Alpaca Farm Worker

Job description

Crops/Commodities:
alpacas.
This job requires a minimum of three months of verifiable prior experience working on an alpaca farm, handling both manual and machine tasks. Experience with shearing, birthing and breeding is essential. Workers must be able to perform manual as well as mechanized activities with accuracy and efficiency. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience. Workers will perform complete alpaca herd care (up to 170 animals of all ages), with specific attention to maintenance; assist in handling alpaca in preparation for show/sales; nutrition, shearing, periodic routine herd health, emergency medical care, paddock maintenance, clean and maintain facilities, birthing females and special needs of offspring (cria), breeding and quarantine procedures.

Workers will load trucks with bales of hay and sacks of grain and feed weighing up to and including 60 pounds and lifting to a height of 5 feet. Workers are expected to begin work early in the morning when fields may be wet with dew. Temperatures may range from 10 to 110 F. Work requires repetitive movements and extensive walking. Allergies to ragweed, goldenrod, animal dandruff, insect spray, related chemicals, etc. may affect workers’ ability to perform the job. Workers should be physically able to do the work required with or without reasonable accommodations. Prefer working English language skills. Saturday work required.

Employer assures that workers will be provided transportation from living quarters to work site every day (for workers who must be provided housing under the applicable regulations).

The employer may discipline the worker, including brief suspension of work activities (“time out”) for a period determined by the supervisor, suspension from employment for a set period of days or termination of employment as described in the “Work Rules."

Persons seeking employment as experienced Alpaca Farm Worker must be available for the entire period requested by the employer. Successful applicants will be subject to a trial period of up to 5 days during which their performance of required tasks will be evaluated. If the performance during the trial period is not acceptable to the employer the worker‘s employment will be terminated.

Raises and/or bonuses may be offered to any seasonal worker employed pursuant to this job order, at the company's sole discretion, based on individual factors including work performance, skill, and tenure.

Employer retains the right to discharge an obviously unqualified worker, malingerer or recalcitrant worker who is physically able but does not demonstrate the willingness to perform the work necessary for the employer to grow a premium quality product, or for any other lawful reason.

All terms and conditions included in the job order will apply equally to all workers, both U.S. workers and H-2A workers, employed in the occupation described in this clearance order.

Employer may request, but not require, workers to work more than the stated daily hours and/or on a worker’s Sabbath or federal holidays. Workers will have an unpaid lunch break. Worker must report to work at designated time and place each day. Daily or weekly work schedule may vary due to weather, sunlight, temperature, crop conditions, and other factors. Employer will notify workers of any change to start time.

TERMINATION. All workers will be subject to a five-day trial period, during which the employer will evaluate workers' performance of required tasks. Employer reserves the right to terminate a worker at the conclusion of the trial period if the worker’s performance fails to satisfy the employer’s reasonable expectations, or is otherwise unacceptable.

Special Requirements

This job requires a minimum of three months of verifiable prior experience working on an alpaca farm, handling both manual and machine tasks. Experience with shearing, birthing and breeding is essential. Applicants must be able to furnish verifiable job reference(s) or comparable third party documentation from recent employer(s) establishing acceptable prior experience. Saturday work required. Must be able to lift/carry 60 lbs.