Agricultural Assistant

Description

Vala’s Pumpkin Patch & Apple Orchard is hiring an Agricultural Assistant. This role is to contribute to the efficient and effective operation of the Vala’s agricultural curriculum, working alongside the Director of Agriculture in planting, maintaining, and the growing of pumpkins, apples, and flowers. This person will be a full-time, year-round member of our Core Staff Team. The pay is commensurate with experience. 

About Vala’s

Located in Gretna, Nebraska, Vala’s is a family owned and operated fall festival open to the public 45 to 55 days a year and is a treasured fall tradition for many families in the surrounding communities. Vala’s property spans 400+ acres, including over 50 attractions, such as pick-your-own pumpkins, apples, and flowers, and over 25 food locations. Our U-Pick and Cider Orchards have over 40,000 apple trees and offer over 35 varieties of apples, with plans of continued growth. Vala’s also has over 50 acres of pumpkin fields, a variety of flower fields, and landscaping, all a part of our farm and the responsibility of our Ag team.

Vala’s hires people with positive, hard-working personalities and an enthusiasm for agriculture and the agritainment industry. Vala’s hires people that will live by our Core Values: Act with Integrity, Pull the Wagon, Keep Growing, and Go the Extra Mile. 

About the Position

As an Agricultural Assistant, you will assist with the duties and responsibilities in maintaining the orchard, pumpkins, and anything ag related under the direction of the Director of Ag and the owners. Duties include, but are not limited to, working directly with the Director of Ag for the care and maintenance of a 40 acre apple orchard, pumpkin fields, landscaping, and aiding in whatever the farm needs to prosper. The Ag Assistant will assist in following the spraying schedules for apples and pumpkins, as well as plant pumpkins every year for our fall season. The candidate for this position will have a strong work ethic, a willingness and drive to learn, be detail-oriented, will be able to work outdoors under a variety of weather conditions, and be able to assist in working with a diverse group of co-workers and seasonal staff members.

This role will look different each season of the year, with more hours and responsibilities during our spring, summer, and fall seasons. The Ag Assistant should expect to work approximately 40-50 hours/week in the off-season, depending on planting, spray schedule, and workload, and a minimum of 72+ hours per week during our fall operating season, up to 14 hours per day. Working at Vala’s during the fall season is fast-paced, with long hours August through October, and great flexibility in the off-season. 

Requirements

• Assists with duties and responsibilities in maintaining the orchard, pumpkin fields, flowers and other ag related duties
• Assist with maintaining spray schedules for the orchard and pumpkins
• Assist with planting and growing pumpkins
• Assist with other orchard duties, including but not limited to, pruning, weed control, orchard maintenance and harvesting of apples
• Assist with overseeing tractor hayrack rides to ensure a memorable guest experience to the pumpkin fields and apple orchards
• Assist in other farm duties, such as cider pressing, landscape assistance, etc.

Responsibilities & Duties - by season

Winter

• Work with the Director of Ag on the following year farm management plan
• Pruning apple trees
• Work with team to press apples from the fall harvest
• Develop and revise SOPs/documentation, as needed
• Assisting on farm aesthetic improvements 

Spring

• Plant apple trees, as needed
• Small construction projects/farm maintenance, as needed
• Orchard maintenance
• Ensuring irrigation startup is ready for summer
• Assist with preparing landscape beds, when needed
• Assist with planting of both Deciduous and Coniferous trees

Summer

• Aiding with proper timing of spray applications on apples and pumpkins 
• Mow and maintain orchard
• Irrigate crops, when needed
• Assist with planting pumpkins
• Assist with other agricultural maintenance, as needed
• Ensuring all equipment and staff are ready for the fall apple harvest
• On-board and train new seasonal Ag crew members
• Assist in training new seasonal tractor drivers
• Work with crew to make sure U-Pick Stand and Orchard Wagon are cleaned and set up for the fall season
• Work with Ag Director to place fall displays/photo ops throughout farm during the fall season

Fall (Our “Season”)

• Assist with our U-Pick operations
• Assist in leading the orchard crew to maintain cleanliness of U-pick Orchard
• Assist with leading and coordinating apple harvest for seasonal staff members, and volunteer pickers
• Assist with cider pressing production, as needed
• Assist with cider and apple delivery to retail and food locations, as needed
• Maintaining farm grounds for cleanliness, ensuring safety for guests and staff
• Assist with tractor drivers and safety for guests and staff
• Harvesting and stocking of pumpkins and apples as needed 

Requirements

• Passionate about agriculture and enjoy working outdoors 
• Personable, friendly, guest service experience
• Ability to take direction in both working with a team and individually
• Ability to identify and monitor pest and disease with various crops (or a willingness to learn)
• Ability to operate equipment, driving tractors, skid steer, etc.
• Knowledge of farm operations and farm management
• Pest and disease identification/control knowledge (training provided)
• Pesticide applicator license or ability to obtain within 6 months of hire
• Good physical condition, ability to lift 50lbs, being on your feet, walking short and long distances
• Manage time effectively with limited supervision, when needed
• Plant and landscape knowledge is a plus
• Having a degree in Agriculture, Horticulture, Agronomy, tree fruit production or other related fields and related work experience is a plus
• Bilingual is a plus

Why Choose to Work at Vala’s?

• Family-owned and operated business with strong Core Values
• Team environment
• Core Staff Member Benefits: health, medical, dental, simple IRA, PTO
• Educational Opportunities
• Goal-based bonuses
• Seasonal Perks: season passes, general admission tickets, Core Staff meals