How To Hire A Steward Skyrim Plantation

I once spent a solid hour chasing a chicken around my Goldenhills Plantation, convinced I could convince it to be my steward. Spoiler: chickens are terrible at managing crop yields. They are, however, excellent at getting underfoot while you're trying to plant leeks.

That little disaster taught me something important: hiring a steward in Skyrim isn't about animal whispering. It's about knowing which NPCs will actually take the job. So if you've just claimed that lovely farm between Rorikstead and Whiterun, you're probably wondering how to get someone else to do the weeding.

Good news: it's simpler than you think. Bad news: you can't just grab any random Nord off the street. You need a follower.

First, Make Sure You Actually Own the Plantation

Before you start interviewing candidates, you need the deed. Goldenhills Plantation comes with the Anniversary Edition, or as a separate Creation Club purchase. You'll find it just east of Rorikstead, looking all abandoned and ghost-infested.

Complete the quest The Unquiet Dead. Yes, that means dealing with some restless spirits. Once they're gone, you can claim the farm. No deed, no steward. That's just how it works.

Pick a Follower, Any Follower (Almost)

Now, who's going to run this agricultural empire? The game doesn't give you a hiring hall. Instead, you ask one of your existing followers to take the job.

Talk to any follower who isn't already a steward elsewhere. Just make sure they're actually following you. If they're not in your party, the dialogue option won't show up.

Once they're trailing behind you, open the conversation menu. Look for something like, "I have a farm. Would you like to be my steward?" The exact wording varies slightly, but it's usually pretty obvious.

Some followers have unique dialogue for this. Others just grunt and accept. Skyrim is not known for its HR department.

Goldenhills Plantation steward issue (AE edition) : r/SkyrimHelp

What If the Option Doesn't Appear?

Don't panic; this happens more often than a dragon attack in Whiterun. First, double-check that you've claimed the plantation. Second, make sure your follower isn't already a steward for another property.

Third, try talking to them while you're actually at Goldenhills. Some players report that the dialogue only triggers when you're standing near the farmhouse. Skyrim's dialogue triggers are quirky, but you get used to it.

Also, some followers are locked out of steward duties due to quests or factions. If you're trying to hire a Blade or a Thalmor agent, you're probably out of luck. Pick someone who actually likes you.

Confirm the Hire and Enjoy the Profits

Once they agree, they'll head to the plantation and set up shop. You can now ask them to manage crops, collect profits, and generally keep the place from falling apart. They'll even give you a cut of the earnings.

To collect your gold, just talk to your steward. They'll hand over the profits from the latest harvest. It's not a fortune, but it beats selling cheese wheels for a living.

Want to fire them? Just tell them you no longer need their services. They'll pack up and go back to wherever they came from—no hard feelings, usually.

Skyrim: How To Hire A Steward

You can also reassign them to follow you again, if you miss their combat skills. But then they stop managing the farm. You can't have everything.

A Few Practical Tips

Choose a steward you don't need in combat. They'll be stuck at the farm, so if you rely on them for dragon fights, you'll miss them. Housecarls make great stewards because they're already sworn to your service.

You can have multiple stewards for multiple homes. One for Goldenhills, one for Lakeview, one for Windstad. Just don't try to make the same person steward of two places; they'll get confused, and you'll get a bug.

Also, don't forget to plant crops yourself. Your steward manages the harvest, but they won't magically plant the seeds. You're still the farmer-in-chief.

And please, don't try to hire a chicken. I learned that the hard way. They don't have the right dialogue options.

So there you have it. Claim the farm, grab a follower, and ask nicely. Congratulations, you're now a plantation owner. Try not to let the power go to your head.