Hog and Poultry Field Crew Member I

Position Summary

The Hog and Poultry Field Crew Member I is a highly flexible, hands-on position responsible for keeping animals, equipment, infrastructure, and day-to-day farm operations moving safely and efficiently.

The primary focus of this position is to support the well-being of White Oak Pastures’ hogs and poultry. The second focus is contributing to the health and stewardship of the farm’s land, equipment, and animals as a whole.

This is a physically demanding field position that requires someone who is proactive, adaptable, mechanically minded, and comfortable switching between tasks throughout the day. The ideal candidate can stay positive and productive through stressful situations, long hours, changing priorities, and the unexpected challenges that come with working on a farm.

Primary Responsibilities

Animal Movement & Care

• Move hogs, laying hens, turkeys, and other animals to fresh pasture as needed
• Transport animals safely to the processing plant
• Assist with piglet catching, weaning, and castration
• Weigh hogs and turkeys
• Communicate with whoever is feeding when feeders need to be moved
• Transport dead animals to the compost area
• Manage hog wallows
• Distribute supplemental feed, including milk, pecans, eggs, pumpkins and garden scraps
• Build and maintain new animal hubs and related infrastructure

Equipment & Transportation

• Connect, maneuver, and navigate trailers safely
• Clean and maintain livestock trailers
• Perform basic truck, tractor and mower equipment checks 
• Keep track of the location and condition of tractors and mowers
• Identify equipment issues and communicate them to the manager and farm mechanic
• Assist with troubleshooting and basic repairs when appropriate and approved by the farm mechanic
• Safely operate farm vehicles and heavy equipment

Farm Infrastructure & Maintenance

• Identify and fix irrigation leaks
• Maintain and organize farm supplies and infrastructure materials
• Repair broken materials when practical or dispose of unusable materials appropriately
• Keep equipment and supplies organized and stored in their proper locations
• Assist with general farm maintenance, construction, and special projects

Communication & General Farm Support

• Communicate proactively with managers, coworkers, feed-truck drivers, and the farm mechanic
• Observe farm conditions and report problems promptly
• Maintain accurate records as needed using Google Sheets
• Assist in other areas of the farm as needed
• Be willing to take on new tasks and learn new skills as the needs of the business change

Qualifications & Requirements

• Ability to work effectively and proactively with a variety of personalities
• Ability to work calmly, respectfully, and safely with animals
• Strong communication skills and willingness to communicate problems before they become larger issues
• Ability to work as part of a team and assist wherever needed
• Basic math skills for record keeping and data analysis
• Ability to safely operate heavy equipment
• Basic computer literacy and familiarity with Google Sheets
• Access to a cell phone
• Ability to speak and communicate effectively in English
• Valid driver’s license
• Ability to pass a drug test
• Proven ability to learn and perform new job duties
• Ability to maintain a positive attitude through stressful situations and long hours
• Flexibility and willingness to change priorities as needed
• Ability to be redirected and adapt to the changing needs of the business
• The ideal candidate brings curiosity, new ideas, and a willingness to solve problems rather than simply work around them. 

Preferred Qualifications

• Mechanical knowledge or experience with farm equipment
• Ability to perform basic equipment troubleshooting and maintenance
• Experience communicating equipment problems clearly to a manager or mechanic
• Experience operating tractors, trailers, mowers, or other farm equipment
• Experience with animal husbandry

Working Conditions & Physical Requirements

This is physically demanding, outdoor field work. Employees work in hot, cold, rainy, muddy, and otherwise changing weather conditions. Farm trucks do not have air conditioning.

The position requires the ability to repeatedly:

• Bend, reach, squat, stoop, and kneel
• Lift 100+ pounds
• Hammer and pound fence posts into hard ground
• Walk long distances and occasionally run through rough terrain, including pastures and dense wooded areas
• Get in and out of heavy equipment
• Handle large pigs in working pens and trailers
• Safely catch and hold piglets and poultry
• Work for extended periods while bending, including collecting eggs and cleaning nesting boxes
• Work around mud and regular contact with livestock bodily fluids, including manure, blood, and urine

This position is best suited for someone who enjoys variety, takes initiative, solves problems, works well under pressure, communicates well, and understands that on a working farm, priorities can change quickly. No two days are necessarily the same—and being ready to jump in wherever you are needed is an important part of the job.