Terms of Service

1. Introduction and Acceptance

FarmSittersConnect.com is owned and operated by Farm Sitters, Inc., a Delaware corporation registered to do business in the Commonwealth of Virginia ("Company," "we," "us," or "our"). By accessing or using the Farm Sitters Connect platform ("Platform"), you agree to be bound by these Terms of Service ("Terms"). If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use the Platform.

Farm Sitters Connect is a technology platform and advertising directory that connects hobby farm and homestead owners ("Farmers" or "Owners") with independent farm sitters ("Sitters") in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The Platform also provides a sponsored advertising directory for licensed agricultural professionals ("Sponsored Pros").

These Terms incorporate by reference the following policies, each of which is available on the Platform:

• Privacy Policy
• User Dispute and Platform Role Policy
• Cookie Policy
• Farmer Compliance Profile (presented during onboarding)
• Worker Independence Attestation (presented during onboarding)
• Sponsored Pro Compliance Attestation (presented during onboarding)

2. Platform Role — Not an Employer, FLC, or Staffing Agency

Farm Sitters, Inc. is NOT a farm labor contractor ("FLC"), employer, co-employer, joint employer, staffing agency, or labor placement service under the Virginia Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act (Va. Code §§ 40.1-33 through 40.1-43), the federal Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (AWPA, 29 U.S.C. §§ 1801-1872), or any other applicable law.

Farm Sitters, Inc. provides technology tools only. We do not recruit, solicit, hire, employ, furnish, transport, house, direct, supervise, discipline, or pay any Sitter or Farmer. We do not set work schedules, dictate methods of work, or control how any user performs tasks.

3. Farmer Responsibilities — Hiring Party Status

Under Va. Code § 40.1-33, the Farmer is the hiring party for any agricultural worker engaged through this Platform.

Farmers are required to complete the Farmer Compliance Profile, a separate acknowledgment document in which each compliance obligation is individually affirmed. The Farmer Compliance Profile requires individual acknowledgment of each statement, recorded with the Farmer's IP address, timestamp, and document version. The Farmer Compliance Profile is incorporated by reference into these Terms.

Farmer compliance obligations include, but are not limited to: sole responsibility for determining worker classification (employee vs. independent contractor), I-9 employment eligibility verification, workers' compensation coverage decisions, wage and hour compliance, workplace safety, and compliance with all applicable federal and Virginia agricultural labor laws.

4. I-9 Employment Eligibility Verification

All I-9 employment eligibility verification responsibilities under 8 U.S.C. § 1324a rest solely with the Farmer as the hiring party. The Company does not perform I-9 verification, does not review employment authorization documents, and makes no representation about any user's work authorization or immigration status.

5. H-2A Prohibition

The Platform shall not be used to recruit, solicit, or place H-2A temporary agricultural workers. Any user who uses the Platform for H-2A recruitment purposes will have their account immediately terminated.

6. Workers' Compensation Disclaimer

Because most Virginia hobby farms and homesteads are exempt from mandatory workers' compensation coverage under Va. Code § 65.2-300, Sitters may not be covered by workers' compensation if injured while working. Farm Sitters, Inc. does not provide workers' compensation coverage.

Farm Sitters Connect strongly recommends that Sitters obtain Occupational Accident Insurance (OAI) or equivalent coverage before accepting bookings. OAI provides medical and disability coverage for work-related injuries regardless of the property owner's workers' compensation status. The Platform's Insurance Directory provides curated links to third-party insurance providers for informational purposes.

7. Independent Contractor Relationship

Sitters using the Platform operate as independent contractors, not as employees of Farm Sitters, Inc. or any Farmer.

Sitters are required to complete the Worker Independence Attestation, a separate acknowledgment document in which each independence declaration is individually affirmed. The Worker Independence Attestation requires individual acknowledgment of each statement, recorded with the Sitter's IP address, timestamp, and document version. The Worker Independence Attestation is incorporated by reference into these Terms.

Sitter independence declarations include, but are not limited to: acknowledgment that the Sitter is not an employee of the Company, that the Sitter controls their own schedule, methods, and pricing, that the Sitter is responsible for their own taxes, insurance, and business expenses, and that the Sitter may offer services through other platforms or directly to clients.

