Job Description
Weathertop Farm is looking for folks interested and passionate about regenerative agriculture and pasture management in particular.
We have openings for 5 apprentices to join our team for the 2023 season (March-December).
Apprentices can expect to learn what it’s like to run a multi-species poultry and livestock grazing operation first-hand by actively participating in the daily work of the farm. Our daily farm work and life shifts with the seasons.
In addition to daily animal care we also do all our own poultry processing here on the farm. That involves chicken processing on average once per week from June-October, as well as several days of turkey butchering in October and November.
The hogs, sheep and steers all have assigned dates with the butcher, which involves catching and transport to & from the various processors. In our freezers, we maintain a fairly large inventory of meats which we take to farmers markets and sell here at the farm.
Apprentices must be ready to work hard doing manual labor in all kinds of weather.
We expect apprentices to put in 40-50 hours a week on average, depending on farm schedule and season; summer is our busiest time.
Depending upon the day or task, apprentices can expect to answer to and work alongside farmers for some tasks and independently or in teams for others. Each apprentice will rotate through all areas of the farm.
Work will include but is not limited to:
- Daily care of animals (work closely with livestock: hens, broilers, turkeys, hogs, cattle, sheep)
- Collecting & cleaning eggs
- Handling feed in 50-lb sacks on a daily basis
- Operating tractor and mower
- Daily portable-electric-fence moving
- Frequent set-up/moving of portable housing, hoses, fences, etc., for all animal groups
- Daily pasture-pen moving for broilers (some by hand, some by tractor)
- Keeping track of animal movement on the grazing chart
- On-farm poultry processing (averaging once/week June-Nov); participation is mandatory
- Assisting in set-up of trailers for catching/sorting animals
- Occasional building & maintenance projects
- Deliveries to local businesses
- Operate farmers market stall
- Handle on-farm sales
- Keeping each work area clean and organized
- Miscellaneous tasks may involve, but are not limited to: composting, mowing, cleaning out bedding from brooder & hoop-houses, firewood prep, driving to mill for feed pick-up and unloading, etc.
What we require of an apprentice:
- Ability to do manual labor (e.g. lifting and moving a lot of 50 lb feed sacks)
- Enthusiasm, flexibility, & tenacity
- Ability & willingness to follow directions & ask questions
- Cooperation in working with others
- Individual initiative
- Patience both with yourself & others
- Comfortable around animals
- Good physical health & fitness
- Perseverance through adverse weather (heat, cold, rain, mud, etc)
- Willingness to work on weekends and holidays
- Commitment to the entire season
- No firearms and no illegal drugs.
- No smoking or vaping within farm buildings or living facilities or during work hours.
- Not distracted by personal technology (cell phone, etc.) during workday
Not required, but are a plus:
- Previous farming experience
- Basic carpentry or mechanical skills
- Comfortable driving (or learning to drive) tractors, manual-gear truck, large delivery van
- Comfortable or experienced in a sales setting and interacting with customers
- Having your own vehicle (no local public transportation available)
For full details & application please visit our website: https://www.weathertopfarm.com/apprenticeship Housing included.