Farm Manager

Position: Farm Manager

Status: Salary, Full Time

Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill

Shaker Village of Pleasant Hill (SVPH) is on a mission to inspire generations through DISCOVERY, by sharing the legacies of the Kentucky Shakers. SVPH is committed to bridging historic preservation, land conservation, engaged learning and warm hospitality to present an unrivaled destination experience.

Home to the third largest Shaker community in the United States from 1805 until 1910, SVPH manages the country's largest private collection of original 19th century buildings and is the largest National Historic Landmark in Kentucky. Onsite amenities at SVPH include overnight accommodations, dining and catering services, retail shops, event and meeting venues, historical exhibitions and tours, farm and garden area, nature preserve, multi-use trail system, equestrian stable and an extensive calendar of special programs, activities, and events.

The Farm

The Farm supports the mission of Shaker Village by demonstrating the thoughtful stewardship of land and livestock through sustainable agriculture practices, and by partnering with the Trustees’ Table restaurant to champion the use of The Farm’s certified organic products for guest dining experiences.

Pleasant Hill was an innovative, 19th-century agricultural community. Today, the Farm at SVPH combines heritage practices with modern techniques to interpret diversified agriculture for the public. Today, the certified organic farm includes vegetable gardens, herb gardens, an orchard, over one hundred acres of pastures and enclosed paddocks, over three hundred animals and a selection of other annual demonstration plots.

Position Summary

The Farm Manager at Shaker Village oversees all operations of The Farm at SVPH. This includes management of team members and volunteers, visitor engagement, and the thoughtful stewardship of agricultural land, livestock, buildings, and equipment.

The Farm Manager is responsible for maintaining a healthy, safe, and well-ordered environment in all agricultural areas. In addition, as a representative of the educational farm, the Manager will develop, lead, and train colleagues from across the organization and in the broader community in farm and garden experiences, including tours, talks, workshops, and other presentations.

The Farm Manager partners with Shaker Village leadership, the Director of Buildings & Grounds and members of the Board of Trustees, to develop both short and long-term strategies and goals for The Farm.

Responsibilities

Department Management

• Maintain a team environment to maintain a safe, well-ordered Farm.
• Evaluate existing livestock program and establish future goals and objectives.
• Ensure excellent animal management procedures through planning, facilities improvements, supervision, and participation in day-to-day work activities.
• Plan and execute multispecies paddock/pasture/woodland rotation on limited acreage.
• Recruit, supervise, support, coach and mentor staff assigned to the farm.
• Ensure adequate staff orientation and training on livestock care, handling procedures, and safety requirements, including livestock and equipment (tools, tractors.)
• Assist in budget development and management for livestock program.
• Ensure effective management of livestock partnerships, vendors and staff.
• Make decisions that reflect Shaker Village’s commitment to sustainable organic agricultural practices, sound ecological land and farm management, land conservation, and public education.
• Understand the strategic goals of the organization and educate staff and visitors.
• Maintain awareness of and concern for the visual presentation of Shaker Village property.
• Maintain and support healthy partnerships and offsite collaborations (Kentucky Utilities, University of Kentucky, etc.)
• Research and maintain a working knowledge of Shaker culture, the history of Pleasant Hill, and historic agricultural practices on the property, including heritage animal breeds and heirloom plants.
  
  
  

Livestock

• Supervise daily care, feeding, and monitoring of all livestock.
• Oversee livestock healthcare management, general and emergency.
• Partner with veterinarians, farriers, and other animal health professionals as needed to ensure the proactive health and safety of all livestock.
• Ensure high levels of animal health and welfare, including maintenance of records, breeding programs and animal sales.
• Inventory, source, and order all livestock supplies.
• Manage and maintain grazing infrastructure, including pastures, water systems, and fencing.
• Help manage and maintain livestock program buildings, fencing, equipment, and facilities.
• Work with and manage the team to handle and transport sheep, cows, goats, cattle, horses, chickens and other livestock.
• Research, acquire, and transport new livestock as needed.
  
