LIVESTOCK CARE TECHNICIAN
Wanderwood Farmstead is looking for a dependable, capable person to join us year-round and independently handle daily livestock care and related farm work.
This is a working farm on 40 acres in Lake Ann, raising heritage-breed pigs, cattle, goats, and sheep using practical, regenerative methods. We run a diverse, dynamic operation where the work changes with the seasons. This role is for someone who can work confidently and independently from established schedules, task lists, and protocols.
What the job is like
You’ll independently complete daily livestock care and routine farm tasks, including when the Farm Owner is off-site. Larger livestock movements, medical procedures, and other substantial tasks may be completed with the Farm Owner or other employees, depending on the work and schedule. Clear communication, accurate reporting, and prompt escalation of concerns are essential.
Livestock observation and care are the focus of this position. General farm and maintenance work is secondary and varies seasonally.
Your week may include:
- Twice-Daily Observations: Observing approximately 150 animals at least twice daily, confirming access to feed, water, shelter, and secure containment, and spotting any health or behavioral changes early.
- Feeding & Watering: Executing established feeding schedules, assigned rations, water routines, and mineral or supplementation plans while monitoring intake.
- Low-Stress Animal Handling: Using handling cues, including species-specific calls and feeding cues, and low-stress techniques to move, sort, catch, and restrain livestock safely and efficiently.
- Grazing & Pasture Work: Implementing assigned moves, group changes, and rotational grazing tasks while assessing forage, ground conditions, fencing, and water access.
- Routine Physical Care: Performing scheduled BCS and FAMACHA assessments, providing hoof and horn care, applying ear tags, and conducting routine checks and treatment for coat and skin conditions, external parasites, and fly strike.
- Medical Care: Providing basic treatment, administering medications, monitoring outcomes, promptly escalating concerns, and assisting the Farm Owner or veterinarian with castration and more complex procedures.
- Breeding & Birthing Care: Carrying out scheduled breeding exposures, monitoring labor, assisting with normal deliveries within established protocols, providing routine neonatal care, and promptly escalating complications.
- Recordkeeping: Documenting daily observations, medical care, breeding, births, and updates in our farm database while maintaining accurate group, status, and location records.
- General Farm Maintenance: Performing routine farm tasks such as paddock cleaning, snow removal, fence repair, basic maintenance, and supply handling.
Good fit if you:
- Prefer active, hands-on outdoor work in all weather conditions
- Have solid animal handling instincts and are comfortable around multi-species livestock
- Can work independently, follow established protocols, and execute tasks without continuous supervision within defined guidelines
- Take pride in meticulous recordkeeping, disciplined observation, and keeping a tight feedback loop with clear escalations
- Show up consistently, follow through, and adhere carefully to established animal-care and biosecurity protocols
Not a good fit if you:
- Prefer work that is continuously supervised or completed alongside another person
- Disregard established protocols or make unauthorized changes rather than raising concerns and seeking direction
- Are uncomfortable working independently around livestock in changing weather and field condition
Requirements & Experience
- Demonstrated hands-on livestock experience, including animal handling, health assessment, routine treatment, and recognition of conditions requiring escalation
- Competence operating farm equipment, including tractors, skid steers, and common hand and power tools
- Able to perform sustained physical labor outdoors in all weather conditions, including lifting and carrying up to 60 pounds, walking on uneven ground, bending, climbing, and repeatedly entering and exiting equipment
- Comfortable using a phone or tablet to review tasks and maintain complete, timely electronic farm records; prior livestock-database experience is preferred
Schedule & Location
- Position Type: Year-round, full-time, non-exempt
- Schedule: Monday through Friday on a consistent 7–8-hour daytime shift
- Additional coverage: Occasional evening, weekend, or holiday work may be required for emergency livestock coverage
- Location: Wanderwood Farmstead, Lake Ann, MI 49650
Pay & Benefits
- Wage range: $18.50–$23.00 per hour, based on relevant experience and demonstrated competency
- Extended pay: 1.25x pay for non-overtime hours worked outside of established schedule
- Perks: Employee discounts on farm products
- Coverage: Workers’ compensation
- Retirement: 401(k) available upon hire
About Wanderwood Farmstead
We’re a Veteran-family-owned farm focused on practical, regenerative livestock production and responsible land stewardship. We value honest work, clear expectations, and autonomous execution where individual responsibility truly matters day to day.
We’re an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourage applications from Veterans, as well as individuals participating in vocational rehabilitation or workforce reentry programs.
Pay: $18.50 - $23.00 per hour
Benefits:
People with a criminal record are encouraged to apply
Application Question(s):
- Describe a time you noticed a change in an animal’s health or behavior. What did you observe, what action did you take, and how did you decide whether to escalate the concern?
- Describe a time you were expected to work independently but recognized that you needed assistance. What did you complete on your own, what prompted you to ask for help, and how did you communicate the concern?
Experience:
- tractor and farm-equipment operation: 1 year (Preferred)
- hands-on production livestock care: 2 years (Required)
Ability to Commute:
- Lake Ann, MI 49650 (Required)
Work Location: In person
