Farm Summer Fellow - Summer 2025

Department:   Fairfield Farm & Environmental Initiatives Program

FLSA:                 Non-Exempt

Reports to:      Fairfield Farm Manager

Schedule:         Seasonal Educational Program, June through August

Designation:   Casual Labor, hourly, 30-35 hours weekly

Travel:               Rare (occasional travel from Fairfield Farm to Hotchkiss main campus only)

POSITION SUMMARY:

Fairfield Farm Summer Fellow will work alongside the Farm Manager and Assistant Farm Manager to support the agricultural and educational goals of the farm during the months of June through August, learning stewardship of the land, plants and environment, promoting sustainability and well-being for the program and the communities it will serve. Farm Summer Fellows can expect to learn about and engage with every aspect of operations at Fairfield Farm, including but not limited to seeding, planting, cultivating, harvesting, produce preparation, and work with livestock. Farm Summer Fellows will also participate in and occasionally lead weekly conversations about food production, food justice and other related topics of interest to the farm team.

ESSENTIAL DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES:

• Propagation of seedlings for farm production, including seeking, watering, potting up, hardening off, and transplanting.
• Direct seeding.
• Bed preparation, hand weeding, and mechanical weeding using hand tools.
• Harvesting, washing, and storing produce for consumption in The Hotchkiss School dining hall or at the Corner Food Pantry in Lakeville, CT.
• Limited use of machinery, ex. string trimmer, power tools, etc.
• Feeding, watering, and maintenance work with livestock.
• General upkeep of Farm facilities and the Grange and Mary Graf Barn.
• Supporting the educational needs (ex. occasionally helping with tours or sharing about the farm with visitors).
• Supporting the needs of scheduled summertime events at Fairfield Farm.

SKILLS AND EXPERIENCE REQUIRED:

• A demonstrated interest in agriculture and the food system.
• A positive and patient attitude, with willingness to learn and work in a team setting.
• Possess a level of maturity to be able to work independently and responsibly.
• Ability to follow directions and comply with safety guidelines creating a physically safe environment for self and others.
• Good communication skills and flexibility.

PHYSICAL REQUIREMENTS TO PERFORM THE ESSENTIAL FUNCTIONS:

• This position requires physical demands of farm labor such as: frequent walking, standing, reaching, stooping, squatting and the use of your hands.
• Able to work indoors as well as outdoors, the majority of the day in variable weather conditions and on uneven surfaces
• Able to use a shovel, rake or cultivator or other farm tools
• Limited use of machinery, ex. string trimmer, power tools, etc.
• Frequently lift and carry 50 pounds
• Must be able to ascend and descend stairs and ladders
• The Hotchkiss School property is a tobacco-free environment

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

The essential functions and basic skills have been included. It is not intended to be construed as an exhaustive list of all functions, responsibilities, skills and abilities. Additional functions and requirements may be assigned by supervisors as deemed appropriate.

The Hotchkiss School is an equal-opportunity employer and is committed to basing judgments concerning the employment of individuals upon their qualifications and abilities. The School is firmly committed to equal employment and advancement opportunities for all employees and applicants in all phases of the employment process (including recruitment, hiring, assignment, terms, and conditions of employment, compensation, benefits, training, promotion, transfer, discipline, and termination).

In accordance with applicable law, the School does not discriminate against any individual based on age, ancestry, color, genetic information, learning disability, marital status, past or present history of mental disability, national origin, physical disability, race, religious creed, sex, pregnancy, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran status, or any other protected characteristic.

Located in the scenic Berkshire-Taconic Landscape in the quiet northwest corner of Connecticut, The Hotchkiss School is a community in which faculty and staff members build careers and grow as professionals.  We seek to identify, recruit, and develop faculty and staff members who possess a diversity of experiences, perspectives, talents, and backgrounds. Collectively, we are dedicated to supporting the intellectual, social, and emotional growth of 600 students who come from around the country and the world.