Dairy Farmer – Creambrook Farm

Last Updated On: March 6th, 2024 at 07:05AM MST

Contact information
Farm Address:
189 Mish Barn Road
Middlebrook, Virginia, 24459

Primary Contact: Ben Beichler
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 540-290-3721
    Email: manager.creambrook@gmail.com

Website: https://www.creambrookfarm.com

Internship information
General Farm Description: Creambrook Farm is a small family farm that offers grass-fed, lab-tested, raw milk herd shares available through membership. The cows graze fresh pastures daily and live outdoors 365 days a year. Weekly deliveries of fresh milk are made across Virginia.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: 03-15-2024
Internship Ends: 03-15-2025
Number of Internship Available: 3
Application Deadline: April 15, 2024
Minimum Length of Stay: 9 months

Internship Details:

Our family-owned raw milk farm, located in Middlebrook, VA, is looking for an experienced full-time Dairy Farm Manager.  Creambrook Farm is a grass-based dairy with its cows on pasture for 365 days per year. Our mission is to offer high quality, delicious, and wholesome raw milk and other raw milk-based products for our increasing number of herd share members.

We truly value our employees, and you would be an integral part of our team to ensure that our herd is well cared for.  Responsibilities include overseeing and participating in the daily operations of our farm and meeting high standards during milking.  This is a wonderful opportunity for a motivated and experienced individual to join a rapidly growing dairy farm and to contribute towards its future success.

Job responsibilities:

  • Prepping and milking cows up to two times daily in the milking parlor.

  • Assist with rotation / moving of the herd.

  • Observe the herd for signs of injury or illness.

  • Manage all related herds, milking, dry, and replacement heifers.

  • Operate and maintain farm equipment.

  • Crop / field work.

  • Maintain fencing.

  • Farm maintenance.

  • Cattle record keeping.

  • Field record keeping.

  • Supervise farm assistant(s) in daily tasks.

  • Meet set goals and support staff to achieve farm benchmarks in production and quality.

Job requirements:

  • Looking for someone with a working knowledge in farming operation/equipment and/or with dairy cows.

  • Ability to work well with and enjoy being around cows.

  • Strong attention to detail.

  • Time management skills.

  • Ability to successfully work with little or no supervision; self-starter.

  • Effective communicator.

  • Willingness to be adaptable when last-minute changes arise.

  • Flexibility in hours necessary, as rotating weekends and holidays are required.

  • Problem-solver.

  • Ability to build and maintain positive, professional, and collaborative relationships with the Creambrook team, vendors, and the public.

  • Demonstrate high personal energy levels (commitment, initiative, persistence).

  • Demonstrate good attendance.

  • Ability to lift, pull, and push up to 60 pounds.

  • Requires prolonged periods of walking and standing.

  • Must be able to bend, lift, stoop, stretch, climb, crawl, and other activities to maintain equipment and buildings and perform job responsibilities.

  • Use correct body mechanics to prevent injury to self and others.

  • Follow all safety rules and regulations while performing work assignments.

  • Follow all sanitation and quality policies and procedures, and report any deficiencies to the owner/direct supervisor.

  • Complete any other responsibilities as assigned by the owner/direct supervisor.

  • Dedication to our Creambrook culture which focuses on positivity in the face of challenges and in promoting the team and our herd share members before oneself.

Work Schedule:

  • 10-day on and 3-day off work schedule.

  • Rotating weekends consist of chores, unless weather dictates otherwise.

  • Morning milking arrival time at 5:15 AM.

  • Evening milking begins at 3:00 PM with the goal to depart work at 5 PM.

  • Breakfast and lunch breaks.

Compensation:

  • Starting annual salary based on previous experiences and qualifications. (Higher compensation is available for a qualified individual with more advanced related experience.)

  • Bi-weekly pay period.

  • Two weeks (10 work days) paid vacation during each calendar year.

  • Potential opportunity to receive a retention bonus on an annual basis.


Educational Opportunities: Pasture-based, management intensive Dairy Farming Raw Milk production, education, and safety

Skills Desired: Previous dairy farming experience AND/OR mechanical/tractor equipment experience is preferred

Meals: No

Stipend: Yes

Housing: No

Preferred method of Contact: Email

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