FARM AND RANCH HAND POSITION
ABOUT OUR COMPANY
Avila Valley Barn is a unique farmers market type farm stand and farm that is family owned and operated. We offer our visitors a wide selection of quality products focusing on local and California based. We’ve been a proud business of the SLO community since 1985 during which we have valued our good relationship with our neighbors and community. We pride ourselves in customer service and the farm experience.
On our farm we specialize in you-pick fruits, hayrides, farm pets, pony rides, dinning, hay maze, Christmas trees and festivities for all seasons. We use organic practices across all our farms and are certified organic on roughly 2/3 of our acreage. We currently grow 112 varieties of apples, berries, peaches, pears, apricots, tomatoes and cut flowers. In addition, we make hard and fresh cider from our apples!
POSITION HOURS
Full time
Monday – Friday 7:00am – 3:30pm
Must be flexible to work weekends as required
Overtime as needed during peak of harvest
POSITION REPONSIBILITIES
This position works directly under the farm manager assisting in all aspects of daily operations. While extensive experience is not needed, a general interest and comfort about heavy machinery, irrigation and similar systems is needed. The farm manager will provide in-depth training over a very wide range of job tasks to the right candidate over the span of multiple years to develop a very capable farm assistant.
This position will shift as each season processes including sprouting seed trays, green house management, prepping grounds for planting, planting, irrigation, mowing, weeding, harvesting, setting up our fall pumpkin patch, pressing apples for fresh cider and assisting in fermentation of our hard ciders. All of these jobs involve use of a wide range of tools and machinery as well as the ability to problem solve along the way. No day will be the same as the last. Must not be afraid of hard, but rewarding work. We are hoping to find a candidate looking for long term employment within the right company.
MINIMUM REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS
Preferred but not required experience working on a farm or ranch and performing work such as fixing fence, cutting trees, mowing, turning on well irrigation and fixing irrigation, hooking up tractors, driving trucks with trailers etc. Preferred experience in operating and maintaining farm equipment, such as tractors, mowers, chain saws, etc.
Skills: Must be able to read English language sufficiently to understand written and verbal directions. The ability to develop knowledge of, respect for, and skills to engage with those of other cultures or backgrounds is required.
License: Possession of a driver’s license is required. Must have a clean driving record.
Effort: Requires the ability to work out-of-doors, year-round, in all types of weather. Requires the ability to lift and transport fruit growing or agricultural supplies and equipment weighing up to 70 pounds on a frequent basis and up to 100 pounds on an occasional basis; prolonged walking and standing; frequent bending, stooping, kneeling, and reaching on a daily basis. Requires a full range of physical motion in order to operate manual, electrically-powered and diesel- or gasoline-powered farm machinery, tools, and equipment. Requires the ability to access areas that may only be accessible by climbing ladders. Must be able to move throughout the assigned area.
Must be reliable and consistently on time to job site for each scheduled shift. Our company has a zero-tolerance policy for drug or alcohol use on the job.
COMPENSATION
Hourly compensation is determined based on employee skill level. Position starts at $17/hour assuming applicant has limited experience with the areas described in the position responsibilities. Room for growth as applicant achieves full skill sets.