Livestock Apprentice

Glynwood Center for Regional Food and Farming • Nelsonville, NY

1d • $16 • Onsite

About The Position

Glynwood’s Livestock Apprenticeship program is for beginning farmers who are ready to pursue a career raising livestock and want to increase their farming knowledge and skills. Apprentices gain a solid foundation in the skills necessary to work on a small-scale diversified livestock operation. Apprentices will go beyond gaining hands-on experience and learning technical skills through working as a team member to manage Glynwood’s Animal Welfare-Approved livestock operation. The 9-month Livestock Apprenticeship aims to enhance the apprentice's understanding of the principles and practices of regenerative, pasture-based production of beef, pork, lamb and poultry products.
The Glynwood Apprenticeship is an intensive vocational training program. Apprentices work full-time in the pastures on the livestock team and are an integral part of daily livestock care which includes feeding, watering, and managing all species on pasture. Beyond gaining hands-on experience and learning technical skills as a team member, apprentices receive significant educational support including extensive in-field training in regenerative, rotationally grazed livestock production; complete assessments of their skills and progress towards program goals; and a 60-hour classroom curriculum. All of this is built into the full time schedule. Apprentices are expected to support Glynwood’s culture of philanthropy and may be asked to contribute to story-telling projects or events led by our development and communications team.
All Glynwood apprentices are participants in the Hudson Valley Apprenticeship program in which apprentices from local participating farms come together for supplemental classroom education. For further information on our programs please use this link or visit our website.

Requirements

• At least 3 consecutive months of working outdoors full-time in a physically demanding job, such as landscaping, farming, or construction work
• Some professional experience handling livestock
• Valid US Driver License in good standing
• Basic competency with the Google Suite, including word processing, spreadsheets, email, and calendar
• Comfort using a smartphone, as well as downloading and using apps to track grazing and animal health
• Ability to communicate clearly in English, verbally and in writing
• Professional, collegial, direct, non-aggressive communication skills
• Ability to work both alone and on a team
• Willingness and ability to help with emergencies during non-regular hours
• Comfort with the reality of animal mortality

Nice To Haves

• Preference for candidates who have farmed for at least one full season

Responsibilities

• Provide day-to-day care for all species of livestock and guardian animals on the farm: cattle, sheep, hogs, laying hens, meat chickens, turkeys, and livestock guardian dogs. Must be willing and able to handle all species.
• Monitor breeding and birthing
• Care for sick and injured animals
• Fence installation and repair
• Maintain livestock infrastructure and tools
• Participate in Meat CSA management
• Pasture maintenance
• Manure management
• Participate in livestock record keeping

Benefits

• $16.48 per hour wage
• Apprentices accrue up to 48 hours of vacation and up to 40 hours of sick time as well as paid holidays (however, farm staff rotate coverage of holidays and receive comp time for any holidays worked)
• An average of 200 paid educational hours
• Cell phone reimbursement credit, if applicable
• $500 in a Healthcare Reimbursement Account
• $200 workwear stipend, and $250 education stipend
• No-cost Glynwood eggs and vegetables; and a 30% discount on Glynwood meat and Farm Store products
• Private room in a 6-bedroom house shared with the other apprentices

What This Job Offers

• Job Type: Full-time
• Career Level: Entry Level
• Education Level: No Education Listed