Goat Dairy Internship – Shepherd’s Whey Creamery

Last Updated On: December 24th, 2024 at 09:39AM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
825 Jenny Wren Drive
Martinsburg, West Virginia, 25404

Primary Contact: Suzanne Behrmann
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 3042835203
    Email: suzanne@shepherdswheycreamery.com

Website: https://shepherdswheycreamery.com

Internship information

General Farm Description: We are a small family owned and operated goat dairy in the eastern panhandle of West Virginia. We milk our herd of 17 dairy goats twice daily and all that milk is collected and put into a variety of Cheeses. Our girls are all named, loved and well cared for. We take a very holistic approach to goat management, using scientifically supported alternative remedies, and very little conventional medical interventions. We officially opened our creamery in 2012, though we've been raising dairy goats since 2002.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: First week of February 2025
Internship Ends: Mid December 2025
Number of Internship Available: 1
Application Deadline: Jan 15, 2025
Minimum Length of Stay: 10 months

Internship Details:

This is a great opportunity for someone looking to gain comprehensive experience and knowledge about dairy goats.  The intern will assist with kidding, help care for newborns, milk the herd daily observing sanitation standards to insure the milk clean and fresh before going into cheese.  Duties also include general animal care – feeding/watering and baby care and during the summer assisting with haying.  Hands on learning in goat nutrition, parasite management, administering medications, hoof trimming etc.  In addition to animal care, there is the opportunity to also participate in the creamery making cheese.  The internship starts early February and goes through mid December.  The intern will live on the farm either solo in our on farm travel trailer, or shared staff housing where they will have their own bedroom and shared kitchen, living room, bathroom etc. The  Intern will be provided with housing/utilities included, some food from what we produce, and a biweekly stipend.  Transportation is not required though helpful if you want to explore the area on your days off!  The internship is full time, 5 days a week with two days off each week.  Possible opportunity to stay on in a full time paid position at the completion of the internship.

Educational Opportunities: Goat nutrition, parasite management, birthing/post birth maternal care, baby care,

Skills Desired: We will fully train, but some experience with farm animals is helpful.

Meals: some food is included from what we produce - cheese, milk, yogurt, meat

Stipend: yes

Housing: yes

Preferred method of Contact: Email