"Field Assistant"

Job Details

Position Summary:
The Farmer Training Program focuses on three areas: running a productive farm, providing an educational experience for Farmers-in-training (FITs), and providing a space for reconciliation and healing. Field Assistants continue to gain hands-on experience growing vegetables at high elevation, while taking on additional responsibilities. Field Assistants work with other staff to tend about three acres of vegetables, learning new and traditional skills and techniques vital to farming at high elevation, and join a network committing to supporting beginning farmers through incubator and land access opportunities, business planning, and community support. Field Assistants work with and assist other program staff in tasks including but not limited to the following, which may take place in both the FIT Plot and the Education Garden: working with FITs in field work; leading FIT groups; running the campus Farm Stand; assisting with the CSA; using hand tools; operating small equipment; assisting with irrigation and repairs and daily operation; succession planting; weed management; harvest/processing; deliveries; events; and assisting in other daily farm tasks.
Job Description:
Essential Functions and Responsibilities:

• The team of Field Assistants will work to accomplish highest priority tasks, which may take place in the FIT Plot or the Education Garden and may include weed management, equipment operation, harvesting, processing, propagation tasks, cleaning, general farm maintenance and other tasks as identified by program staff.
• A team of Field Assistants will work to complete the following tasks:

• Approximately 50%: Working with other managers to determine and accomplish highest priority tasks, which may take place in the FIT Plot or the Education Garden and may include weed management, equipment operation, harvesting, processing, propagation tasks, cleaning, general farm maintenance and other tasks as identified by the Production Manager or Assistant Director.
• Approximately 25% (depending on the time of year): Lead harvest prep, harvest, and post-harvest processing, including doing crop counts; adhering to food safety SOPs, including twice daily harvest shed cleaning on harvest days; overseeing the cleaning of harvest bins and supplies; establishing size and quality standards for produce with other managers and Assistant Director; training FITs and volunteers in produce standards; leading harvest shed-packout for markets, CSAs, and wholesale orders of produce from both the FIT Field and the Education Garden; and leading harvests in the Education Garden.
• Approximately 25%: Providing overall care for the Education Garden, including watering, maintenance, succession planting, high tunnel management, and care of perennials, which includes managing weekly irrigation and providing crop counts when in production.

• Field Assistants are also responsible for setting a positive, professional and respectful tone; following training and work guidelines created by management and setting an example for farm team and volunteers in terms of timeliness, focus, pace, and accuracy in the field; adhering to Food Safety SOPs; following instructions and training and responding to feedback; demonstrating care for tools and farm equipment by appropriate use, cleaning, and storage, and completing online trainings to become a FLC authorized driver.
• Field Assistants take on additional areas of responsibility, including leading groups of FITs, running the Farm Stand, and/or assisting with CSA coordination.

Additional Functions and Responsibilities

• Contributing to staff meetings
• Creating content for social media and newsletters
• Working at the Farm Stand or Country Store
• Packing the CSA
• Restocking and cleaning the Country Store
• Caring for perennials in the Education Garden
• Processing storage crops
• Assisting with setting up for, hosting, and cleaning up from public events

Required Education, Specialized Skills and Experience:

• One or more seasons of vegetable growing experience
• At least one season growing at high elevations or in short seasons
• One or more years’ experience in leadership or teaching roles, especially in a farming context
• Experience working with teams from diverse backgrounds
• Significant experience working independently as a farmer or in a physical job
• Significant experience working in fast-paced environments, especially as a pace-setter
• Successful experience working collaboratively as part of a team
• Proficient with the use of Microsoft Office programs, Google Suite, and Dropbox
• Interest in using google sheets for farm coordination
• Ease with email, Slack messages, and phone calls as forms of team and professional communication

Preferred Education, Specialized Skills and Experience:

• College degree in agriculture or related field
• Experience using small equipment

Reports To / Supervisory Responsibility:
Reports to the Production Coordinator and Old Fort Director
Work Environment:
The work environment characteristics described here are representative of those that an employee can expect while performing the essential functions of this job. Reasonable accommodations may be made to enable individuals with disabilities to perform the essential functions.

• Work is primarily conducted outside or in high tunnels in all weather
• Work may occur in heat, cold, snow, rain, wind, and other extreme weather conditions.
• Work may occur adjacent to tractors or require use of tractors or small machines (moderate noise).
• Office space is shared.

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

• While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to, stand, sit; talk, hear, and use hands and fingers to perform fine motor functions such as weeding, harvesting, packing, gripping, typing, texting, and operating tools.
• The job is highly physical and requires nearly constant activity.
• The use of hand tools is likely, including shovels, broad forks, digging forks, spades, rakes, and other tools.
• The employee is required to lift objects weighing up to 50 pounds.
• The employee is required to lift many items each day weighing between 5 and 40 pounds, especially on harvest days.
• On a daily basis, the field manager must perform actions such as lifting, stooping, kneeling, crouching, and reaching, and use tools to dig, rake, tilth, and additional actions as needed.

Travel:

• Less than 5% is expected for this position.

FLSA Status/ Position Type/Expected Hours of Work

• Exempt includes workman’s compensation and sick leave
• Hourly, 15-35 hours/week depending on season and responsibilities ;
• March and April: 15-20 hours/week
• May through October: 30-35 hours/week
• Early November: 15-20 hours/week
• Start times: 8 a.m. or 7:30 a.m. for peak harvest days
• Harvest days may run until 4 or 5 p.m.
• 45 minute unpaid lunch break
• March 15/May 1 through October 31/November 15th, depending on responsibilities
• May take one unpaid week off during the farming season
• Must be available May 12-14 (FIT Orientation) and August 28-29 (Convergence)

Compensation
The hourly rate for this position is $19-$21/hour
Additional living stipends may be available from the Native American Agriculture Fund grant.
A complete application packet includes:

• Cover letter explaining your interest in the position and desired start and end dates
• Resume
• Names and contact information for three current, professional references

*Application packages received by February 2, 2026. The position will remain open until filled.*
*The successful candidates will be required to pass a background check and possess a clean driving record.*