8. Dual-Role Accounts

The Platform permits users to maintain both Farmer and Sitter roles under a single account. When a dual-role user acts as a Farmer (creating bookings, hiring sitters), all Farmer-specific provisions of these Terms apply, including the Farmer Compliance Profile obligations. When a dual-role user acts as a Sitter (accepting bookings, providing services), all Sitter-specific provisions apply, including the Worker Independence Attestation obligations. Dual-role users must complete both the Farmer Compliance Profile and the Worker Independence Attestation.

9. Platform Fee Structure

Farm Sitters Connect charges a facilitation fee to the Farmer only. Sitters keep 100% of their quoted rate — the Company never deducts fees from Sitter payments.

• Seedling Plan (Free): A flat $15 platform facilitation fee is added to the Sitter's quoted rate and charged to the Farmer, plus a Stripe payment processing charge (2.9% + $0.30) passed through at cost.
• Harvest Plan ($19/mo): The $15 platform fee is waived for Harvest subscribers. Farmers on this plan pay only the Stripe processing charge (2.9% + $0.30).

Sponsored Pro advertising subscriptions are separate monthly fees for directory placement and are not related to labor placement or booking facilitation.

Platform Fee in Refund Scenarios: When a Farmer receives a refund due to a Sitter-initiated cancellation, the platform facilitation fee is refunded in full along with the Sitter's rate. When a Farmer cancels and receives a partial refund under the Sitter's cancellation policy, the platform facilitation fee is refunded proportionally (i.e., if the Farmer receives a 50% refund of the Sitter's rate, the platform fee is also refunded at 50%). In no-show situations as described in the User Dispute and Platform Role Policy, the Farmer is not charged. The Company reserves the right to refund platform fees at its sole discretion in cases reviewed under the dispute reporting process.

10. Verification Features and Badge Disclaimer

Farm Sitters Connect offers optional verification features to help users build trust and make informed decisions. These features include:

• Background Checks: Sitters may opt to complete a third-party background check through Checkr, Inc. A completed background check is indicated on the Sitter's profile with the date of completion. Background checks reflect only the information available to Checkr at the time of the check and may not be comprehensive. The Company does not receive, store, or have access to the underlying criminal history records or detailed findings — only a pass/fail status and date.
• Certification Uploads: Sitters may upload documentation of professional certifications or training (e.g., equine first aid, livestock handling). The Platform displays these documents as provided by the Sitter. Farm Sitters, Inc. does not independently verify the authenticity, validity, or current status of uploaded certifications.
• Self-Reported Skills: Sitters self-report their animal care experience, property skills, and equipment competencies through their profile. These self-reported skills are not verified by the Platform.
• License Status: Where indicated, the Platform may confirm current license status with the Virginia issuing authority as of the date shown.

11. Booking as Private Agreement

Each booking created through the Platform constitutes a private agreement between the Farmer and the Sitter. This Booking Record documents a private agreement between [Farmer] and [Sitter]. Farm Sitters, Inc. is not a party to this agreement, is not a farm labor contractor, and does not employ, place, direct, or supervise either party.

The Company facilitates the technology for booking creation, payment processing, and communication but is not a party to any booking agreement, does not guarantee performance by either party, and bears no liability for the outcome of any engagement.

12. Cancellation, No-Shows, and Refund Policy

Cancellation and refund terms are determined by the Sitter's selected cancellation policy at the time of booking. Farm Sitters Connect offers three standard cancellation tiers:

• Flexible:
  • Full refund if cancelled more than 7 days before check-in.
  • 50% refund if cancelled 2–7 days before check-in.
  • No refund if cancelled within 2 days of check-in.
• Moderate:
  • Full refund if cancelled more than 5 days before check-in.
  • 50% refund if cancelled 2–5 days before check-in.
  • No refund if cancelled within 2 days of check-in.
• Strict:
  • 50% refund if cancelled more than 7 days before check-in.
  • No refund if cancelled within 7 days of check-in.

If a Sitter cancels a confirmed booking, the Farmer receives a full (100%) refund regardless of the cancellation policy or timing.

