Herdsperson / Milker

  • Date Posted December 01, 2024
  • Location Essex, NY
  • Category Agriculture
  • Job type Full-Time

Company description

Echo Farm is a diversified 170 acre farm nestled in the heart of the Adirondacks. We grow and raise chickens, beef, dairy cows, pigs, hay, vegetables, flowers, and timber. Our team works tirelessly to grow ingredients and create food that is seasonal, adventurous and beautiful. We work alongside our sister company, Farmstead Catering, to operate a synergy between farm and kitchen by “insourcing” all the ingredients for both on-farm and off-site events in upstate New York. Our farm is powered by solar and biodiesel we make from animal waste. We focus on soil health and regenerative methods to develop our own terroir. Our mission is to create events centered around food that is grown at our farm using sustainable methods. We want food and our farm to ignite conversations around food security, resilience and community. We take pride in our work and we take pleasure in sharing this bounty with others regardless of background.

Job description

We’re looking to hire a passionate individual to fill key roles as a part-time position or in combination with diverse full-time work. Employees are provided training and experience that can build on a career at our operation, or for moooving on! And we have some housing options available if anybody is moving to the area for work here.

Our milker is responsible for walking our cows into the barn, using a pulsation bucket milker, following safety and sanitary requirements, cleaning the milkhouse and processing dairy (either bulk tank, separating for cream, making yogurt, butter or sour cream).

  • 3-4 consecutive milking shifts per week, additional shifts if desired & training for the right candidate
  • Livestock fencing and silvopasture management/expansion with support staff
  • Alternating chore duty based on other team members time off and vacation
  • Coordinate pasturing/haying operations/feed storage/feeding schedule
  • Light carpentry, repairs and fabrication as needed
  • Tractor work including field operations, clipping, overseeding, cultivating, hauling, skidding, etc.
  • Garden tractor work only when advised by garden manager or on “big days”
  • Turn/organize compost in accordance with fertility cycling objectives
  • Maintain (with support staff) livestock housing/handling systems in good working order for all livestock
  • Orchestrate breeding, veterinary visits (as needed), livestock acquisition and sales
  • On-site presence for visiting clients, educational events or farm tours
  • Perimeter fence-building and maintenance
  • Orchestrate slaughter/butchery of chicken, beef, and hogs with other staff next season
  • Schedule assessed on Fridays for the following week based on weather, prior engagements, demands at home farm, availability of other staff and larger ongoing projects

Future Growth Potential:

  • Retirement IRA with employee matching at 3% after first season.
  • Promotion for more responsibility, managing other employees and increased wage/salary. 

Compensation

this position is: hourly, $15-20/hr

Application instructions

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Deadline

January 15, 2025