Agricultural Equipment Operator

Job description

We are a family farm in Western Kansas seeking an experienced farm operator. The farm comprises 10,000 dryland acres and 1,900 irrigated corn acres and uses modern agricultural equipment. The operator's responsibilities include crop planting, harvesting, post-harvest handling of grain, and general maintenance. The job is seasonal, with reduced farming activities in winter. The job duties entail a wide range of responsibilities, including preparing fields for planting, operating a variety of farm equipment such as tractors, planters, and irrigation systems, engaging in planting, weeding, and harvesting activities. Other tasks involve loading and unloading crops or materials using various equipment such as conveyors, forklifts, or transfer augers, and installing, maintaining, and repairing irrigation systems. The job duties also include preparing fields for planting, attaching farm implements such as plows, discs, sprayers, or harvesters to tractors using bolts and hand tools. Additionally, the operator will operate tractors, planters, seed drills, and irrigation equipment, load and unload crops or materials manually or using conveyors, forklifts, or transfer augers, load hoppers, containers, or conveyors to feed machines with products, using forklifts, transfer augers, suction gates, shovels, or pitchforks, manipulate controls to set, activate, and adjust mechanisms on machinery, observe and listen to machinery operation to detect equipment malfunctions, weigh crop-filled containers, record weights and other identifying information, load and unload crops, operate equipment to harvest crops, record agricultural data, and drive pickup trucks to haul crops, supplies, and tools. The ideal candidate for the farm operator should have extensive experience in row crop planting, harvesting, and record-keeping, with a proficiency in operating John Deere equipment. Knowledge of GPS guidance equipment is preferred, along with the ability to operate a grain bin system. The applicant should also demonstrate the capability to perform routine maintenance and general repairs on equipment. Knowledge of irrigation equipment is preferred, along with strong communication skills, self-motivation, a positive attitude, dependability, and the ability to work well with others. 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.

*** For 2025 and all future applications the starting date will be February15 to cover the entire crop season.

Special Requirements

Must be able to lift 50 lbs. Must have a regular driver's license. Requires 3 months farm experience.