Sitters may also set custom cancellation terms, which will be displayed at booking time. All refunds are processed through Stripe.

12a. Sitter No-Shows

A "no-show" occurs when a confirmed Sitter fails to arrive at the scheduled time without advance notice to the Farmer. In the event of a no-show, the Farmer will not be charged for the booking. No-shows are treated as a serious matter due to the potential impact on animal welfare and may result in warnings, temporary suspension, or permanent removal of the Sitter from the Platform at the Company's sole discretion. The complete no-show reporting and response process is described in the User Dispute and Platform Role Policy, Section 4a.

13. Agricultural Scope Limitation

Farm Sitters Connect is designed exclusively for agricultural property caretaking. All services arranged through the Platform must involve the care of agricultural properties, livestock, poultry, or farm operations.

The Platform offers three service types: Live-In Stay (sitter stays on-property overnight), Daily Drop-In (1–2 visits per day for animal care), and Extended Drop-In (multiple longer visits per day). All service types are restricted to properties with agricultural characteristics, including but not limited to hobby farms, homesteads, smallholdings, and rural properties with animals or active agricultural operations.

The Platform may not be used for general residential house sitting, pet sitting for domestic companion animals on non-agricultural properties, or any services unrelated to agricultural property caretaking. When a booking is created for a Live-In Stay with no animals listed, the Farmer must confirm that the engagement involves agricultural property caretaking before the booking can proceed.

14. Animal Welfare Expectations

Farm Sitters Connect expects all users to prioritize the health, safety, and welfare of animals involved in any booking.

Farmer Obligations: Farmers are responsible for providing accurate and complete care instructions through their farm profile, including feeding schedules, medication regimens, veterinary contact information, emergency protocols, and any known behavioral or health issues for each animal. Farmers must ensure that care instructions are current at the time of each booking. Failure to provide accurate care instructions that results in harm to an animal is the sole responsibility of the Farmer.

Sitter Obligations: Sitters are expected to follow care instructions as provided, exercise reasonable judgment and care in the handling of animals, and communicate any concerns about animal health or emergencies to the Farmer immediately. Sitters should follow the emergency protocols documented in the Farmer's profile and contact veterinary services when care instructions indicate doing so.

Reports of animal neglect, abuse, or willful disregard of care instructions will be treated as urgent matters and may result in immediate account suspension and permanent removal from the Platform. The Company may report such conduct to appropriate authorities as required or permitted by law. The animal welfare reporting process is described in the User Dispute and Platform Role Policy, Section 8.

15. Inherent Risk Acknowledgment

Users acknowledge that agricultural work and animal care involve inherent risks, including but not limited to:

• Physical injury from animal behavior (kicks, bites, crushing, trampling)
• Injury from agricultural equipment, tools, and machinery
• Exposure to hazardous conditions on rural or remote properties
• Zoonotic disease transmission from livestock or poultry
• Environmental hazards including extreme weather, uneven terrain, and limited emergency access
• Property damage from animal behavior or natural events

By using the Platform, you voluntarily assume these risks and agree that Farm Sitters, Inc. is not liable for any injury, illness, death, property damage, or animal loss arising from or related to services arranged through the Platform. This acknowledgment does not limit the responsibilities of Farmers and Sitters to each other under their private booking agreements or applicable law.

16. Virginia-Only Service

Farm Sitters Connect currently operates exclusively within the Commonwealth of Virginia. All users must be located in Virginia and all services must be performed on Virginia properties. Users registering from outside Virginia or requesting services for properties outside Virginia will be unable to use the Platform.

17. Sponsored Professionals — Advertising Placement

The "Sponsored Pro" program is an advertising placement service, not labor dispatch, staffing, or referral. Sponsored Pros pay a monthly subscription fee for enhanced directory visibility and profile placement. The Company does not schedule, dispatch, direct, or supervise Sponsored Pro engagements. All client relationships are managed independently by the Sponsored Pro through their own business systems.

By participating in the Sponsored Pro program, each Sponsored Pro agrees to these Terms and acknowledges that their participation is as an advertiser, not as a worker being placed or dispatched by the Platform. Sponsored Pros are required to complete the Sponsored Pro Compliance Attestation, which is incorporated by reference into these Terms.

