Livestock Apprenticeship – HNG Farm

Last Updated On: November 1st, 2023 at 01:17PM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
57 Sugar Hollow Rd
Fairview, North Carolina, 28730

Primary Contact: Virginia Hamilton
Secondary Contact: Walker Sides

Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 9788313374
    Email: virginia.hamilton@hickorynutgap.com

Secondary Phone
    Type: Cell
    Number: ‭1 (828) 713-9274‬
    Email: walker.sides@hickorynutgap.com

    Email: walker.sides@hickorynutgap.com

Website: https://www.hickorynutgap.com

Internship information

General Farm Description: Hickory Nut Gap is a fifth-generation family farm in Fairview North Carolina. We are a small mountain farm, and in its current iteration we are raising grass-fed organic beef, pastured pork, pastured broilers, and pastured turkeys. We are on about 90 acres nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Our farm serves as the home of the Hickory Nut Gap Meats brand, a grass-fed beef and pastured pork brand that works with a network of more rural producers to get their awesome product to markets up and down the east coast. We also have a small farm store and butcher shop, as well as a simple event barn.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: September 2023
Internship Ends: September 2024
Number of Internship Available: 1
Application Deadline: Rolling
Minimum Length of Stay: 1 year

Internship Details:

We are seeking an apprentice for a year-long position at our farm in Fairview NC. Here, we raise beef cattle, farrow-to-finish hogs, broiler chickens, and pastured turkey. You’ll get a full spectrum learning experience as you do chores, build and maintain infrastructure, drive equipment, press apple cider, process poultry, grind feed, and more. There is the potential for this apprenticeship to lead to full-time employment if we find the right fit.

Farm experience is not needed, but it wouldn’t hurt. We require a strong work ethic, independence, creativity, teamwork skills, and a sense of grit and if you picked that up elsewhere, cool! Our general schedule is Monday-Friday, 8:30 to 6:00 with rotating weekend chores. If you work chores, you get the preceding Friday off. During the busy summer season or during emergencies, we might work late or odd hours. If we accumulate excessive overtime, we will comp days or half days to let you catch up on life.

Please send a resume and a short cover letter to our farm director at virginia.hamilton@hickorynutgap.com and please reach out if you need more info!

Requirements: A valid driver’s license, must be at least 18 years old.

 

Start Date: We are seeking someone to start September of 2023 (flexible start date), with a 365 day commitment.

 

Compensation: Apprentices receive a stipend of $600 paid every two weeks, housing (valued at $575/month), admittance to the Organic Growers School weekend conference ($190), access to the free employee meat box, a 40% discount on meat and eggs and a 20% discount on groceries in the farm store. If the apprentice fulfills the full 365 day commitment, they will recieve a $500 completion bonus. There are also opportunities to earn some extra money by working events for the store.

 

Housing: Housing is shared with one other apprentice or intern, though there may be periods where you will be living alone. You will have access to a private bedroom and a shared bath, kitchen, and living space. All utilities are covered by the farm. Housing is valued at $575/month. The house is simple and sweet and in a small cul de sac neighborhood just 5 minutes from the farm.

 

Location: You can feel free to call over 100 acres of conservation land home for the next year and enjoy exploring the farm and forest. We are 25 minutes to downtown Asheville, 25 minutes to Black Mountain, and 25 minutes to the town of Lake Lure. The farm feels way out there, but you can easily get groceries or catch a concert on the weekend.

Educational Opportunities: Day to day learning, plus admission to the Organic Grower's School conference in Asheville NC. Other conference opportunities may be available.

Skills Desired: Required: Driver's license Not required but desired: any animal husbandry experience, driving a manual transmission, driving a tractor

Meals: 1 family-style lunch per week and access to the free employee meat box. You also get a 40% discount on meat and eggs and a 20% discount on groceries from the store.

Stipend: Yes, $600 every two weeks.

Housing: Yes.

Preferred method of Contact: Email