Livestock Program Intern

The Turner Farm Livestock Program Internship is a yearlong position beginning July 1, 2025, and ending July 31, 2026. It is a program designed to educate beginning farmers who are interested in raising and caring for livestock in a regenerative, pasture-based operation. Interns will learn skills through hands-on training. Throughout the season, there will be many educational opportunities including field trips to other local farms, on-farm classes, and guest speakers. The Livestock Program Intern will assist in caring for the following diverse livestock:

►        45 head of Red Devon Cattle

►        150 Katahdin Sheep

►        250 Laying Hens

►        25 head of Old Spot hogs (Seasonal)

►        6 batches of 350 meat birds – 2,100 total (Seasonal)

►        Any additional livestock enterprises that might be added to the farm operation over time.

Job Duties:
The Livestock Program Intern will be a part of the team responsible for the day-to-day husbandry activities required to keep all the livestock on Turner Farm healthy and productive. These include but are not limited to:

►        Feeding, watering, and administering any medicines prescribed at the direction of the Livestock Program Manager and Assistant Livestock Program Manager

►        Rotating animals as needed across various pastures and paddocks using a combination of  electrified net fencing, and multi strand poly wire fences.

►        Cleaning stalls and any other areas occupied by livestock.

►        Collecting and washing of eggs.

►        Assisting in arranging for the humane transporting of livestock.

►        Assisting in other husbandry activities at the request of the Livestock Program Manager and Assistant Livestock Program Manager.

►        Assisting with pasture improvement projects like mowing fields, seeding pastures, etc.

In addition to job duties, interns will be required to partake in educational discussions led by the Livestock Program Manager and/or Assistant Livestock Program Manager.

An excellent candidate will exhibit the following:
 ►          A desire to run their own livestock operation in the near future, or interest to find permanent employment in the field post internship.

►          Respect and caution around large animals.

►          Reliability and dependability.

►          Adaptability to meet the needs of animal care.

►          Eagerness and willingness to learn and work alongside others.

Qualifications:
 No specialized education or training is required for this position. In depth training on soil health, management-intensive grazing, holistic planned grazing, and other regenerative practices will be offered in house and utilized.

►          The weekly schedule of the Livestock Intern is Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, and can include occasional holiday work.

►          Interns must be prompt, responsible, and focused, and be able to work both independently and with a team.

►          Work in an outdoor environment in all weather conditions.

►          Able to be flexible with the schedule that regenerative farming causes. This can require being available for on call emergency situations. i.e.: animals’ escape.

►          Able to complete daily chores and health checks for all livestock enterprises carefully and in a timely manner.

►          Understanding checks of animal infrastructure: i.e.: fences, water supplies, and available forage

Able to lift up to 80 pounds. This also includes moving and stacking bales of hay.