 4 months;
• the standard initial program lasts 12 months;
• some individual contracts have extended up to three years;
• candidates can continue developing specialist dairy skills after integration.

Perhaps the strongest result is what happens after someone becomes comfortable on the farm. Instead of development stopping once the daily routine is learned, the employer can begin teaching more: insemination, hoof trimming, calf monitoring and a deeper understanding of herd management.

That turns an initial international placement into an opportunity for professional progression.

“Then we can continue developing them and providing further education.”

Dairy Farmer

Looking Beyond the First Year 

Timo Feige Landwirtschaft’s experience shows that the first 12 months do not have to define the full value of an international program.

The initial period creates the foundation: learning the farm, communicating with the team and understanding the animals. From there, individual candidates may have the opportunity to develop further.

Joshua is already looking towards his next skill. The employer is already thinking about what candidates can learn after the basics.

That is where the long-term potential of the partnership becomes visible. It is not simply about bringing someone to the farm, but about creating room for that person to become more capable over time.

Build a More Prepared Team 

Bixter helps farms connect with motivated international trainees through structured programs that combine talent access, preparation, mobility, and ongoing support.