MARY'S LAND FARM
Assistant Farm Manager
Ellicott City, Maryland | Seasonal / Part-Time to Full-Time | Hourly
ABOUT MARY'S LAND FARM
Mary's Land Farm is a 160-acre regenerative working farm and historic inn located in Ellicott City, Maryland. Our operation spans livestock, produce, orchards, gardens, a boutique inn, a summer camp, and a growing calendar of seasonal events and agritourism experiences. We are a hands-on, all-hands operation where every team member contributes directly to what makes this place run.
POSITION SUMMARY
The Assistant Farm Manager is a critical working role on our farm team — someone who is just as comfortable getting their hands dirty as they are taking initiative and leading others. This is not a desk job or a supervisory title without substance. It is a physically demanding, outdoor position that requires genuine farm skill, strong work ethic, and the ability to earn trust and operate independently.
The right person for this role is someone who can be handed a set of responsibilities and own them — whether that's running morning and evening animal chores, directing younger staff through the day's tasks, or being the steady, reliable presence our team depends on during busy event weekends. This role works closely with and reports to the Farm Manager, with the expectation of growing into greater responsibility over time.
Hours vary by season, consistent with industry standards. Warm months are the busiest — and the most physically demanding given outdoor heat and a full farm and events calendar. Winter and early spring bring reduced hours, with a focus on animal care and greenhouse work.
CORE RESPONSIBILITIES
Animal Care (Primary Focus)
- Execute morning and evening animal chores daily, including feeding, watering, and health checks across all species
- Monitor animal behavior and condition; identify and escalate health concerns to management promptly
- Maintain clean, safe, and well-organized animal housing — stalls, pens, coops, and pasture areas
- Manage mucking, bedding, and waste removal on a consistent schedule
- Perform and assist with animal husbandry tasks as needed throughout the season
- Work comfortably in cold, unheated barns during winter months
Independent Operations & Staff Oversight
- Work independently to complete daily farm tasks without close supervision once trust is established
- Oversee and direct junior farm staff and seasonal workers — assigning tasks, setting standards, and ensuring follow-through
- Serve as a point of accountability when the Farm Manager is off-site or managing other operations
- Identify what needs to get done and take action — this role requires initiative, not just instruction-following
Property & Grounds Maintenance
- Occasionally perform general property maintenance including fencing, hauling, structural repairs, and equipment upkeep
- Support orchard and garden work — planting, pruning, harvesting, and seasonal clean-up
- Operate tractors, skid steers, and other heavy farm equipment safely and competently
- Handle heavy lifting and physically demanding labor regularly across all areas of the property
Events & Weekend Support
- Serve as a critical operational resource on farm event days — festivals, open farm days, private events, and seasonal programming
- Coordinate animal areas, grounds, and staff during events to ensure smooth, safe, guest-ready conditions
- Work scheduled weekends, particularly during high-season events and busy farm periods
- Represent the farm professionally when interacting with guests, vendors, and visitors on event days
Seasonal Responsibilities
- Summer/Fall: Full workload — animals, grounds, events support, and staff oversight in outdoor heat
- Winter/Spring: Reduced hours focused on daily animal care in cold conditions and greenhouse work
QUALIFICATIONS
Required
- Minimum 2–3 years of hands-on experience working with farm animals — livestock experience is required
- Demonstrated ability to work independently and take ownership of assigned responsibilities
- Experience supervising or directing others in a working farm or outdoor labor environment
- Strong physical fitness — able to perform demanding outdoor labor in summer heat, cold winters, mud, and all conditions
- Exceptional dependability — consistent, on-time attendance is non-negotiable in this role
- Genuine work ethic with a problem-solving mindset and a low ego
- Comfortable working in cold, unheated barns and challenging outdoor conditions
- Ability to lift 50+ lbs regularly
Preferred
- Experience operating tractors, skid steers, or other heavy farm machinery
- Background in orchard, garden, or greenhouse work
- Experience working farm events, festivals, or agritourism operations
- Basic mechanical aptitude for minor equipment maintenance and repairs
- First aid or livestock emergency training a plus
SCHEDULE & WORK CONDITIONS
- Outdoor physical labor year-round in all weather conditions
- Hours fluctuate seasonally — this is standard in agriculture and candidates should be fully comfortable with variable schedules
- Warm months (spring through fall): Higher hours, demanding outdoor workload, event weekends
- Winter/early spring: Reduced hours with focus on animal care and greenhouse support
- Weekend availability required, especially during farm events and high season — farm animals do not take days off
- This is a role that demands consistency, toughness, and genuine passion for farm wor
Pay: From $50,000.00 per year
Benefits:
- Employee discount
- Paid time off
Work Location: In person