18. Affiliate Relationships and Advertising Disclosures

Farm Sitters Connect participates in affiliate advertising programs. Certain areas of the Platform, including the "Find Services" section and other resource pages, may contain affiliate links through which the Company earns a commission when users make purchases. This does not affect the price you pay. In accordance with the Federal Trade Commission's Endorsement Guides (16 CFR Part 255), affiliate relationships are disclosed adjacent to relevant links throughout the Platform.

Sponsored Pro listings, ad banners, and other paid placements on the Platform are clearly labeled as advertisements. The Company does not endorse, guarantee, or warrant any product, service, or provider featured through affiliate links or advertising placements.

19. Reviews and Community Standards

Farm Sitters Connect features a bi-directional review system. Both Farmers and Sitters may leave reviews following a completed booking. Reviews are subject to a double-blind period: when one party submits a review, it remains hidden until the other party also submits a review or until 14 days have elapsed, whichever comes first.

Reviews must comply with the Platform's Community Guidelines, which prohibit:

• False, misleading, or defamatory statements
• Content unrelated to the booking experience
• Harassment, threats, or discriminatory language
• Attempts to manipulate ratings through coercion, incentives, or retaliatory reviews
• Reviews submitted for bookings in which the reviewer did not participate

The Company reserves the right to remove or hide reviews that violate Community Guidelines at its sole discretion. Sitters may submit one response per review (maximum 500 characters). Removal of a review does not constitute a determination regarding the truthfulness of the review's content. Declining a booking does not and will never affect a user's ratings, search ranking, or visibility on the Platform. Additional review standards are described in the User Dispute and Platform Role Policy, Section 7.

20. Tax Compliance

Sitters are required to provide a valid IRS Form W-9 (or applicable tax identification form) before receiving payments through the Platform. Farm Sitters, Inc., through its payment processor Stripe, may be required to report payments to the Internal Revenue Service in accordance with IRS Third Party Settlement Organization (TPSO) reporting requirements, including the issuance of Form 1099-K where applicable.

Each Sitter is solely responsible for reporting all income earned through the Platform, paying all applicable federal, state, and local taxes (including self-employment taxes), and maintaining appropriate tax records. The Company does not provide tax advice. If a Sitter fails to provide a valid W-9, backup withholding may be applied in accordance with IRS requirements.

21. Data Collection and Privacy

Farm Sitters, Inc. collects, uses, and stores personal information as necessary to operate the Platform, process transactions, maintain compliance records, and communicate with users. Our collection and use of personal information is governed by our Privacy Policy, which is incorporated by reference into these Terms.

By using the Platform, you acknowledge that you have read and agree to the Privacy Policy, including disclosures regarding the collection of compliance attestation records (IP address, timestamp, document version, and statement text), the use of Stripe for payment processing, background check data handling through Checkr, and your rights under the Virginia Consumer Data Protection Act (VCDPA, Va. Code § 59.1-575 et seq.). Farm Sitters, Inc. complies with the Virginia data breach notification requirements under Va. Code § 18.2-186.6.

22. User Conduct and Prohibited Uses

Users agree not to:

• Use the Platform for any unlawful purpose or in violation of applicable laws
• Misrepresent identity, qualifications, licenses, or certifications
• Use the Platform for H-2A worker recruitment or placement
• Attempt to circumvent Platform fees by arranging off-platform payments for bookings initiated on the Platform
• Harass, threaten, or discriminate against other users
• Post false, misleading, or defamatory content
• Submit fraudulent or retaliatory reviews
• Interfere with or disrupt the Platform's operation or security
• Scrape, collect, or harvest user data without authorization
• Request Sitters to perform tasks requiring licenses or certifications they do not hold
• Use the Platform for services outside agricultural property caretaking
• Neglect, abuse, or willfully disregard care instructions for animals entrusted to their care

23. Warranty Disclaimer

THE PLATFORM IS PROVIDED "AS IS" AND "AS AVAILABLE" WITHOUT WARRANTIES OF ANY KIND, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, INCLUDING BUT NOT LIMITED TO WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY, FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE, OR NON-INFRINGEMENT. FARM SITTERS, INC. DOES NOT WARRANT THAT THE PLATFORM WILL BE UNINTERRUPTED, ERROR-FREE, OR FREE OF HARMFUL COMPONENTS, OR THAT ANY INFORMATION PROVIDED ON THE PLATFORM, INCLUDING VERIFICATION BADGE STATUS, BACKGROUND CHECK RESULTS, CREDENTIAL VERIFICATION RESULTS, SELF-REPORTED SKILLS, LICENSE CONFIRMATION STATUS, OR CERTIFICATION UPLOADS, IS ACCURATE, COMPLETE, OR CURRENT.

