McPherson Farms
POSITIONS: 1 APPRENTICESHIP
FULL-TIME (32-40 hrs/week)
HOUSING NOT PROVIDED
APPROX START & END DATES: 4/15 to 9/15
LOCATION: KLAMATH BASIN (Southern Oregon)
NO ON-FARM HOUSING OFFERED
VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes
ON FARM VISIT REQUIRED? Possibly
McPherson Farms sits on 750 acres just outside of Midland, a small community 10 miles south of Klamath Falls, Oregon. Our farm is run by Josh and his mom, Jani, with help from his wife, Marlena, and one part-time employee during the summer months. We raise hay, cattle, hogs, and grain on our farm. We butcher a small number of our cattle and all our hogs to sell meat direct-to-consumer through our farm store, the local farmers market, and online marketplace under our brand “McPherson’s High Desert Highlands.” Our hay is sold locally with a limited number of deliveries and most of our calves are sold at the local auction yard. Our farm is somewhere between conventional and regenerative. Most of our labor involves tractors and other machines. We practice no-till cultivation where possible, manage our cattle with rotational grazing, and utilize cover crops to improve soil health. We strive through our work to maintain both a healthy ecosystem and a productive farm to the best of our ability.
Our area is defined by open farmland with the Cascade Mountains to the west and desert hills to the east. Our farm is in the Pacific Flyway, near several National Wildlife Refuges, providing an important rest area for migratory birds. It is a home for many different species including sandhill cranes, eagles, hawks, coyotes, and the occasional badger or weasel. There are many opportunities for outdoor recreation such as hiking, biking, and fishing within a short drive. Our community is one of family farmers who are generous and look out for each other.
McPherson Farms has operated since 1980, when the McPhersons bought their property. Josh was raised on the farm and has been helping run it his whole life. He has managed irrigation, operated equipment, and helped manage cattle for 25 years. Over that time he has taken over management of the farm. He has long term experience in farm planning, accounting, crop establishment, irrigation, grazing management, crop harvest, livestock care, equipment repairs, and direct-to-consumer sales. He graduated with a degree in geography with minors in philosophy and land use planning. Josh believes that farming can be a way to make the world better by rediscovering traditional practices and embracing new farming methods. This helps integrate our farm with the landscape while still providing for our family and the community. As such, our farm is and may always be a work in progress.
We would like to host an apprentice to pass our skills and knowledge to the next generation of farmers. We have opportunities on our farm to learn through work and experience, the same way Josh did growing up. It would be nice to spend time training someone who wants to participate in all aspects of farming and is eager to learn.
TRAINING AND EXPECTATIONS
Josh has been training and supervising employees on the job for the last 7 years and will be the primary mentor to the apprentice. His wife, Marlena, is a science teacher with 10 years of experience in the field of education. Although she works off the farm during the school year, Marlena works on the farm during the summer and will provide some additional training and support.
The apprentice will learn irrigation management and maintenance for hand line, wheel lines, pivots, and flood irrigation. They will learn to construct and maintain both electric and wire fences for livestock. They will help provide daily care for cattle and pigs, as well as how to manage grazing cattle in a rotational system. They will help fulfill online sales and help operate a booth at the farmers market for direct to consumer sales every one to two weeks. They will help plant and establish forage and cover crops. They will help with basic maintenance and operation of farm equipment based on their own comfort and skill level. They will help with the planning and budgeting for one crop from planting to harvest.
We are part of an active community of family farmers and ranchers and will help the apprentice meet local farmers and coordinate visits to other farms approximately once a month. We will include opportunities to participate in farm community events put on by farm groups like the Klamath-Lake Farm Bureau and introduce them to the people involved in our local food systems non-profit, Klamath Grown.
The position will start on/around April 15th and last until approximately September 15th. We have some flexibility on start and end dates of the apprentice’s work season if necessary. There will be between 6 and 10 hours of training in a day, 5 days a week. The apprentice will be expected to show up between 7am and 8am as needed. The schedule can be irregular depending on the harvest schedule, with blocks of training in the morning and evening. The apprentice will have the opportunity to take a week off from training sometime in July or August. As for physical expectations, the apprentice should be able to walk 3-4 miles a day and lift 50lbs easily. The apprentice can expect to be asked to move bales of hay, lift sacks of seed, carry irrigation pipes, drag irrigation hoses, and pound in fence posts.
Each morning there will be a check-in and explanation of the tasks for the day, with an opportunity to answer any questions. When the apprentice is given a new task or project to begin, we will be present to explain and demonstrate the techniques and expectations involved and help get them started. The apprentice will be given the opportunity to work independently, but a mentor will be a phone call away if troubleshooting is needed. At the end of the day, we will check in and talk about the progress that day and address any concerns or answer questions the apprentice might have. There will be a whole farm meeting once a week to review everything that we've done and talk about what the next week will look like. Periodically, we will have the apprentice tag along to get an understanding of jobs on the farm that are outside of their direct experience.
QUALIFICATIONS
We would like an applicant who enjoys working outside without close supervision. Some experience around livestock is preferred, and the applicant should have some physical work experience. Applicants should be interested in farming as a future occupation and be willing to work with and cooperate with people of a different mindset. Our family includes children who are intertwined with our farm life. As such, we would prefer family-friendly applicants, and no smoking, alcohol, or drug use.
A vehicle is necessary given the location of our farm. Being able to drive a manual transmission is preferred, but we are willing to train someone who is eager to learn.
COMPENSATION / ACCOMMODATIONS
The position will start at $15/hr. We will provide a stipend for fuel to help with travel to and from the farm and to help the apprentice participate in the Rogue Farm Corp program. Following a successful season, the apprentice can expect an end-of-season bonus. The apprentice will receive an employee discount of 20% on any food purchased from the farm store.
There are rentals available in Klamath Falls and surrounding areas. We will happily advise an apprentice on good locations to rent in. That being said, we are actively networking to find off-farm housing that we can assist with for the season.
Cell service is available on the whole farm. Wi-fi is available at either of the two houses on the farm.
EQUITY AND INCLUSION
On our farm the only thing we don't tolerate is intolerance. We only ask people that work for us to do jobs that we would be willing to do ourselves. We try to ensure that anyone can afford and access our products, while still providing us and our employees with a living wage.
Marlena and Josh McPherson with their child.