Michigan Sugar Beet Harvest 2025 – The Real Story from a Workamper at the Meade, Michigan Site
Every fall, thousands of travelers, RVers, and seasonal workers head north for the Sugar Beet Harvest — a short-term gig promising big pay in just a few weeks. Ads claim you can make $4,000 or more in under three weeks working the Michigan Sugar Beet Harvest.
After hearing that, I decided to experience it for myself. What I found at the Meade, Michigan piling station was a mix of hard work, great people, frustrating delays, and lessons every workamper should know before committing to this job.
This article gives a full, honest breakdown of what really happened during the 2025 Michigan Sugar Beet Harvest, from the moment we arrived until the day we were told to pack up and leave.
Arrival and Orientation Changes
All workers were told to arrive on October 14, 2025 at the free campground provided by Express Employment Professionals, the staffing agency that recruits for Michigan Sugar Company. Originally, we were scheduled for orientation and four-hour training on October 15, with the harvest expected to start on October 20.
Just before arrival, we received an email changing everything: orientation and training were moved to October 20 instead.
When we finally arrived at the Sebewaing office on October 20, orientation lasted about two hours, followed immediately by the four-hour yard training. We were also told something that frustrated many people — that we would only be paid for orientation if we completed the entire harvest, even though attending orientation was mandatory.
After the training, we were told to wait for a text message with our start date.
Two Weeks of Waiting to Start
We waited. And waited.
Despite being told the harvest would begin quickly, it took two full weeks after our arrival before we were finally assigned a shift. During this time, no one was being paid, and communication was minimal.
On October 23, we finally received our shift assignments. I was placed on day shift (6:30 AM–3:30 PM) at the Meade Piling Grounds, about 16 miles from my campground in Stafford County Park in Port Hope, Michigan — a beautiful full-hookup RV park right on Lake Huron.
First Days at the Meade Piling Grounds
When I arrived at Meade, I was assigned to be a piler operator. Four pilers were on-site, and all crews were shown how to operate them by a first-year harvest leader. Out of the 15-20 people there, only three or four had worked the beet harvest before.
Our crew sat idle until nearly 11 AM before the machines started running and we were shown how to take trucks. Fortunately, I catch on quickly, and my tare (sample) taker was on her fourth year, which helped keep things running smoothly once we got going.
The first few days were busy. Trucks rolled in nonstop, and we piled mountains of sugar beets. By Thursday, however, things began to slow down, and by Saturday a Michigan Sugar executive visited our site and mentioned that they were “evaluating continuing operations.”
That was not a good sign.
The Sudden End of the Harvest
On Monday, November 3, all local workers were told they were no longer needed. Pilers were being taken offline and cleaned.
By Tuesday, November 4, my piler was the only one still running while everyone else cleaned the yard. The next morning — Wednesday, November 5 — we were told the harvest was over after only nine total workdays.
That afternoon, they brought in pizza for everyone, thanked us for our help, and told us to clock out and go home by 1 PM.
For a job advertised as three weeks long, it was over in less than ten working days.
The Pay and Bonus Structure
Workers at the 2025 Michigan Sugar Beet Harvest earned $20.65 per hour with overtime after 40 hours. We had one full week that included 23 hours of overtime, which helped boost our pay.
We were also told we’d receive a December bonus check based on total earnings:
7% for first-year workers
10% for second-year workers
12% for third-year workers
Unfortunately, because the season was cut short, most workers earned just under $2,000 total after waiting nearly two weeks to start.
The Weather and Working Conditions
Weather during our harvest was surprisingly mild. Most days stayed between the mid-30s and mid-50s, with only a couple of rainy days.
Working conditions at Meade were cold and physical — but the crew and on-site managers were fantastic. Our maintenance staff kept equipment running, and the team worked safely and efficiently.
Sadly, not every location was as fortunate. Across Michigan Sugar sites, workers voiced concerns about unsafe conditions, and tragically there was a fatal accident at the Croswell facility on November 4, 2025 (not at our Meade site). A previous incident in 2021 had also resulted in a fatality at Meade, highlighting the ongoing need for stronger safety protocols company-wide.
Housing Problems After the Harvest Ended
One of the biggest frustrations came after the harvest ended.
We had all been told to commit to staying through November 21, but when the harvest shut down early, Express Employment gave everyone just two days to vacate the campground. Then, on Thursday, November 6, the camp host began notifying people that water would be shut off and bathrooms locked by Friday, November 7, giving us only one day to leave.
Because most northern Michigan campgrounds are closed for the season by November, workers scrambled to find new places to stay with little notice or support.
Communication and Transparency Issues
The biggest issue throughout the Michigan Sugar Beet Harvest was poor communication.
Management knew that many farmers were already hauling directly to the Sebewaing factory before the piling yards even opened — meaning the harvest was nearly 40% complete before we started. Despite that, no one informed workers in advance, and people traveled across the country expecting 18–21 days of work that never materialized.
Many frustrated workers took to Facebook to vent. Shortly afterward, the main recruitment ad promising 18–21 days and “make over $4,000 in 3 weeks” was quietly removed from the internet.
Comparing Michigan to Other Beet Harvests
While the Michigan Sugar Beet Harvest offers unique locations and free camping, almost everyone I spoke with who had also worked in North Dakota or Minnesota said those harvests were far better organized.
Workers reported clearer communication, more consistent scheduling, better weather allowances, and a higher likelihood of completing the full season with significant overtime.
Michigan also offers $75 per day “stay pay” when called off due to weather or shutdowns — but this only applies after the harvest officially begins, not during pre-harvest delays.
Even in 2024, many Michigan workers said they only worked 12 out of 21 scheduled days, missing the income that ads promised and never getting overtime.
Final Thoughts: Is the Michigan Sugar Beet Harvest Worth It?
I don’t think the Michigan Sugar Beet Harvest is a terrible short-term job, but it’s not what the ads make it out to be either.
If you live nearby or happen to already be in Michigan during harvest season, it might be worth doing for the experience and short-term pay. But I would not recommend traveling long distances solely for this job unless the company greatly improves communication and transparency.
The managers and maintenance team at the Meade site were phenomenal. The work itself is honest, simple, and well-paid for the time you’re actually on the clock. But losing two weeks waiting to start and being told to leave the campground a day after finishing? That’s the part that leaves a bad taste.
Key Takeaways for Future Workampers
Expect schedule changes and potential delays.
Bring savings to cover at least two unpaid weeks.
Don’t rely on advertised “three-week” earnings.
Michigan Sugar needs to improve communication and honesty in recruiting.
If you want a more reliable harvest, check out North Dakota or Minnesota beet harvests instead.
Final Verdict
Would I do it again?
Probably not — unless I was already nearby.
The Michigan Sugar Beet Harvest offers decent pay, but unpredictable scheduling, early shutdowns, and lack of transparency make it a gamble for anyone traveling long distances.