The Farmer assists the Farm Manager with the planting, maintenance and harvesting vegetable and fruit crops at the Hunger Task Force Farm in Franklin, Wisconsin. This regular full-time position works in the greenhouse, hoop houses, fields, and orchards. The Farmer operates trucks, tractors, sprayers, tillers, mowers, and other heavy equipment to cultivate and plant fields and orchards; irrigate crops, control weeds and harvest produce. The Farmer acts as an ambassador for the Hunger Task Force by training, leading, and stewarding 5,000 volunteers annually supporting the Farm program. The Farmer will safely and effectively lead and direct work crews of community volunteers working at the Farm. The Farmer must accurately articulate specific directions and safety information to volunteers, other Farm staff, and Beginning Farmers.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Assist in planning of annual crop plan and accompanying schedules, including projections of necessary supplies; and help establish an annual schedule for Farm planting, cultivation and harvesting; predict labor and equipment needs.
• Propagate, plant and transplant vegetable crops according to farm plan.
• Lead and direct volunteers and Farm Hands in greenhouses, orchards, hoop houses, fields, and harvest haus.
• Demonstrates and explains farm work techniques and safety regulations to volunteers and Farm Hands.
• Carry out emergency procedures to safeguard human lives.
• Responsible for ensuring volunteers adhere to established rules, and they react to emergencies with urgency while applying training they have received.
• Solicit donations to assist in the organization’s mission.
• Ensuring food safety process control and techniques are communicated and executed.
• Insuring produce quality standards are being upheld.
• Directs volunteers and Farm Hands on restoration and maintenance of the natural areas.
• Operate and maintain all heavy equipment at the farm including trucks, tractors, orchard sprayers, field sprayers, planters, seeders, tiller, mower, transplanter, picker, and cultivator.
• Installs irrigation systems and irrigates fields.
• Lubricates, adjusts, and makes minor repairs on farm machinery, implements, and equipment.
• Assure proper application and use of pesticides and arrange field-based pest and disease control.
• Asist in the maintenance and harvest of fruit orchards.
• Perform other duties as assigned.

Education and/or Experience

Bachelor’s degree (B. A. or B.S.) from a four-year College or University or Associate degree from a Technical College; or five years related experience and/or training; or equivalent combination of education and experience.

Certificates, Licenses, Registrations

Valid driver’s license. Pesticide Applicator’s certification is preferred but not required.

Physical Demands

The physical demands described here are representative of those that must be met by an employee to successfully perform the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

While performing the duties of this Job, the employee is regularly required to stand; walk; use hands to finger, handle, or feel; reach with hands and arms and talk or hear. The employee is frequently required to sit and stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl. The employee is occasionally required to climb or balance and taste or smell. The employee must frequently lift and/or move up to 50 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 100 pounds. Specific vision abilities required by this job include close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.

Salary Range:$37,440 – $55,000 annually