Marys Land Farm LLC Farmhand Ellicott City, MD · Part time

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Our team works hard to create and maintain a 160-acre balanced farm of perennial plants and pasture that provides more per acre than a standard monoculture farm. We apply standards that go beyond organic principles resulting in the best quality food for ourselves and the community. Our goal is to share the fruits of our labor with the community. We are open daily for visitors to our Inn, the Farm Store, and several animal encounter areas. We have both private, scheduled appointments available, or walk-in/at-your-own-pace opportunities to visit the animals around the farm. We also have several venues to host your next picnic, birthday party, or other private event. We hope you join us to shop the new Farm Store, be our guest at the Bed and Breakfast Inn, enjoy one of our farm experiences or join us for one of our many events throughout the year! We look forward to seeing you on the farm!

Position Summary

The Farm Hand is a hands-on, physically demanding outdoor role centered on the daily care of farm animals and the upkeep of animal facilities and farm property. This position is ideal for someone who is passionate about working with animals, takes pride in a job well done, and thrives in a working farm environment — rain, shine, or cold.

Hours vary by season, which is standard in the agricultural industry. Summer and warm-weather months are the busiest and most physically demanding due to heat and increased workload. Winter and spring hours will be reduced, with a primary focus on animal care and greenhouse work.

Core Responsibilities

Animal Care (Primary Focus)

• Perform morning and/or evening chores daily, including feeding, watering, and general animal checks
• Monitor animal health and behavior; report concerns promptly to management
• Clean and maintain stalls, pens, coops, and all animal housing areas
• Manage bedding, mucking, and waste removal on a routine schedule
• Assist with basic animal husbandry tasks as directed

Property & Grounds Maintenance

• Perform general property maintenance including fencing, hauling, and repair tasks
• Assist with orchard and garden work including planting, pruning, harvesting, and clean-up
• Operate and maintain farm equipment and tools safely
• Support heavy lifting and physical labor tasks as needed across the property

Seasonal Responsibilities

• Summer/Fall: Full property workload — outdoor maintenance, events support, increased animal demands, weekend work required
• Winter/Spring: Reduced hours focused on animal care in cold, unheated barns and greenhouse work

Qualifications

Required

• Minimum 2–3 years of hands-on experience working with farm animals (livestock experience required)
• Strong physical fitness — able to perform demanding outdoor labor in all weather conditions, including summer heat and cold winters
• Proven reliability and dependability — this role requires consistent, on-time attendance including early mornings
• Exceptional work ethic and a self-motivated attitude
• Comfortable working in unheated barns and outdoor environments in cold weather
• Ability to lift 50+ lbs regularly

Preferred

• Experience operating tractors, skid steers, or other heavy farm machinery
• Experience with orchard, garden, or greenhouse work
• Basic mechanical aptitude for minor equipment maintenance
• First aid or livestock emergency experience a plus

Work Conditions & Schedule

• Outdoor physical labor in all weather — heat, cold, mud, and everything in between
• Hours vary seasonally; this is standard in the agricultural industry and candidates should be comfortable with fluctuating schedules
• Warm months (spring through fall): Higher hours, weekends expected, physically demanding workload outdoors
• Winter/early spring: Reduced hours with a focus on animal care and greenhouse support
• Some weekend and holiday availability will be required — farm animals need care every day