Big Sky Bison Ranch
Job Description Summary:
Big Sky Bison Ranch is seeking to hire an energetic experienced farm hand & ranch caretaker for a small working bison ranch fifteen miles west of Great Falls, Montana. Only Legal American Citizens who can communicate clearly in English will be considered for this position. The ranch owner has a separate residence on the ranch, however aside from owner and guest visits, the caretaker will be the only person living on the 1,200-acre ranch full time. With a growing bison meat business, work responsibilities in another enterprise and with family living in multiple states, we need a responsible and capable caretaker to live on the ranch, run all ranch operations and perform the daily ranch chores. We would like our ranch caretaker to think of, and treat the ranch as their own new home, and create the schedule and life that they most enjoy. We want to create an opportunity for a happy, responsible, easy to get along with caretaker who is interested in staying and growing with us for the long haul.
We are first a working bison ranch, and we produce top quality bison. We also produce and sell bison meat and products online, direct to consumer, and from our on ranch farm store. We recently started a ranch guest/overnight RV stay program. Over the past four years we have worked very hard to create an efficient turnkey operation that requires minimal daily labor input. Bison do not need much human intervention and we run our herd as naturally as possible. Aside from a one day per year annual bison works, occasional sorting through the corrals, and pasture moves every six weeks during summer, the bison manage themselves. The scope of work can be defined into three categories.
- Ranch Labor – Including daily checking, maintaining and repairing fences, maintaining landscaping, mowing and weed whacking around yards, spot herbicide applications, making sure all water systems are operational, feeding for roughly 120 days in winter and caking the bison in the pastures. Spending time with and managing the bison herd and conducting pasture moves. Checking and maintaining ranch facilities and of course all the typical light maintenance/handyman work that comes with all ranching.
- Guest Services – We are members of Harvest Hosts, which is an RV membership program that provides an authentic overnight farm stay experience to self-contained RV travelers. Caretaker responsibilities include communicating via app, text and phone, coordinating, meeting with, conducting a brief ranch orientation, and walking guests through the farm store where we sell meat, merchandise and bison tours. Ensuring all guests enjoy themselves and leave with some bison meat, and make a 5 star review of their ranch stay experience.
- Communication – Caretaker must be willing and able to communicate clearly in English, and be comfortable with written, phone, text, email and use of mobile apps.
We are seeking a mature, clean, fastidious, responsible, conscientious, non-smoking, minimal drinking homebody with verifiable farm/ranch experience and preferably with experience working with bison. Experience hunting is a plus as we field harvest meat bison on the ranch. This may be an excellent fit for an active and fit semi or retired ranch manager, ranch hand, seasonal worker, retiree, or a remote(on-line) employee who is happy to stay on the ranch most of the time and has an additional and separate form of income. This IS NOT a position for someone who commutes off the property daily to work an off ranch job, travels much, or for someone who needs to earn more than the wage that this job offers.
A single individual without live in dependents, or a qualified couple without children. The primary reason we will not consider allowing children to live on the property is owing to the actual hazards, and potential liability of children living in close proximity with pasture raised bison. A single well-behaved and trained non yippy, non-aggressive, friendly breed dog may be considered and will need to get along with our own, and our guests’ dogs. The ranch caretaker is responsible for picking up after their dog daily.
The ranch caretaker job requires a strong, fit, healthy and intelligent individual who is organized, observant and respectful of other people’s property, respectful and calm around bison, an excellent communicator, able to regularly lift/load 30 lbs. buckets of cake and occasional 50 lbs. sacks of mineral, and willing and able to complete all daily chores. Applicants should be handy and able to diagnose typical ranch type problems, perform necessary maintenance and make typical ranch repairs. A can-do/willing attitude and excellent communication skills is required.
How you will be compensated for taking care of the ranch:
This is a year-round position with daily part-time work responsibilities. The job comes with a newly renovated, lovely, fully furnished two bedrooms, plus loft and separate office, 1 bathroom detached ranch house. Everything is new and ready for the right person to move in. The actual value of the caretaker’s accommodation in the completely refurbished, furnished house including all utilities in our rental market is $2,000/month.
Accommodation and utilities are provided to the caretaker FOR FREE, with an additional base salary of $2,000 per month to compensate for approximately 20 hours per week of work. Work is conducted daily and scheduled for approximately three hours daily of chores and TLC. This is not an hourly paid job.
PLEASE MAKE SURE THE STATED COMPENSATION FOR THE JOB MATCHES YOUR BUDGETARY NEEDS BEFORE APPLYING FOR THIS POSITION.
Traveling away from the ranch:
As the sole person living on the ranch, the caretaker is expected to live and work on the ranch daily. That said, day trips, and even occasional overnight trips off the ranch after completing daily ranch chores are no problem at all. Since there is no regular back up to the caretakers’ daily ranch coverage, we encourage the caretaker to schedule their vacation/time away from the ranch between November 1 – December 15, when the owner will be staying on the ranch conducting the annual bison hunts. The caretaker may take up to 3 weeks’ vacation/unpaid leave during this time period. We do have a few emergency backup personal that may be available for emergency ranch coverage, however we pay them $50 for an emergency ranch visit so it is not economically feasible to pay someone else to perform the work that the caretaker is already getting paid to do. We do understand that life happens, and that the caretaker may need to unexpectedly travel off ranch for personal reasons. To the degree that it makes sense, we will do our best to accommodate this need. The owner is usually available for emergency ranch coverage from September 1– December 20, and April 1- June 15.
Tasks include but are not limited to the responsibilities detailed below, with plenty of time for your own hobbies, passions, and remote or part time work. The ranch location is very private, set in the valley along Muddy Creek it feels as though you are miles from civilization, however, Great Falls is a short 15 miles away.
Pre-Approved Additional Work – an additional income opportunity
While there is no guaranteed additional work offered, there may be occasional “pre-approved additional work”, outside of the three hours per day that may be compensated for separately at a hourly pay rate of $20.00/hour. Applicants should not factor pre approved additional work into their budget, as there may be no additional work available. The maximum limit for “total hours worked per week” is 40 hours, which includes the 20 hours per week of ranch caretaker work, plus the “pre-approved additional work”. Therefore, no more than 20 hours of “pre-approved additional work” may be scheduled per week. There may be rare exceptions to exceed this rule, however, these exceptions will always need to be pre-approved by the owner.
The operating budget of Big Sky Bison Ranch does not presently support any other labor costs. Hopefully, as we grow our guest program, and increase bison tours and Farm Store sales, there may be an opportunity to work additional hours. All additional work must be pre-approved, documented daily and reviewed and approved with the owner monthly at the end of every month. No overtime work may be scheduled, and overtime work will not be paid for.
Severe Weather responsibilities – severe weather conditions may require more time and attention.
Additional Perks to consider:
Big Sky Bison is the place for wildlife enthusiasts. Over the past four years we have intensively managed the property to improve the diversity and quality of native wild game. We now have resident herds of mule deer, white tail deer, antelope and healthy populations of coyotes, badgers, various upland bird species, multiple waterfowl species, raptors and owls, and visits from migrating waterfowl. We also enjoy occasional visits from both grizzly and black bears. We have 2.5 miles of private access to Muddy Creek, which includes 5 miles of riverbank for our exclusive access. The river offers exceptional canoeing and exploring/swimming during various times of the year and spectacular fishing for trophy brown trout and respectable fishing for rainbow trout. We offer catch and release fly fishing only along our stretch or river. We have a 200-yard rifle range, a separate riverside steel target pistol range, and have plans to build a skeet shooting; and 1,000-yard long distance rifle range in 2024. The caretaker may have access to these facilities. Included with the caretaker’s perks is catch and release fly fishing and access to hunt one deer, or one antelope per year. Occasionally, and when available we will provide locally processed bison meat for your on ranch eating pleasure.
About Big Sky Bison Ranch:
Big Sky Bison ranch is located on a beautiful 1,200-acre ranch with 2.5 miles of river running through the middle of the property. We are surrounded on the east by a range of hills that provides complete privacy and, on the west, and north by 2,500 acres of landlocked state land, the setting is very quiet and private. The ranch has approximately 14.5 miles of high tensile electric perimeter and pasture fence, with barbed wire fence enclosures around the building’s barns and farm yards. The ranch is a smoke free property and is home of Big Sky Bison, we run a grass-fed pasture raised herd of up to 135 head of top genetics bison. We practice low stress bison management and a primarily a field harvest operation. We produce top quality direct to consumer and USDA Inspected processed bison meat and offer limited one day guided bison field harvest opportunities to hunters. In 2024 we began offering a limited guest program, including ranch tours, a farm store and RV overnight stays in designated off grid camp sites.
Please see below a link to our website: www.bigskybison.com
Ranch Caretaker’s Responsibilities include but are not limited to:
- Daily fence checks and maintenance
- Daily checking, caking and managing our bison herd
- Assist with hosting on ranch events, manage and host Harvest Host RV overnight visits, and provide hospitality to guests as required.
- Offer, schedule and conduct ranch tours to ranch visitors
- Operate and manage ranch store when guests are on the ranch
- Oversee basic maintenance of ranch buildings, households and property, including basic caretaker/handyman services
- Management of landscaping around ranch entry, driveway, barn and residential yards. Ride on top, zero turn, push mowers, chainsaws and weed whackers are provided by the ranch. Applicant must be willing, able and capable of mowing, weed whacking and performing these important services.
- Monthly pest management in summer and rodent management year-round around buildings. No experience necessary we will train you in this simple but important task
- Weed management around yards and spot herbicide applications in pastures. We have ATV mounted and towed sprayers and a large tractor mount sprayer.
- Coordinate outside contractors and vendors as required
- Communicate effectively and expeditiously with vendors, guests and with owner/ranch manager via email, text, apps and phone or in person
- Assist ranch manager guiding bison field harvests and hunts
- Keep clean, service and maintain all ranch vehicles and equipment (limited scope of maintenance such as maintaining battery, tire air pressure and oil changes)
- Must be capable of efficiently and safely operating ranch equipment including skid-steer, loader, tractor, and excavator, UTV, ATV, stick shift cake truck, pick up truck with trailer. Applicants must demonstrate prior experience operating similar equipment.
- General farm and ranch work
- Fence maintenance and repair, electric fence inspection, trouble shooting, repairs as necessary. Inspect perimeter fence 2 x per month and remove tumble weeds that may pile up against fences as necessary
- Irrigation and stock water system monitor, maintain and repair if necessary
- Check water levels and coordinate water hauling for all fresh water cisterns supplying ranch residences or buildings
- Provide your own phone.
- VIP: caretaker must be competent and responsive with phone, text and email communication
- Keep, manage, and maintain a clean, organized, barn, shop, yards, work areas, ranch vehicles, and home. Keep snow and leaves clear from building entries, sidewalks and verandas as necessary.
- Maintain ranch solar powered cameras if necessary
- Must be able to learn and understand, trouble shoot and maintain solar well systems
- Must be able to learn and understand the entire stock water irrigation system and be able to trouble shoot, maintain and keep operational 365 days per year. We have a well house, pump house, two Peterson stock water tanks, two solar wells with water tanks, two spring catchments and tanks and five reservoirs
- Sort, load and transport meat/sale animals when necessary.
- Coordinate and participate in Annual Bison Works – one day event usually scheduled during the 3rd week in October
- Other duties and responsibilities as assigned
Support and Resources
Equipment and vehicles
We have developed systems and procedures for every task on the ranch. All of our ranch equipment is new top notch and well maintained. Most of our ranch machines are Kubota, including a new M5 Tractor/backhoe/loader, SVL 65 Skid Steer and RTV 1020 side by side, and Zero Turn Mower. We have every implement necessary for any task to be accomplished on the ranch. Most implements are interchangeable between machines. We have multiple on ranch pick up trucks, cake truck, multiple trailers, ATV’s that are all in and need to be kept in excellent operating condition.
Fences
We have built 14.5 miles of new fences and removed all the old fences, our fences are in top shape. Perimeter and pasture fences are 5 strand high tensile electric fences powered by reliable Speed Right energizers and solar panels. Fences around yards are 5 strand barbed wire.
Infrastructure
All infrastructure on the ranch has been replaced over the past four years. We have replaced and built the entire stock irrigation system, pumphouse, corrals, electrical utilities, heating systems, updated most existing buildings and built new buildings, built a bridge across the river and renovated the dwellings. The hard work has been done, now we just need to maintain everything.
Buildings
There are two completely renovated residential dwellings, the Bunk House which is the owner’s residence and the Caretakers House.
- Fully equipped Workshop with every conceivable tool, welder etc.
- Pole Barn for vehicle/equipment storage
- Pump House
- Well House
- Farm Store
- Old School House – a historic building we will be renovating in 2024
- Hay Yard, Residential Yard, Barn Yard
- Root Cellar – another structure we plan to renovate in 2024
- We plan to build a few off-grid RV campsites
- Wall Tent Camp – we plan to build in late summer 2024
Support Network and Vendors
Over the past four years we have developed a network of vendors and experts who are an important part of our support team. This network is available when we need additional help or guidance. The ranch owner is always available by phone or in person and is knowledgeable about most things on the ranch, however we do have other experts to assist. Included in this network are:
- Emergency ranch coverage personal
- Fence Expert
- Bison handling and nutrition experts
- Approved Contractors – plumbers, electricians, HVAC, trash removal, water hauling, equipment service, gas supply
- Approved Suppliers – fuel, feed, hay, minerals, hardware
- Established accounts for emergency Big Sky Bison purchases
- The Caretaker will have every resource necessary to succeed
Requirements:
Ranch Caretaker must be non-smoking; excessive drinking or drug use of any kind will not be tolerated. Our ranch is located in a fire hazard area and a grass fire could destroy our grass fed bison business. Must be dependable, hardworking, honest, have a valid driver’s license and clean driving record. Must have references and pass background check, a background check will be conducted. Must be fit and in good physical health to accomplish job responsibilities. Must have your own reliable, insured and roadworthy personal vehicle. Ranch vehicles, ATV’s and UTV’s are available for on ranch usage only, no company vehicle is provided for the caretaker for off ranch use.
We like to do everything by the book, we are conscientious, detail oriented, like everything to have its place and be returned clean, in the same condition and in the same place. We do not put off for tomorrow what needs to be done today…to succeed in this job, the ranch caretaker will need to embrace and live these values.
Owner/Ranch Manager Contact:
Michael B.
Big Sky Bison
www.bigskybison.com
TO APPLY:
Please email your resume and contact information to our email address listed, and briefly describe why you believe you will be a good fit for this position. USA Applicants only.
Thank you, we look forward to chatting!
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