Farm Assistant

Sather Ranch: Farm Assistant Position

Sather Ranch LLC is hiring immediately for the position of Farm Assistant for the growing season of 2025. The mission of Sather Ranch is “Regenerating land, community, and productivity,” and we are looking for the right partner to grow with our business and to help us achieve our crop production and soil health goals. We are committed to farming practices that improve soil health, soil biology and ecological function. This includes reduction or  elimination of synthetic fertilizers, herbicides, pesticides and fungicides, use of zero-till technology, crop diversity, and other soil health practices. We use annual soil  testing to monitor ecological progress. We continue to experiment constantly with new crops, intercropping, double cropping and livestock integration. We have recently been building a direct marketing enterprise called “Prairie Roots,” which makes our products available to our local community and beyond. See our direct marking website (www.prairierootsMT.com) for more information about us! The farm and ranch is located about 40 miles north of Glasgow, Montana.  

This is a permanent, full-time position. The desired start date for the Farm Assistant is negotiable from January through April, 2025. Salary is dependent on experience, starting at $3500/mo., with likelihood of increasing as our business grows.  A total compensation package is provided with a value of over $5,000/month, including a private ranch house with electricity, heat, internet, matching employer contribution to an IRA, annual employee development budget, annual performance bonuses, use of farm vehicles, use of bulk fuel and ample food products including meat, eggs and other produce from the farm. We also offer an extremely flexible schedule and ample time off (2+ weeks paid leave) outside of busy periods. 

Interested candidates must submit a resume, contact details for two professional references, and a cover letter (limit 1 page) summarizing why you would be a good fit for this position.  Submit application materials to jeffdsather@gmail.com no later than December 14, 2024. 

Duties:

The Farm Assistant would be responsible for facilitating farming operations under the guidance of the CEO, including but not limited to assistance with crop planning, equipment preparation and maintenance, seeding operations, soil and tissue sampling, crop health assessments, fertilizer or other crop treatments, grain management, harvest operations, haying operations including harvest and storage, and other duties as required. There would also be opportunities for the Farm Assistant to be involved in livestock and direct marketing operations as schedules allow.

Requirements:

Applicants must be U.S. Citizens or eligible to work permanently in the U.S. A valid U.S. driver’s  license is required. Some basic experience with operating farm machinery (tractors, swathers, combines, etc.) is a prerequisite. This is a physically demanding job that often involves manual labor and the ability to work in extreme weather or adverse conditions in a remote location. Candidates must also be able to:

See and respond to dangerous situations
Respond quickly to sounds
Move safely over uneven terrain or in confined spaces
Spend long periods of time standing on hard surfaces
Spend long periods of time sitting in machinery, often bouncing over uneven terrain
Lift 50 pounds regularly
Safely climb ladders while carrying 40 pounds
Work in extreme weather, including both extreme heat and cold
Wear personal protective gear correctly most of the day
Additional Qualifications:

The ideal candidate would be interested and passionate about starting their career in regenerative agriculture, and have a strong desire to be involved hands-on in farming operations. They would have interest and experience in working with machinery, including mechanical skills, equipment operation and troubleshooting. This position does not require a Commercial Driver’s License, although experience operating and backing semis, trailers or other commercial vehicles is highly desirable. Preference will be given to candidates with education in regenerative agriculture, agriculture systems management, agricultural economics, sustainable food systems, environmental sciences or other relevant fields. Nothing in farming ever quite goes as planned! We are seeking a self-starter who thrives in a dynamic work environment, works well independently as well as with our small team, is flexible in response to unpredictable situations or schedules, has a willing, positive attitude, is always interested in learning something new,  and has a good sense of humor.