Company description

FARM OVERVIEW
In late 2012, the Afterglow Farm Dairy farm owners acquired an active 300 head cow dairy operation located at 820 Lake Road, Port Washington, Wisconsin. The farm was converted to a goat farm with the primary purpose of producing quality goat milk using sustainable farming practices.

The farm now features an efficient production facility milking approximately 450 goats. A small farmstead creamery is also planned for 2017. The farm produces more than 75,000 lbs of milk on average monthly. All of the facilities have been or are in the process of complete upgrades, providing a farm with solid infrastructure and well -designed buildings. The dairy is surrounded by land that is in production for feed and forage. Management of the land is provided by the farm management in combination with custom hires. The farm does not own field equipment at this time. The farm was initially developed by the owner in partnership with a founding General Manager Barry Midtling, an experienced farm owner and goat producer. His wife, Sandra Midtling ,who is an experienced veterinarian and cheesemaker, has served as herd manager. Barry and Sandra are supported by two full-time and two part-time farm hands. Barry and Sandra Midtling will be retiring from the farm in Summer, 2016, so replacement leadership is now being sought.

Job description

FARM GENERAL MANAGER: We are seeking an experienced dairy farmer. Afterglow Dairy Farm is willing to train the right candidate with limited goat – specific experience, however sufficient farm experience, work with dairy animals and background in animal science is required. Specific experience with dairy goats is strongly preferred. The General Manager will be responsible for all operational elements of the goat farm by either directly providing the following tasks or managing and providing direction to employees. These are not comprehensive duties and are merely intended to highlight primary responsibilities:

General Management

• Purchase animals, feeds, and equipment;
• Oversee installation of equipment;
• Oversee day-to-day goat farm operations;
• Develop protocols for milking routine, feeding routines, animal health, and crop production;
• Develop job descriptions to define employee roles and responsibilities clearly;
• Develop teaching and training materials for employees;
• Provide oversight for herd management including animal data entry and animal care;
• Manage milking operations including milking the dairy herd, cleanliness of parlor and milking equipment and maintenance of milking equipment; and,
• Manage all land and waste- related operations.

Feeding and Kid Rearing Operations

• Feed TMR to milking herd and young stock;
• Establish and move fences for any rotational grazing of animals;
• Arrange all planting and harvesting of directly grown feed and forage, and manage all custom hire relationships for third party purchases;
• Keep feed records and inventory reporting;
• Maintain feeding equipment and keep corrals clean;
• Feed and observe kids; and,
• Keep facilities and equipment clean.

Partner Relationships

• Develop milk transport and milk sales partnerships and contracts;
• Identify and pursue financially viable value-added strategies; and
• Serve as public spokesperson for the farm at industry and other community events.

GOAT HERD MANAGER: Candidate is responsible to lead all Herd Management, but will work in collaboration with the General Manager and other farm staff:

• Assist General Manager with purchase of animals, feeds, and feeding equipment;
• Oversee day-to-day animal health needs and animal-related operations including parasite management, udder health, routine body condition evaluation, vaccinations, hoof trimming, hair clipping, etc.
• Work with General Manager to develop and implement breeding plan.
• Develop protocols for milking routine, feeding routines, and animal health, work with veterinarian as needed
• Provide animal data entry and animal care;
• Manage milking operations including providing some milking of the dairy herd daily, monthly dairy herd improvement efforts, cleanliness of parlor and milking equipment and maintenance of milking equipment;
• Feed and observe kids including feeding, disbudding, vaccinating, tattooing, etc.
• Keep facilities and equipment clean, including maintaining hygienic conditions in the goat barns and milking parlor
• Maintain all records pertaining to goats—DHI, parasite loads, treatments, stock registrations through ADGA , kid identification, birthing, sales, etc.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE

• Must be able to demonstrate knowledge of goats and experience working with dairy animals.
• Must have experience working on a farm, preferably a goat farm. Willing to train exceptional candidates with limited goat farm experience.
• Must be familiar with all aspects of job responsibilities.
• Ability to work independently and with other co-workers.
• Sound judgment and commitment to sustainable farm values.
• A two or four-year degree in a related field is preferable but not required. On –farm experience may be substituted for education and is generally more important than extensive academic training.

COMPENSATION AND OTHER INFORMATION Management positions are full-time. Hours fluctuate seasonally. Management personnel are expected to live on-farm and to be available 24 hours a day unless back-up arrangements are made. Weekend work is required for all positions. Afterglow Dairy Farm offers a competitive compensation package. The General Manager and Herd Manager positions are salaried position. Currently salaried employees are paid between $40,000 - $65,000, depending on role, plus two weeks paid vacation, housing and retirement benefits. A country farmhouse is available on-farm and included as part of the compensation package for the right family fit for management positions.

Compensation

this position is: salaried

Application instructions

Deadline

March 28, 2016