  
  

Organic Garden

• Plan, manage and coordinate the harvest of a productive organic garden, teaming with the Restaurant Manager and Chef to supply the restaurant with a variety of fresh produce to provide guests a true seed-to-table dining experience.
• Utilize innovative, sustainable growing methods to ensure consistent spring, summer and fall harvests.
• Maintain the demonstration capacity of the garden by managing it for aesthetic beauty, whole systems functionality, and productivity.
• Manage and support overall plant health and soil nutrition strategies, to include sustainable gardening practices and integrated pest management.
• Cultivate small plots of heritage cash crop plants, including sorghum, broom corn and tobacco, for demonstration purposes.
• Maintain and ensure garden facilities and equipment are in safe and reliable working order, including tool shed, greenhouse, irrigation system, lawn mower, weed eater, rototiller, and multiple hand tools.
• Maintain inventory of propagation and growing equipment and supplies, and order additional supplies as needed.
• Ensure the overall health of the soil in all garden spaces at SVPH, while maintaining the organization’s status as a certified organic farm.
  
  
  

Strategic Planning

• Collaborate with and provide regularly scheduled updates to the Preserve and Cultural Landscape Committee of the Shaker Village Board of Trustees.
• In partnership with Shaker Village Senior Leadership and Board of Trustees, develop 5-year strategic plans for The Farm that incorporate goals for the garden, livestock, and facilities of The Farm, highlighting current and targeted collaborations, seed-to-table projections, and an adherence to organic farming and National Historic Landmark standards.
• Develop and increase community partnerships to strengthen The Farm’s position as a destination for diversified agriculture education and practice.
• Partner with the Trustees’ Table Chef to plan garden practices that maximize opportunities for onsite seed-to-table experiences.
• Partner with the Director of Education and Collections to ensure accurate and high-quality programs are being offered to the public to interpret both historic and modern agricultural practices at SVPH.
• Partner with the Director of Buildings and Grounds and Grounds Manager to ensure all agricultural spaces are well-groomed, aesthetically pleasing, and appropriate to the natural and cultural landscape at SVPH.
  
  
  

Skills and Qualifications:

• Must possess and display an understanding of and appreciation for the rich agricultural and social history of the Pleasant Hill Shaker community.
• Excellent oral and written communication skills with ability to communicate with external and internal stakeholders professionally and effectively via phone, email, presentation, and written correspondence.
• Ability to complete projects and reports in an accurate and timely manner.
• Self-driven, with strong attention to detail and ability to work with and as a team member with minimal supervision.
• Excellent organizational skills and ability to follow through on commitments.
• Knowledgeable in the use, care, and maintenance of garden equipment.
• Enjoy working with a variety of populations, including youth, families and adults
• Ability to work and manage within a team structure.
• Ability to manage a diverse group of staff.
• Ability to perform physically demanding work.
• Must be able to work a variable work schedule, which includes work on weekends, holidays, and evenings when required.
  
  
  

Education and Experience:

• Bachelor's Degree in Agricultural Sciences, Animal Health & Science, Farm Management, Environmental Sciences, or similar.
• Minimum of 3-5 years supervisory experience in a farm setting, with staff management.
• Demonstrated experience working with the public, including with youth and groups.
  
  
  

Supervisory Responsibilities:

• Directly supervises 4-8 non-supervisory employees and/or volunteers.
• Fulfills supervisory responsibilities in accordance with the organization’s policies.
• Schedules and facilitates regular, individual check-ins and coaching sessions with farm and garden staff, to assure clarity of expectations and goals.
• Responsibilities include interviewing, hiring, and training employees; planning, assigning and directing work schedules, coaching for improved performance; addressing complaints and resolving issues.
• Management, maintenance, and care of farm and garden buildings and equipment.
• Oversight and fiscal responsibility of Farm and Garden annual budget.
  
  
  

Mental and Physical Requirements:

• Regularly required to use hands to finger, handle or feel; reach with hands and arms.
• Ability to stoop, kneel, crouch or crawl; talk or hear and taste or smell.
• Frequently required to stand and walk; occasionally sit and climb or balance.
• Specific vision ability required by this job includes close vision, distance vision, color vision, peripheral vision, depth perception and ability to adjust focus.
• Regularly lift and/or move up to 40 lbs. and lift and/or move heavier loads as needed.
  
  
  

Working Environment and Conditions:

• Regularly exposed to wet and/or humid conditions.
• Frequently exposed to outside weather conditions.
• Noise level is usually moderate.
• This position will require working weekends and evenings as needed.