FARM SITTERS, INC. MAKES NO WARRANTY OR REPRESENTATION REGARDING THE QUALITY, SAFETY, LEGALITY, OR SUITABILITY OF ANY SITTER, FARMER, SPONSORED PRO, OR OTHER USER, OR THE SERVICES THEY PROVIDE OR SEEK. ALL VERIFICATION BADGES AND CREDENTIAL INDICATORS ARE PROVIDED FOR INFORMATIONAL PURPOSES ONLY AND DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN ENDORSEMENT, GUARANTEE, OR WARRANTY OF ANY KIND.

24. Indemnification

You agree to indemnify, defend, and hold harmless Farm Sitters, Inc., its officers, directors, employees, agents, and affiliates from and against any and all claims, damages, losses, liabilities, costs, and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) arising out of or relating to:

• Your use of or access to the Platform
• Your violation of these Terms or any applicable law
• Your infringement of any third party's rights
• Any content you post or transmit through the Platform

Farmers additionally agree to indemnify the Company against any claims arising from: failure to comply with Farmer Compliance Profile obligations, I-9 employment eligibility verification failures, wage and hour violations, workers' compensation failures, failure to provide accurate care instructions, and any claims under the AWPA, the Virginia Farm Labor Contractor Registration Act, or any other federal or state labor law asserted against the Platform arising from the Farmer's engagement with a Sitter.

Sitters additionally agree to indemnify the Company against any claims arising from the negligent performance or non-performance of services, misrepresentation of qualifications or credentials, harm to animals resulting from failure to follow care instructions, or failure to comply with Worker Independence Attestation obligations.

25. Limitation of Liability

TO THE MAXIMUM EXTENT PERMITTED BY APPLICABLE LAW, FARM SITTERS, INC. SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY INDIRECT, INCIDENTAL, SPECIAL, CONSEQUENTIAL, OR PUNITIVE DAMAGES, OR ANY LOSS OF PROFITS OR REVENUES, WHETHER INCURRED DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, OR ANY LOSS OF DATA, USE, GOODWILL, OR OTHER INTANGIBLE LOSSES, RESULTING FROM:

• Your use of or inability to use the Platform
• Any conduct or content of any third party on the Platform
• Any injury, illness, death, or property damage arising from services arranged through the Platform
• Injury, illness, death, or loss of any animal during or related to a booking
• Unauthorized access, use, or alteration of your account or data
• The quality, safety, legality, or performance of any services provided by Sitters or Sponsored Pros
• Reliance on any verification feature, badge, background check result, or self-reported information displayed on the Platform

IN NO EVENT SHALL FARM SITTERS, INC.'S TOTAL LIABILITY TO YOU FOR ALL CLAIMS EXCEED THE GREATER OF (A) THE AMOUNT YOU PAID TO FARM SITTERS, INC. IN THE TWELVE (12) MONTHS PRECEDING THE CLAIM, OR (B) ONE HUNDRED DOLLARS ($100).

26. Dispute Resolution, Arbitration, and Class Action Waiver

User Dispute and Platform Role Policy. For disputes between Farmers and Sitters regarding bookings, service quality, no-shows, or other issues arising from engagements arranged through the Platform, users should follow the process described in the User Dispute and Platform Role Policy, which is incorporated by reference into these Terms. That policy describes the steps for direct communication, formal reporting, Platform review, and available Platform actions. The Company does not adjudicate financial disputes between users regarding Sitter compensation or service quality.

