This apprentice will work closely six days a week with Natalie, Brian, Dave or Chrissy at the ranch.  This is a great opportunity for an apprentice with a positive attitude and a great work ethic who wants to learn while doing about grass-fed beef and pasture raised pork and poultry by: maintaining/repairing perimeter fence, building temporary electrical fences, herding/moving cattle through rotational grazing plan and assisting with marketing grass fed/pasture raised products.  They will get experience with livestock management, land monitoring, horsemanship and stockmanship. Other activities may be incorporated into the day, depending on the apprentice’s interests.  The apprenticeship at Badger Creek Ranch is well-suited to applicants who enjoy engaging with people, educating guests and are ready to be “on” all the time.

This is a full-time, intensive education and professional training program requiring fifty to sixty hours a week, sometimes more and sometimes less. One of the joys as well as the challenges of farming is living and working with the rhythm of the seasons, and the work schedule follows the demands of the season, weather, and animal needs.

Enthusiasm and a sincere commitment to sustainable agriculture and food production are more important than experience, though riding competency is needed and experience with other livestock is a plus. Depending on availability and apprentice interested, exposure and experience in some of the other enterprises may be possible.

Stipend: The monthly stipend is determined each year, based on available funding; it is typically around $700/month take-home pay, paid bi-weekly. This amount is negotiable based on experience. The apprentice will stay in a room at the ranch headquarters.  All utilities are included in housing at no additional cost to the apprentice, though the apprentice is expected to be conscientious about energy use since the ranch is off-grid.  The apprentice is expected to keep their living quarters clean and in good shape.

Quivira Coalition Activities: This apprenticeship is offered through Quivira Coalition’s New Agrarian Program.  The full cohort of apprentices on regenerative ranches and farms across the west will attend an April orientation, participate in supplemental education provided in partnership with Holistic Management International, and attend the annual Quivira Conference, hosted with Holistic Management International and the American Grassfed Association, in November.  Apprentices are also required to write several reports during their apprenticeship; these reports will go through the NAP Coordinator at Quivira, and be posted on the Quivira website. 

Time off: One day off per week provides a healthy break for the apprentice. There may be times when a day off is not possible, but other times (like during the monsoons) when two days off per week might make more sense. The work pattern follows that of nature; when everything is busy and producing and growing, farmers do the same. When nature begins to slow down, there is a natural decline in activity. Some apprentices save up days off so they can take several consecutive days to go visit family or attend a class or workshop, when the ranch schedule can accommodate this time away.

Visitors: Southern Colorado has a large tourist draw. As a temporary resident, the apprentice may experience that draw through requests for visits from friends and family. The apprentice may also want to express their enthusiasm for the program by inviting friends and family to visit. We ask that the apprentice use wisdom and judgment to balance the apprenticeship demands with time available for guests. Apprentices must discuss visitors in advance. 

Food: Meals are prepared and are eaten family style while guests are staying at the ranch. Apprentice will have access to the kitchen to prepare meals when guests are not at the ranch.

Pets: It will not be possible for apprentices to have any pets with them during the apprenticeship. 

All the fun stuff: No smoking or drugs on the ranch.

NO Partying: No partying. Having a beer/glass of wine or two after work is just fine.

Health Insurance: The ranching lifestyle has inherent dangers. While personal health insurance is not required to participate in the apprenticeship program, it is strongly encouraged. The ranch carries Workman’s Compensation to cover injuries incurred on the job. But if the apprentice is injured on his or her day off, gets sick, or has or develops chronic conditions like allergies, these types of issues should be covered by personal health insurance. 

Ranch Vehicles: All of the ranch vehicles are standard transmission. The apprentice will be expected to competently operate these vehicles. Apprentices must have a valid driver’s license. Ranch vehicles can be made available for apprentice personal use, on a case-by-case basis.

Personal Vehicle: It is highly recommended that the apprentice have a personal vehicle, as the ranch is remote and apprentices can feel isolated if they don’t have their own transportation to town on days off, etc. There are no instances (or very few) when the apprentice would be required to use his/her own vehicle around the ranch. In order to run personal errands and travel on days off, however, the apprentice will need the flexibility of his or her own vehicle. 

Services available to the apprentice: The apprentice will have access to the ranch washer and dryer, though they are asked to be conscientious about use as this is a shared resource and the ranch uses off-grid power. Internet is only available at the ranch office. 

Living near Salida, Colorado: Badger Creek Ranch is about an hour from Cañon City and 45 minutes from Salida. Salida is a dynamic town with lots of culture, coffee shops; Cañon City is on the Arkansas River, with lots of rafting and outdoor activities. Apprentices are encouraged to become involved in the community, work and ranch-life permitting. 

The ranch is at high altitude.  The beginning and end of the apprenticeship will be cold, summers are warm, with monsoon rains common in July and August.