Dairy Work

So You Want to Work on a Dairy Farm!

Dairy farming and small-scale processing are some of the hardest jobs you can take on. They require physical and emotional strength, perseverance, patience, flexibility, good observational skills, love of and respect for animals and ability to maintain routines. You may be required to stay up all night, get up in the dark or otherwise interrupt your sleep to check on animals or cheese. You may have to work outdoors in all kinds of weather, you might get really dirty or even splattered with manure. If you work at a creamery you may be required to interact with the public. For some reason, people do it anyway. The benefits and rewards of dairy farming keep many people going in spite of the hardships. If you'd like to try your hand at it, contact some of the farms below for information about their internships, apprenticeships or employment opportunities.
Farm Name, Link & Location	Type	Description
Hawai'i
Hawai'i Island Goat Dairy 808-775-9787, please only between 7 AM and 7 PM PST	goat farm cheesemaking	Tropical living on a shoestring as an intern at Hawai'i Island Goat Dairy. Must commit to at least two months. Work with goats, cheesemaking, marketing, according to your skills. Housing and stipend included. Openings Summer 2008.
Illinois
Prairie Fruits Farm, LLC (Organic Fruit Orchard and Illinois’ First Farmstead Goat Cheeserie) 217-643-2314 e-mail	goat farm fruit farm	Dairy Goat Herdsman and Land Manager Wanted: Animal husbandry responsibilities include milking and maintaining dairy goat herd, maintaining and establishing pastures for rotational grazing and new hay fields. Land management responsibilities include maintenance and harvesting of organic fruit. Background and/or experience on a dairy farm highly desirable; ability to operate and maintain dairy and farm equipment essential; familiarity with organic fruit production a plus. Competitive salary and benefits.
Maine
Appleton Creamery	goat farm cheesemaking	Serious cheese making and goat husbandry apprenticeship at award-winning goat cheese dairy in beautiful midcoast Maine area. Unique opportunity to experience the entire cycle from delivering kids to marketing the finished product at farmers’ markets. 5-acre farm, organic gardens, poultry, fencing project, small vineyard and heirloom orchard, homebrewing. Family of 3. April – October, not a year round position. Two positions available in '08. Room and board, small stipend. Full description on web site.
New York
Heamour Farm 315-893-7616 e-mail	cow farm cheesemaking rare breeds	Organic cow dairy looking for intern (or couple) serious about learning how to make and sell cheese. Rotationally grazed herd is partly heritage breed (Ayrshire or Kerry). We primarily make raw aged cheeses, plus some fresh pasteurized ones for direct sales only. The intern will learn all there is about cheese making and aging. They must love the idea of doing Farmer's Markets and be clean, detail oriented people. Not for the raw beginner.
North Carolina
Goat Lady Dairy 336-824-2163	goat farm cheesemaking	We have 3 semester-long openings for interns in 2008 (three-month minumum). Interns will work in all aspects of farmstead and artisan cheesemaking as conducted at Goat Lady Dairy. These include some work with milking goats but mostly the day to day work in the cheeseroom as well as marketing our products. Housing and stipend included.
Ripshin Goat Dairy 828-758-0906	goat farm cheesemaking	Beginning in April 2008, we will have a part-time position at our goat dairy. Morning help on weekends. The primary responsibility is working with the goats. (No housing.)
Oklahoma
Pontotoc Technology Center Ada, OK e-mail Phone 580-310-2241	cheesemaking	Goat milk creamery is looking for an experienced cheesemaker to operate a 10,000 lb per day creamery. This is a full time position with salary determined by experience and a benefit package that includes health insurance. Additionally there will be an opportunity for the cheesemaker to become a partner in the operation through a working interest.
Positions Wanted
Pat Andrews e-mail		Interested in working with small dairy operation. Have worked on farm since 16 yrs old. Wife worked on horse farm since 5. Have worked at various building, electrical, plumbing remodeling trades for years but have 5 years farming and minking and looking for a nice farm to feel at home and work on.
Internship and Apprenticeship listings can also be found at the WWOOF and ATTRA web sites.
Free listings for dairy and creamery internships, apprenticeships and jobs with small-scale operations. To list your position, please e-mail details and contact information.