Job Title: Assistant Herd Manager
About Our Farm:
We are a certified organic pasture based dairy that milks around 45 mixed breed cows. Our on-site creamery turns their milk into award winning cheeses and yogurts. We also run a small raw milk CSA through our farm store for the local community. Along with the dairy, we raise a herd of 50 whey fed heritage breed pigs. Our farming practices put the long-term health of the animals and the land at the top of our priority list (because we know that THIS leads to producing the best products).
Job Position:
We are looking for a full time assistant herd manager to work in collaboration with our herd manager and the rest of the team to perform essential functions of our dairy farm and pig program. This job requires working outside in all sorts of weather. There is also the possibility of taking on special projects, depending on the candidate's interests.
An average week could include like:
3-4 milking shifts per week
Farm chores and tractor work
Working with herd manager and farm staff on infrastructure projects or initiatives around the farm
Managing specific areas
This position involves coordinating with employees in the creamery, the farm store manager, as well as working with/managing fellow farm employees.
Employment Classification:
Year-round, full-time hourly position that could become salaried
von Trapp Farmstead is an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Essential Job Functions Include:
Farm Chores (ie feeding the pigs, feeding/watering the cows, milking, picking up food scraps in town)
Monitoring & responding to changes in animal health
Assist in maintaining milking equipment & bulk tank
Assisting with farm infrastructure projects, tractor work, firewood processing, fence building, etc.
Animal husbandry
Possible Special Projects /Focus areas:
-help with breeding and genetics program
-Co-manage the meat program with the farm store manager
Working with local farrowers to source piglets
Coordinating monthly slaughters (load up, transportation, cut sheets, talking with slaughterhouse)
Managing the inventory of retail meat in collaboration with Farm Store Manager
Co-manage DHIA testing / record-keeping with herd manager
Co-manage farm efforts on forage analysis & soil/nutrient management program
Ideal Qualifications:
Can lift 50+lbs on a regular basis
Written and spoken fluency in English
Preference for local applicants (possibility of on-farm or transitional housing)
Valid driver’s license (this job requires driving the farm truck)
Experience working with cows and/or pigs
Milking experience required
Animal husbandry experience required
Experience driving tractors is required
Comfortable managing/working with other employees
Flexibility/willingness to work weekends required. (We strive to give every employee 2 days off in a row, at least one weekend day off, each week).
Willingness to learn, to know when to ask for help or to ask questions, and a self-starter.
Benefits include:
Competitive wages $50,000-55,000 DOE (with Tiny house housing available)
Paid time off for all employees working 18+ hours/week
IRA matching retirement plan
Weekly cheese or yogurt and raw milk (sometimes also beef & whey-fed pork!)
25% discount on all items sold through our farm store
