Company description

Mayday Farm is a 350-acre organic dairy farm in Leeds, Maine. We currently milk 40 cows for Stonyfield Organic and are actively expanding to an 80-cow herd. Our farm is built around rotational grazing, high-quality grass forage production, and thoughtful organic dairy management. We currently milk in a tie-stall barn and are preparing for an exciting transition to a new freestall and parlor system in 2026.

Job description

Assistant Herd Manager

Mayday Farm | Leeds, Maine
Full-time | Year-round | $18–$24/hour DOE

Mayday Farm is a 350-acre organic dairy farm in Leeds, Maine. We currently milk 40 cows for Stonyfield Organic and are actively expanding to an 80-cow herd. Our farm is built around rotational grazing, high-quality grass forage production, and thoughtful organic dairy management. We currently milk in a tie-stall barn and are preparing for an exciting transition to a new freestall and parlor system in 2026.

We are looking for a full-time Assistant Herd Manager to join our team and play an important role in the day-to-day success and future growth of the farm. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys livestock, wants to build management skills, and is excited to be part of a growing organic dairy.

You will work directly with the farm owners and be involved in a wide range of responsibilities across herd care, milking, feeding, grazing, record-keeping, and seasonal field work. This role is well- suited for someone who wants to grow professionally, take on increasing responsibility over time, and be part of a farm that values strong systems, animal welfare, and continuous improvement.

Position Details

Full-time, year-round
Standard 40-hour work week
Additional hours likely available during busy seasons
Reports directly to the farm owners
Pay range: $18–$24/hour, depending on experience, skill level, and scope of responsibility

Core Responsibilities: Base pay range: $18–$20/hour

Dairy

• Independently manage milking shifts, including setup, cleanup, and responding to cow needs based on the season
• Assist with herd health checks, follow health protocols, and identify the needs of individual animals
• Clean and maintain the barn, including bedding stalls, running the gutter cleaner, and maintaining alleyways
• Help maintain cleanliness and sanitation of the pipeline, milking units, bulk tank, and milk room
• Manage feedout of stored forages, including mixing rations and adjusting feed delivery for different cow groups
• Monitor inventory of milking and sanitation supplies
• Help plan and manage rotational grazing, including setting paddocks and recording rotations
• Monitor supply needs, including herd health products, grain, and minerals
• Assist with herd records, including calving dates, heat detection, herd check results, and treatments

Field & Infrastructure

• Assist with manure storage management and manure spreading
• Support field and cropping work, including seeding, harvesting, and clipping
• Assist with repairs, infrastructure projects, and basic construction tasks
• Assist with basic machinery maintenance and general farm upkeep

Advanced Responsibilities: Pay range: $21–$24/hour

These responsibilities may come with previous experience or be developed over time through professional growth in the role.

• Operate standard farm equipment with confidence, including skid steers, loader tractors, tillage tools, and harvesting equipment
• Use DairyComp 305 for recordkeeping, reporting, and herd decision-making
• Develop strong breeding management skills, including heat detection and reproductive performance tracking
• Support breeding decisions that align with the farm’s genetic goals
• Use CowManager software to interpret herd data and apply it to daily management
• Understand cow nutritional needs and help make feeding adjustments based on forage quality, pasture conditions, stage of lactation, and production
• Learn and apply Mayday Farm’s organic herd health protocols independently
• Help lead management-intensive grazing decisions and seasonal paddock adjustments
• Troubleshoot basic equipment issues and support safe, effective equipment use

Qualifications

Previous agricultural experience with livestock handling required

We’re Looking for Someone Who Is:

• Interested in animal care and working outdoors
• Observant and detail-oriented
• Organized and comfortable with recordkeeping
• A clear communicator and dependable team member
• Willing to work long hours during peak season, including some nights and weekends
• Physically able to lift 50 pounds and perform repetitive farm tasks
• Flexible, positive, and able to adapt to changing conditions
• Self-motivated and interested in growing into more responsibility over time

Compensation & Professional Development

• $18–$20/hour for core responsibilities
• Advancement to $21–$24/hour based on experience, skill development, and scope of responsibility
• Performance review process focused on growth and professional development within six months
• $500 annual professional development stipend after three months of employment
• $100 annual boot stipend
• Opportunities for skill-building, teaching, and independent projects when possible

Compensation

this position is: hourly, varies DOE, $18.00 - $24.00

Application instructions

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Deadline

no deadline