Mandatory Arbitration. Except as provided below, any dispute, claim, or controversy arising out of or relating to these Terms, your use of the Platform, or any services arranged through the Platform between you and Farm Sitters, Inc. shall be resolved by binding individual arbitration administered by the American Arbitration Association ("AAA") under its Consumer Arbitration Rules. The arbitration shall be conducted in the Commonwealth of Virginia. The arbitrator's decision shall be final and binding and may be entered as a judgment in any court of competent jurisdiction.

Class Action Waiver. YOU AND FARM SITTERS, INC. AGREE THAT EACH PARTY MAY BRING CLAIMS AGAINST THE OTHER ONLY IN YOUR OR ITS INDIVIDUAL CAPACITY, AND NOT AS A PLAINTIFF OR CLASS MEMBER IN ANY PURPORTED CLASS, CONSOLIDATED, OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING. THE ARBITRATOR MAY NOT CONSOLIDATE MORE THAN ONE PERSON'S CLAIMS AND MAY NOT OTHERWISE PRESIDE OVER ANY FORM OF A CLASS OR REPRESENTATIVE PROCEEDING.

Small Claims Court Exception. Either party may bring an individual action in small claims court in the Commonwealth of Virginia if the claim falls within the court's jurisdictional limits.

AWPA Carve-Out. Notwithstanding the foregoing, this arbitration provision does not apply to claims brought under the Migrant and Seasonal Agricultural Worker Protection Act (AWPA, 29 U.S.C. §§ 1801-1872) to the extent that such claims are exempt from mandatory arbitration under the Federal Arbitration Act (9 U.S.C. § 1 et seq.). Any AWPA claims not subject to arbitration shall be brought exclusively in the state or federal courts located in the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Governing Law. These Terms and any dispute arising hereunder shall be governed by the laws of the Commonwealth of Virginia, without regard to its conflict of law principles.

27. Account Termination

Farm Sitters, Inc. reserves the right to suspend or terminate any user account at any time, with or without cause, and with or without notice. Grounds for termination include but are not limited to:

• Violation of these Terms of Service
• Misrepresentation of identity, qualifications, or credentials
• Use of the Platform for H-2A recruitment or placement
• Fraudulent or deceptive conduct
• Failure to complete required compliance attestations
• Conduct that poses a safety risk to other users or animals
• Animal neglect, abuse, or willful disregard of care instructions
• Repeated no-shows without advance notice

You may delete your account at any time by contacting support. Upon termination, your right to use the Platform ceases immediately. Compliance attestation records — including individual statement text, acknowledgment timestamps, IP addresses, and document versions — are retained for a minimum of seven (7) years following account termination for legal defense and regulatory compliance purposes. Booking and transaction records are retained for a minimum of seven (7) years in accordance with tax and financial record-keeping requirements.

28. Intellectual Property

The Platform, including its design, code, logos, trademarks, and content (excluding user-generated content), is the intellectual property of Farm Sitters, Inc. and is protected by copyright, trademark, and other intellectual property laws. You may not copy, modify, distribute, sell, or lease any part of the Platform without our prior written consent.

By posting content on the Platform (profile information, reviews, images), you grant Farm Sitters, Inc. a non-exclusive, worldwide, royalty-free license to use, display, and distribute such content in connection with operating the Platform.

29. Force Majeure

Farm Sitters, Inc. shall not be liable for any failure or delay in performing its obligations under these Terms where such failure or delay results from circumstances beyond the Company's reasonable control, including but not limited to: acts of God, natural disasters, pandemics, government actions or orders, power outages, internet service disruptions, cyberattacks, labor disputes, or failures of third-party service providers (including payment processors and cloud hosting providers).

30. Severability

If any provision of these Terms is found to be unlawful, void, or unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, that provision shall be modified to the minimum extent necessary to make it enforceable, or if modification is not possible, shall be severed from these Terms. The invalidity or unenforceability of any provision shall not affect the validity or enforceability of the remaining provisions, which shall continue in full force and effect.

31. Changes to Terms

Farm Sitters, Inc. reserves the right to modify these Terms at any time. We will notify users of material changes via email or Platform notification. Your continued use of the Platform after changes become effective constitutes acceptance of the revised Terms.

32. Contact Information

For questions about these Terms of Service, please contact us: