Get Paid On-The-Job Training with experienced farmers around Iowa. Practical Farmers of Iowa “Trainer” farmers are hiring now for the 2013 growing season. Apply to the farms listed below by February 15, 2013
Other great benefits:
Qualifications:
Email luke@practicalfarmers.org for any questions about the Labor4Learning Program or call (515) 232-5661.
Also check out our Farm Employment FAQ about the rights and responsibilities for Iowa farm workers and farm employers.
Click on each farm name to expand its description.
Experience: 43 years farming
Description: We would like to share and pass on some of the farming knowledge we have acquired through experience so a beginning farmer can have a base to build upon. We have had one to four part-time and full-time employees since 1973. Ninety percent of them were between the ages of 16 and 25 years old. The farm grows row crops (corn and soybeans), hay, small grains, beef cattle, and hair sheep. Cattle are rotationally grazed, 100% no-till, 90% cover crops after row crops. Corn, soybeans go to commodity markets and we sell beef as feeder cattle.
Job Title: Farm Worker
Start Date (approx): April 1
End Date (approx): Nov 1
Terms, Hours, Status: 20 hours per week, part-time hourly at a fixed rate of $10/hour
On-farm Housing: Not available
Work Activities: Mowing hay, planting and harvesting row crops and wheat, laying out grazing paddocks, moving cattle, planting cover crops, building fence, chemically treating tree stump sprouts (brush clearing)
Minimum qualifications: Lift 50#, valid drivers’ license, walking and standing for long periods of time
Skills desired: Tractor experience, 100 horsepower and smaller
Contact: Paul and Nancy Ackley by phone, (712) 621-1040, email, pnackley@unitedwb.coop or post 3018 Maryland Ave. Bedford, IA 50833Experience: 29 years farming
Description: We are interested in working with a young person who wants to farm for themselves in the future, but realizes the need to further develop their skills, first. A longer-term relationship, we feel, will both benefit us and allow us more time to positively influence and share information with a future farmer. We have included employees in our operation for the past 12 years, we have worked with the agricultural departments in our local high schools and community colleges to find graduates who have wanted on-farm work experience. During this time we have had six employees for periods ranging from six months to five years. The enterprises on our farm are corn, soybeans, small grains, hay, beef cattle, sheep, and swine. We are certified organic, use cover crops, long-term rotations, managed grazing, ridge tillage, and no-till. We sell organic grain to wholesale buyers. Organic seed oats, triticale, and rye are contracted with seed companies. Hay is not sold, but fed on the farm to our livestock. Calves are sold through commodity markets or directly to other farmers for finishing. Lambs are direct marketed by one of our sons. We are starting a small-scale swine operation and plan to market through a niche pork marketing company.
Job Title: Farm Assistant
Terms, Hours, Status: Full-time hourly employee, 40+ hours per week. Pay rate of $13 to $15/hr, commensurate with experience.
On-farm Housing: Not available.
Work Activities:
• field work – tillage, planting, weed control, harvesting, etc.;
• machinery repair;
• pasture management---brush clearing fence repair, and new fence construction;
• cattle handling and assisting in implementing grazing plan;
• new building and building repairs;
• occasional sheep, swine, and chicken chores.
Minimum qualifications: Valid drivers’ license, outside work in almost all weather, able to lift seed and feed bags (50#) Preference given for commitment of a minimum two years, while we offer a commitment on
our part to help employee locate land, other inputs, and support for them to start farming on their own.
Skills desired: Experience with machinery, prefer experience with livestock, ability to work overtime as
needed.
Start Date (approx): March 1
End Date (approx): n/a (full-time)
Other benefits: Meat for employee and their immediate family, space for a garden at the farm.
Contact: Margaret Smith and Doug Alert by email: ashgrove@wbfrec.comExperience: 8 years farming
Description: We are interested in connecting with an individual who wants more than just a seasonal job, but wants to learn how we operate our business. 2013 will be our ninth season farming in south-central Iowa. In our first year we had no regular help, but occasionally brought on the neighbor kids to help bale hay. In our second year when we started our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) market, we engaged our first part-time worker. Since then we have ramped up to three full-time employees. In total, we have employed eight individuals to staff our produce operation. We continue to have good relationships with all our current and former employees. Our farm is Certified Naturally Grown. We produce fresh produce, free-range eggs, honey, homemade jam, noodles, cookies, hand-spun yarn, sold through our 45 member CSA and at the Downtown Des Moines Farmers Market. Alfalfa hay is sold from the farm, primarily for dairy goats and horses.
Job Title: Crew Member
Start Date (approx): April 1
End Date (approx): October 30
Terms, Hours, Status: 40+ hours per week, full-time hourly at a pay rate of at least $8.00, commensurate with experience
On-farm Housing: Yes may be available, barn apartment still under construction
Work Activities: Participate in bed preparation, planting/transplanting, weeding, harvesting, packing for CSA and farmers market. Assist with on-farm research, farm CSA events, and annual Farm Crawl
Minimum qualifications: Outside work in all weather; heavy lifting at least 50#; good physical health and stamina; positive attitude
Skills desired: Quick learner, self-starter
Contact: Jill Beebout by email: mail@bluegatefarmfresh.com or by post: 749 Wyoming Street, Chariton, IA 50049
Website: www.bluegatefarmfresh.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Blue-Gate-Farm/73120835758?fref=tsExperience: 20+ years farming as a family together
Description: We need additional help in order that we can grow our business and still be mindful of the daily management of the animals and facilities. It would be encouraging to work with another person who is like-minded and seeks to learn. We have generally hired people for very temporary or seasonal jobs. i.e. baling hay, general odd jobs. Our farm raises livestock – beef, sheep, goats, and poultry using managed grazing, non-gmo, grass-finishing, and no antibiotics. We sell packaged meats by the cut at farmers markets and a restaurant on farm retail sales and some delivery; on farm processing of chickens with customer pick-up, packaged meat is also marketed thru the Iowa Food Coop. Tom Cory spent a career as an agricultural instructor in Iowa public secondary schools. He is an excellent teacher.
Job Title: Chores, Marketing, Household tasks, or Information Technology
Terms, Hours, Status: 20 hours per week, part-time hourly at a pay rate of $7.25 commensurate with experience
On-farm Housing: Not available
Work Activities: Flexible based on the applicant’s skills. We aim to reward the employee based on their performance. Help with livestock chores – ewes during lambing, goats kidding, feeding hay to our forage only livestock, also supplemental feeding. Tractor work to put large bales into feeders. Possibility #2: market grass =-fed meat to local restaurants and grocery establishments, develop relationships and regular contact list. Possibility #3 – perform household tasks as preparing meals and light cleaning in order to free up Mary Cory to do animal chores. We eat meals “from-scratch” using whole foods. Possibility #4 – help in any of the above areas with a strong emphasis on information technology (website entries, social media, newsletters, accounting, implement efficiencies in the areas of inventory filling orders, etc)
Minimum qualifications: Outside work in all weather, heavy lifting of feed buckets, hay bales, drivers’ license, able to see the big picture while also being detail oriented
Skills desired: Livestock experience helpful, tractor experience helpful, bookkeeping experience appreciated
Start Date (approx): ASAP
End Date (approx): re-evaluate at the end of April
Contact: Tom and Mary Cory by phone, (515) 367–2000 or email mary@coryfamilyfarm.com or tom@coryfamilyfarm.com
Website: www.coryfamilyfarm.com
Facebook: www.fb.com/CoryFamilyFarmExperience: 8 years farming
Description: We grow certified organic horticultural crops and manage a pastured poultry system using organic methods. We use cover crops, all non-GMO seed, in a space efficient manner with intercropping techniques. Our markets include 120 member CSA, fresh produce for local preschool, public school, and elderly care. We do sell some product at farmers market and retail stores. Direct sale of starter plants, meat, poultry and eggs. Product is sold locally.
Job Title: Farm Crew Member
Terms, Hours, Status: Variable workload at least minimum wage pay rate is commensurate with experience
Other benefits: Free lunch on the farm, vegetable CSA
On-farm Housing: Not available
Work Activities: Duties may be a subset of any number of the following: making & planting seed trays, transplanting, seedbed preparations, cultivation and weeding, care of poultry, mulching, picking, cleaning, packing, staffing delivery points, data collection. Some duties may require working with animals, motorized equipment and sharp tools.
Minimum qualifications: Able to work in all weather conditions. Must be able to handle physical activity that includes walking, bending, crawling, and lifting. Own transportation to and from the farm.
Skills desired: Willingness to learn. Prefer some knowledge of horticulture/gardening or caring for poultry. Ability to maintain a working pace without direct supervision.
Start Date (approx): April/May
End Date (approx): Sept/Oct/Nov
Contact: Farmer Rob Faux at gff@genuinefauxfarm.com
Website: http://www.genuinefauxfarm.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/GenuineFauxFarmExperience: 15 years combined farm experience
Description: We want to see the local food movement grow. In order to do this, many people need to be doing what we are doing. We hired eight employees in 2012. Grinnell Heritage Farm was formed in 2007. The farm has fresh produce farm to a direct Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) market, wholesale customers, and farmers markets. In addition to horticultural crops, we raise beef cattle and poultry for direct sales. The farm has been certified organic by MOSA since 2009.
Job Title: Farm Crew
Terms, Hours, Status: Full-time 40+ hours per week. Pay rate $8.50-$11.00 per hour commensurate with experience
Other benefits: Weekly CSA Share from farm, additional seconds on produce if needed
On-farm Housing: Not available
Work Activities: Harvest, wash, plant transplants, weed, and seed vegetables, if interested, work with poultry and livestock
Minimum qualifications: Outside work in all weather, stand for long periods of time, heavy lifting at least fifty pounds, Valid drivers’ license. Must be positive and energetic.
Skills desired: One to three years experience with vegetable production preferred, but not required
Start Date (approx): mid-April
End Date (approx): October 31
Contact: Melissa Dunham grinnellheritagefarm@gmail.com
Website: www.grinnellheritagefarm.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Grinnell-Heritage-Farm/191116610176?fref=tsExperience: 18 years farming experience
Description: Join us for a summer of meaningful work. Learn about community agriculture by working on a farm with 18 years of experience and many connections with local food and local community networks. One Step at a Time Gardens is seeking to hire two summer trainees this coming season.
We have hosted young people and aspiring farmers to work and learn alongside us on our farm since 2003. We are seeking young people with an interest in community based and sustainable agriculture.
Trainees bring an energy and enthusiasm that energizes our farm operation and we believe it is part of our farm’s mission to pull the lessons from our own experience and share with young trainees hungry to try their own hand. We market primarily through Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm membership, with weekly deliveries June through September. Our members are located in Des Moines and North Iowa. We also have late season share deliveries in October, November, and December. We have several wholesale accounts, including a daycare in Mason City and, Clear Lake, and an account with Wheatsfield Cooperative in Ames, Iowa. We follow organic practices but are not certified organic.
Job Title: Farm Field Crew Member
Terms, Hours, Status: Jobs are 40 hours per week (full time) mid-April through September, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm, Mon – Fri
Our compensation package includes a cash stipend of $850-$900/month (depending upon experience), $50/month bonus, plus room and utilities at on-farm house and board. Total value of package equates to between $10.25-$10.50/hour, depending up on monthly stipend
On-farm Housing: A three bedroom small house with fully equipped kitchen is available for summer employees. Room, with utilities covered, and partial board are provided as part of compensation.
Work Activities: planting, maintenance, harvesting, post harvest handling, packing, assistance with deliveries, and some farm member communication.
Minimum qualifications: Committed to sustainable agriculture, good communication skills, attention to detail, ability to work with many different people, in outside summer conditions, self-motivated, and good team player. Must be able to lift 40 lbs. Must have current driver's license and access to own transportation to get to and from the farm.
Skills desired: Some farming/gardening experience preferred, but not necessary. Attention to detail, ability to work with many different people and in outside summer conditions, self-motivated, and good team player
Start Date (approx): mid-April
End Date (approx): late September
Contact: Jan Libbey and Tim Landgraf directly with inquiries by email at: libland@peconet.net
Website: www.ostgardens.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/One-Step-at-a-Time-Gardens/114838827447?fref=tsExperience: 32 years farming experience
Description: We want to help teach people how to farm and care for the land in what we feel is a good way. We also could use some help on our farm. We have the following enterprises: beef cattle, sheep, row crops, hay, and small grains. We raise certified organic and conventional crops. Calves are sold as feeder calves at the local auction. Lambs are sold as breeding or finished and sold direct to packer. Conventional crops are sold locally. Organic crops are sold either direct to processor or a broker.
Job Title: Farm hand
Terms, Hours, Status: Variable hours per week, hourly employee $10 to $11 per hour
On-farm Housing: Not available
Work Activities: Help with care of livestock and with crop production
Minimum qualifications: Clean driving record able to work outside in all conditions, able to lift 50 pounds
Skills desired: Ready to work hard and want to learn new jobs
Start Date (approx): Anytime
End Date (approx): n/a
Contact: Jim Petersen by email iowafarmerpete@yahoo.com or phone (641) 828-7490 or (641) 891-7490
Website: none
Facebook: noneExperience: 10 years farming experience
Description: We grow produce of all kinds for farmers market, farm stand on-farm sales, wholesale to grocery stores and institutions, as well as a direct Community Supported Agriculture (CSA).
Job Title: Farm Assistant
Terms, Hours, Status: Variable hours at a fixed pay rate of $8.00 per hour
On-farm Housing: yes, possibly, we have an old farmhouse that we have just used for storage that we could fix up if someone is interested
Work Activities: Learn all aspects of the farm so the employee will be helping with taking care of transplants, planting seeds in the field, planting transplants in the field, hand weeding, weeding with hoes and other equipment, tractor maintenance and repair, driving the tractor for tilling, planting, laying plastic, working in the high tunnel putting up trellis, putting up tomato cages, cleaning tables, boxes and equipment, watering plants, loading up tables and boxes to go to market, harvesting everything, delivering products, waiting on customers getting boxes/bags ready for CSA members, and much more.
Minimum qualifications: We try not to work in terrible weather which impacts our work schedule and requires the employee to be flexible, coming in early when the temperatures are lower in summer, or staying late. Applicant must be willing to work in all weather scenarios. Must be physically fit enough to stand lift heavy objects, and crawl and squat. Valid drivers’ license required.
Skills desired: Someone who enjoys being outside and does not mind getting wet, muddy, sunburned or windblown. Applicant must be passionate about gardening, growing, preparing, and eating food and work well with the public. We welcome creative ideas for marketing strategies. Previous experience in horticulture/farming a plus but not required.
Start Date (approx): June 1
End Date (approx): October 31
Contact: Scott and Julie Wilber scott@wilbersproduce.com (515) 298-2881, or facebook msg
Website: http://www.wilbersproduce.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Wilbers-Northside-Market/94962552744?fref=tsExperience: Susan Jutz has farmed for 16 years
Description: My current top priority in farming career is to encourage and work with people of all ages interested in farming to have that opportunity. I have mentored many young and beginning farmers over the years and enjoy the experience of doing so. I grow vegetables for a three season CSA 120 member spring CSA share, 150 member summer CSA share, and 120 member fall CSA share. We market garlic for seed and restaurant use and have recently sold some lettuce for special events. I rotationally graze a 30 ewe flock. I finish lambs and market directly to individual families and Iowa City restaurants.
Job Title: Production Crew Leader
Terms, Hours, Status: 40+ hours per week (full-time) hourly employee at pay rate $8.50 per hour commensurate with experience
Start Date (approx): April 1
End Date (approx): November 1
Other benefits: Free vegetables
On-farm Housing: May be available but is not guaranteed
Work Activities: The primary responsibilities include planting, weeding, harvesting, washing and packing vegetables and serving as crew leader for some of these activities. Minor responsibilities are too numerous and diverse to list and might include greenhouse work, sheep chores, and CSA deliveries.
Minimum qualifications: Strong desire to learn, stamina and positive attitude toward working long hours in variable weather conditions ability to lead a crew and work well with others, valid driver’s license, tractor experience.
Skills desired: Previous work experience on a vegetable farm.
Contact: Susan Jutz by email susan@zjfarms.com
Website: www.zjfarms.com
Facebook: none
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