Job description

Tamarack Vermont Sheep Farm has two intern positions to fill! First, an intensive lambing internship beginning in early February and continuing through April. Second, we need a summer intern to help with daily farm management.

Farm Description: Tamarack Sheep Farm is a 200 ewe grass-based operation in Corinth, Vermont. We keep two main heritage breeds: the Dorset Horn and the Tunis, along with a variety of crosses. Tamarack is staffed by Ben Machin, Grace Bowmer, and Sayer Palmer. Beginning in late February and continuing into March, we are expecting around 300 lambs. This summer there will be approximately 500 ewes and lambs rotational grazed on several parcels. More information can be found at TamarackVermont.Com or via FaceBook.

Responsibilities and Tasks for Lambing 2014:

• Monitoring health of ewes pre- and post-lambing
• Assisting ewes with delivery when needed
• Maintaing a clean lambing environment
• Monitoring health and growth of lambs
• Early morning and late night lamb checks
• Animal husbandry: vaccinating, worming, weighing, trimming feet, castrating, docking tails, health trouble shooting
• Daily chores and feeding of sheep

Responsibilities and Tasks for Summer 2014:

• Intensive rotational grazing using flexinet, solar chargers, portable watering systems
• Spring and late summer lambing
• Hay-making including equipment operation
• Animal husbandry including vaccinating, worming, weighing, trimming feet, health troubleshooting
• High tensile fence construction and repair
• Soil sampling, testing, and amendment application
• Tending to bedded pack composting system
• Assisting with grazing planning
• Choosing future breeding stock and selecting and loading animals for market
• Sheep dog spoiling and stick throwing
• Forage sampling, testing, and feeding program planning
• Basic farm construction: sheds, roofing, paddock fencing
• Wool sorting, cleaning, coordination of wool product development
• Sausage making

Note: we are becoming a Demonstration Farm in partnership with UVM Extension and the Vermont Grass Farmers Association and we will be leaning on our intern for help in meeting these goals, including collecting data, and helping to organize workshops.

Process for Application: contact us either by phone or email: 802 439 6044, benandgrace@tamaracktunis.com

Applicant Qualifications and Attributes:

• Interest in agriculture, especially sheep, grazing, grass.
• Dependable and on time
• Intelligent and hardworking
• Strong--able to lift 50 pounds
• Must have a valid driver's license and working vehicle
• Pluses: interest in or skill with equipment; experience with livestock, especially sheep; experience with wool products.

Compensation, Housing, Food:

• Housing: A room with kitchen access, phone, and internet is available.
• Compensation/Food: $100/week plus food stipend.

Note: we work actively with a variety of partner organizations to do the best job we can, and we expect this experience will be suitable for college credit, preparation for advanced degrees, and preparation for farm management.

Compensation

this position is:

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline