We need help during our calving season to lock up cows daily for calving, haul feed and water to them by hand in the barn, and clean out calving pens in the barn by hand. Our calving season is 90 days long and starts on December 30th. Due to harsh winter weather in Illinois, we cannot allow calving outside due to the risk of losing calves to cold and muddy conditions. We do not need any additional help after March 30th because we turn cows and calves out into pastures to graze for the summer, which is not labor-intensive at that point. Job duties will include cleaning stalls, pens, and equipment using disinfectant solutions, brushes, shovels, water hoses, or pumps; driving farm trucks, tractors, and other equipment to distribute feed to animals; examining animals to detect illness, injury, or disease, and to check physical characteristics such as rate of weight gain; feeding and watering livestock and monitoring food and water supplies; inspecting, maintaining, and repairing equipment, machinery, buildings, pens, yards, and fences; mixing feed, additives, and medicines in prescribed portions; and caring for animals. Additionally, the job requires spreading out bedding in the barn for cows and newborn calves. Employer may provide pay increases for performance, longevity and/or experience at employer’s discretion., Employer may provide performance bonuses at the end of the contract at the employer’s discretion.
Employment period: Dec 15, 2026 – Mar 30, 2027
