Morse Brook Farm in Westminster, VT is seeking a full time farm assistant to care for a flock of 80 breeding ewes and other livestock, manage a rotational grazing system on 80 acres of open land and assist in rehabilitating pasture/hay fields and removing invasive species. The candidate will work alongside existing staff and the owners.
For the right candidate, this position has long term growth potential for a farm management job with responsibility in the areas of all aspects of the farm operation.
Duties are varied and depend on the week and time of year. They include:
- Animal care and health checks, administration of medication when needed.
- Assist with lambing in March and April
- Managing all aspects of a rotational grazing system including fencing and water
- Record keeping including animal observations, lambing etc
- Assist with educational events, preparation and running
- Tractor operation for moving hay and minerals, manure, and providing haying support
- Operate brush clearing equipment
- Occasional duties managing booth at Farmers’ Market on Sundays during the season (May-October)
- Occasional work in Farm Stand including customer service, inventory control
- Preparation of pelts and wool for processing
- Weekly planning meetings with farm owners and staff
- Assist with haying and field maintenance projects
Requirements
- Able to work at a consistent and efficient pace, independently and as a team in a physically demanding position that requires extensive walking in the grazing season, occasional heavy lifting, and continued movement in all weather.
- Ability to lift 30-50 pounds repetitively
- Experience with handling sheep and/or goats, cattle, experience with lambing or calving or similar
- Comfortable working with livestock guardian dogs
- Comfortable working outdoors in all types of weather
- Strong communication and teamwork skills and a positive, creative mindset.
- Grazing animal management experience strongly preferred, with preferred experience with ruminants.
- Tractor and equipment operation experience preferred but not required. Willingness to learn a must.
- Some proficiency with phone app mapping tools and GIS skills preferred but not required.
- Passion for regenerative farming
- Eagerness to learn and explore opportunities, learn new things and give and receive feedback
- Flexibility in schedule - especially during lambing and haying (2 x a year during summer)
Hours
40 hours/week, overtime possible during lambing and haying.
Must be available on at least one weekend day, preferably two.
Compensation
- ● Hourly wage. range starts at $18/hour depending on experience. Accrued vacation/sick time.
- ● For the right person, possible on-site apartment available as part of the compensation package.
- ● Opportunities to learn about all aspects of sheep farming, working with herding and LGD dogs (we place a heavy emphasis on learning opportunities)
Application:
- Please send a letter of interest and job experience to: [email protected] or Liz Shaw Morse Brook Farm 226 Kurkul Rd Westminster, VT 05346
- Applicants will be reviewed as they arrive. We hope to make a hire by December, 2025 if not sooner.
About the Farm
Morse Brook Farm is a 207 acre hill pasture based livestock farm in Westminster, VT. We have 80 acres of open land which we graze rotationally and a 16 acre sugar bush. We run about 80 breeding ewes and their lambs, and have had some cattle in a pasture raised system. We bring in a portion of our hay needs from our land. We are currently rehabilitating the land including renovating pastures and removing invasive species.
Our primary products center around maple syrup and sheep (meat and wool). Our long term goal is to return the farm to a healthy sustainable state by using contemporary methods to improve soil health and long term viability, while creating a more resilient and biodiverse environment. We manage our stock with sheep dogs and provide learning, training and trialing opportunities to the sheep dog community. And we hope to expand educational opportunities for small ruminant holders in the near future.