FULL-TIME MILKER
The farm team is part of a larger organization at Churchtown Dairy that includes the creamery, medicinal gardens, and farm store. Our herd consists of Brown Swiss, Jersey, Devon, Guernsey, and a number of crosses. We know our cows well and they know us. We strive for excellence in the care of our herd, the soil, and our raw milk products.
The Full-time Milker will be milking approximately twenty cows for approximately 40 hours per week, depending on availability. There are two milking shifts in a day: Mornings from 6-10am and Afternoons from 2-6pm. Saturday and Sunday availability is a must plus additional weekday shifts. We work with a set schedule but some flexibility and the ability to switch/cover shifts with advance notice is ideal.
In addition to the milking responsibilities, milkers assist with day-to-day and seasonal farm chores. Our facilities are very comfortable to work in and the work pace is reasonable. Experience in milking is preferred but not required. We are happy to train a milker who possesses the right qualities. Ability to communicate with farm management, co-workers and visitors is key.
Reports To: Herd Manager
Responsibilities:
-
Morning and Afternoon milking as scheduled including clean up
-
Feed and Rotate the Beef Herd
-
Maintain the barns’ cleanliness and organization
-
Operate tractors and other light farm equipment
-
Maintain herd awareness and apply basic remedies according to Churchtown Dairy protocols
-
Assist in hay making and general farm chores, including use of farm equipment
-
Complete daily farm chores: providing care for our goats, pigs and youngstock
-
Participate in weekly farm team meetings
-
We know it is impossible to convey every single task for a particular job in a single job post. Our hope is that as we work together we can use this job as a starting point so that your role can evolve over time and we can adjust your job description accordingly.
Requirements:
-
Reliable and Punctual
-
Available on Saturday and Sunday
-
Ability to lift up to 50 pounds
-
Ability to operate/or learn to operate farm machinery
-
Willingness and desire to learn
-
Interest in and/or openness to Biodynamics
-
Ability to communicate in a professional and respectful manner with all our staff
-
Willingness to engage with visitors in a warm an positive manner
-
Ability to use basic communication and organizational software (email, Microsoft Word & Excel and/or Google Docs & Sheets, etc.)
-
Excellent interpersonal skills
Compensation:
This is an hourly position working approximately 40 hours per week. Compensation for the position is based on experience, starting at $18 per hour. Benefits include Paid Time Off and a 25% discount on all farm store products. We offer fully covered medical and dental coverage to individuals who commit to a full year with us.
Apply:
If this position sounds interesting to you, please forward a COVER LETTER and RESUME to our Head of People & Culture: jeremy@churchtowndairy.org with “Full-Time Milker” in the subject line. We look forward to hearing from you.