Ranch and Home Caretaker

The ideal candidate for the following Care Taker position, would be a hardworking, responsible married couple of good character, willing to work together as a family in a farm/ranch environment. The monthly salary would be commensurate with experience and knowledge of Farm/Ranch work and attitude on and off the job. It should be understood by the applicant that we as owners believe in compatible, long-term relationships and that we are not trying to fill a job position, but are looking for a couple that is looking for a life-long career.

The Ranch consists of 2 adjoining ranches that comprise approximately 900 acres located in one of the most beautiful and scenic areas in the Proctor Valley. The other property that the applicant will be responsible for is on the shores of Flathead Lake approximately 20 minutes away.

Please Note: The SCOPE OF WORK includes the following although this is not a complete list of duties.

REGARDING THE RANCH property:

General and overall repair and maintenance of all ranch assets.

Setting up and irrigating (using wheel lines) irrigation of hay fields moving them twice a day during the months of May- July.

Familiarity and experience with tractors, haying equipment, backhoes, trucks, trailers etc.

Experience and ability to put up hay usually 1-2 cuttings per year approximately 300 ton small square and large round bales.

Maintenance and cleaning of all ranch vehicles and equipment and maintaining in Prime condition.

Repairing fences as needed and building new fences when required.

Maintenance and repair involving misc. carpentry and painting of all buildings on the ranch property.

Forestry work including cutting, thinning, clean up, cutting up, splitting and stacking firewood for ranch and home use.

Cleaning, cleaning, cleaning of all buildings inside and out. Did I mention cleaning?

In charge of and responsible for gardening: including vegetables and flowers and fruit trees from garden preparation, to planting, fertilizing, weeding, and watering to harvesting and preparing the garden for winter.

Tending to all farm and ranch animals that currently exist or will exist on the property. This includes feeding, watering, cleaning, doctoring, and generally taking care of horses, cows, pigs, chickens, turkeys, sheep, goats, rabbits, pheasants, dogs and cats.

Maintaining Ranch headquarters Landscape: including watering, mowing, fertilizing trees, shrubs and grass. Yard clean up, pruning and other landscape duties not listed here.

Occasional parties are hosted at the ranch, your help is needed in preparation for and clean-up after as required.

REGARDING OWNER’S OFF-SITE HOME:

Spring clean-up of yard including raking lawns and landscape of leaves and debris as well as cleanup of all hardscape surfaces including concrete, asphalt, stone walk ways etc This may need to be done after a major summer storm as well.

Pruning of trees, shrubs and bushes. Removal of smaller trees, and clean up as directed by owner.

Planting and weeding and fertilizing of flowers, trees and shrubs.

Power washing all concrete and asphalt in front of home and cabins as needed throughout the year.

Power washing and sealing the decorative concrete on an annual basis usually early to mid-June.

During the summer cleaning all decorative concrete including dock on a bi-monthly basis.

Cleaning all logs and siding on an as needed basis usually once a year.

Cleaning inside of shop usually on a bi-monthly basis

Cleaning of cabins on a monthly basis.

Cleaning main house as needed.

Cleaning of inside of attached garage on a bi-monthly basis.

Cleaning of BBQ kitchen on a bi-monthly basis.

Placing all patio and deck furniture out for the summer and then putting back in storage in late summer early fall. This includes the dock speakers.

Cleaning the Hobbit house under the back patio as needed.

Helping set up for Christmas inside and outside of house as needed.

Assistance set up and clean up when party’s or special events are hosted at our home.

Other duties as may be directed by owner.

RANCH PERKS INVOLVED:

A new home is currently under construction on the ranch and will be offered as part of the overall compensation package for the successful applicant.

2 Week Vacation available during the months of December through March only.

Generally, the majority of the work occurs from April – November. April through September can be long days and often times 6 days a week. Not much happening December through March other than tending to ranch animals etc I also own and operate a construction company depending on applicants’ construction experience there may be an off-season opportunity to earn extra income.

Caretakers are entitled to pets on a case-by-case basis and will be discussed with owner. It is preferred that the Pets are kept out of the main house. Caretakers will be offered one pig and ½ Beef each year. 1 dozen chicken eggs per week and 2 dozen meat chickens per year.

A family sized portion of the harvest bounty of the garden and fruit orchard.