Farm Manager
Smith Family Farm | Oberlin, Ohio
Full-Time | Salaried | $53,000–$60,000 Annually (Based on Experience)
Weekends, Evenings & Seasonal Availability Required
Join Our Family Farm
Smith Family Farm is seeking an experienced, hardworking, self-motivated Farm Manager to oversee the daily operations of our private 75-acre family farm and estate in Oberlin, Ohio.
This is not a traditional 9-to-5 position. Farming requires flexibility, dedication, and a willingness to work evenings, weekends, and holidays when necessary. We're looking for someone who genuinely enjoys agriculture, takes pride in maintaining beautiful properties, loves working with animals, and wants to build a long-term career with a growing family-owned operation.
If you're someone who notices problems before anyone else, enjoys finding solutions, takes ownership of your work, and leads by example, we'd love to meet you.
About Smith Family Farm
Our private family farm includes approximately 75 acres and features:
- Beef cattle
- Goats
- Chickens
- Ducks
- Turkeys
- Working dogs
- Large vegetable gardens
- Greenhouse
- Apple orchard
- Flower gardens
- Pastures
- Barns and outbuildings
- Farm equipment and vehicles
The property also serves as a private family estate and hosts occasional family and business events, making cleanliness, organization, professionalism, and attention to detail essential.
Position Summary
The Farm Manager is responsible for overseeing and managing all aspects of the farm's daily operations while maintaining the highest standards for Smith Family Farm and the family estate.
This hands-on leadership position includes responsibility for:
- Livestock care
- Agriculture and crop production
- Greenhouse management
- Orchard maintenance
- Landscaping
- Equipment maintenance
- Property upkeep
- Seasonal planning
- Buildings and facility maintenance
- Light handyman work
- Team coordination
- Farm-to-table food production
The Farm Manager will work closely with ownership and upper management while also operating independently to ensure the farm, facilities, equipment, livestock, and grounds remain productive, safe, organized, and maintained to the highest standards.
Primary Responsibilities
Livestock Care
- Daily feeding and watering of livestock
- Monitor animal health and behavior
- Administer basic care and medications as directed
- Coordinate veterinary visits when necessary
- Clean stalls, coops, pens, and shelters
- Maintain fencing and livestock containment systems
- Keep detailed livestock records
Agriculture & Crop Production
- Planting and harvesting seasonal crops
- Irrigation management
- Weed control
- Soil management and composting
- Greenhouse production
- Orchard maintenance
- Seasonal crop planning
- Food preservation and farm-to-table production
Property & Landscaping
Maintain the entire property to a high standard, including:
- Lawn mowing
- Weed trimming
- Landscaping
- Flower bed maintenance
- Mulching
- Driveways
- Fence lines
- Pond areas
- Walking trails
- General appearance of the farm and family estate
Equipment Maintenance
Maintain and care for:
- Tractors
- UTVs
- Farm implements
- Small engines
- Hand tools
- Trailers
- Farm vehicles
Responsibilities include:
- Preventative maintenance
- Cleaning and organization
- Minor repairs
- Fluid checks
- Equipment inspections
- Maintaining organized storage areas
Buildings & Property Maintenance
Maintain:
- Barns
- Gates
- Fencing
- Outbuildings
- Animal shelters
- Storage facilities
Complete minor repairs and coordinate larger repairs with outside contractors when necessary.
Farm Planning
Develop and execute:
- Seasonal planting schedules
- Harvest schedules
- Livestock management plans
- Feed inventory management
- Equipment maintenance schedules
- Weather preparation and seasonal planning
Estate Support
Assist with:
- Family events
- Business events hosted on the property
- Deliveries
- Property improvement projects
- Seasonal decorating and setup
- Special projects assigned by ownership
Leadership & Staff Accountability
This is a leadership position.
The Farm Manager is responsible for supervising, assigning, verifying, and holding accountable all employees under their direction, including farmhands, the Property Maintenance & Facilities Manager, the Handyman, seasonal employees, contractors, and any additional staff assigned by management.
Responsibilities include:
- Assigning daily and weekly work priorities
- Clearly communicating expectations and deadlines
- Inspecting completed work for quality and accuracy
- Ensuring work is completed safely and efficiently
- Coaching employees and addressing performance concerns
- Following up on incomplete work
- Maintaining documentation when necessary
- Communicating unresolved issues promptly to management
Success in this role is measured not only by your own performance but also by the productivity, quality, professionalism, and accountability of the team you supervise.
Qualifications
Preferred qualifications include:
- Previous farm management experience
- Agriculture or horticulture experience
- Livestock handling experience
- Landscaping experience
- Equipment operation experience
- Mechanical aptitude
- Tractor and implement operation
- Ability to lift 75+ pounds
- Valid driver's license
- Strong organizational and communication skills
- Ability to work independently while leading a team
Experience with cattle, poultry, goats, orchards, gardens, or greenhouse production is highly preferred.
Compensation & Benefits
- Salary: $53,000–$60,000 annually (based on experience)
- Full-time salaried position
- Ten (10) days (80 hours) of Paid Time Off after successful completion of the introductory period
- Paid holidays:
- New Year's Day
- Thanksgiving Day
- Christmas Day
- PTO and holiday scheduling are subject to management approval based on operational and seasonal needs.
- Opportunities for professional growth
- Long-term employment with a family-owned operation
- Opportunity to help build and improve a growing farm and family estate
Schedule
Because agriculture is seasonal, hours vary throughout the year.
Applicants should expect:
- Early mornings
- Evenings when necessary
- Weekend responsibilities
- Holiday livestock care when needed
- Increased hours during planting, harvest, and special events
This is not a traditional Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m. position.
What We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who is:
✔ Honest
✔ Dependable
✔ Self-motivated
✔ Organized
✔ Detail-oriented
✔ Mechanically inclined
✔ A problem solver
✔ Calm under pressure
✔ Comfortable working outdoors year-round
✔ Passionate about agriculture
✔ A strong leader who takes ownership of their work
✔ Committed to maintaining the highest standards for the farm and family properties
Apply Today
Please submit:
- Your resume
- A brief introduction about yourself
- Relevant agricultural, landscaping, or farm management experience
- Three professional references
If you're passionate about agriculture, enjoy leading others, and want to play a key role in maintaining and growing a first-class family farm and estate, we'd love to hear from you.
Pay: $53,000.00 - $60,000.00 per year
Benefits:
Work Location: In person
