Dairy Farm Team Member (Milking/Calf Care)

Wrights-Dairy-Farm; North Smithfield (RI); On-site; USD 25,000 - 30,000; Full time

Benefits offered by this job

Competitive pay

Benefits for eligible employees

401(k) with company match

Paid time off

Employee discounts

Training & growth opportunities

Job summary

Wright’s Dairy Farm in North Smithfield, RI is seeking a Farm Team Member (Milking & Calf Care) for a hands‑on role. The position involves milking and calf care, sanitation, and related farm duties within a 365‑day operation.

It offers full‑time or part‑time schedules with competitive pay based on experience and qualifications. The ideal candidate enjoys physical work, animals, and teamwork, and can follow established procedures while maintaining milk quality, animal welfare, and safety

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years old.
• Previous dairy farming, milking or calf-care experience preferred.
• Experience working with livestock preferred.
• Ability to operate farm equipment is a plus.
• Reliable, detail-oriented and able to follow safety rules.
• Willingness to work weekends and holidays as required.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a team.

Responsibilities

• Milking operations and proper udder sanitation per protocol.
• Calf care duties and calf‑rearing support.
• Maintain clean, safe milking areas and equipment.
• Follow milk quality, sanitation, hygiene and biosecurity procedures.
• Report animal health concerns to the Herd Manager.
• Assist with general farm duties as needed.

Skills

Dairy farming experience

Livestock care

Operate farm equipment

Independent and team work

Communication with supervisors

Hands-on livestock tasks

Reliability

Weekend/holiday availability

Tools

Skid steer equipment

Job description

Farm Team Member (Milking & Calf Care)

North Smithfield, RI I Full-time or Part-time I $18-$22 per hour (based on experience and qualifications)

Join the Farm Team at Wright’s

At Wright’s Dairy Farm, everything we do starts with the care of our cows. From the barn to the bottle, our team plays a key role in delivering quality products to our customers every day.

We’re looking for dependable, hard-working individuals to join our farm team in a hands‑on milking and calf care role. This is a great opportunity for someone who enjoys physical work, being around animals, and being part of a team that takes pride in what they do.

The Farm Team Member (Milking & Calf Care) is a hands‑on agricultural position responsible for the daily milking of the herd and care of calves. This position is an active working role and is expected to perform milking, calf care, cleaning, sanitation, and related farm duties as part of the regular work schedule.

The position plays an important role in maintaining milk quality, animal health and welfare, sanitation, and the safe and efficient operation of the farm. The role requires reliability, attention to detail, physical stamina, and the ability to consistently follow established procedures in a fast‑paced, 365-day dairy operation.

The primary focus of this position is milking and calf care. As the employee develops knowledge, demonstrates reliability, and builds proficiency, opportunities may be available to learn and assist with additional herd and farm responsibilities.

Essential Duties and Responsibilities

• Milking Operations
• Perform scheduled milking of the herd in accordance with established farm procedures.
• Prepare cows for milking by cleaning and sanitizing udders according to established protocols.
• Properly attach, monitor, and remove milking equipment.
• Monitor cows and equipment throughout the milking process to maintain proper milk flow and identify irregularities.
• Identify and promptly report concerns such as abnormal milk, signs of mastitis, injury, illness, or other changes in a cow's condition.
• Perform appropriate post‑milking teat care and other established cow‑care procedures.
• Follow all milk quality, sanitation, hygiene, and food safety procedures.
• Clean and sanitize milking equipment, parlor areas, and related tools following established procedures.
• Maintain a clean, organized, and safe milking area.

Animal Care & Observation

• Observe cows and calves regularly for changes in health, behavior, appetite, mobility, or overall condition.
• Recognize and promptly communicate signs of illness, injury, distress, or other concerns to the Herd Manager.
• Handle livestock calmly and safely using established animal‑handling practices.
• Follow established procedures for animal welfare and humane treatment.
• Follow established cleaning, sanitation, and biosecurity procedures throughout the farm.
• Clean and maintain work areas, equipment, tools, and animal‑care areas as assigned.
• Properly use cleaning chemicals, sanitizers, and other supplies according to established procedures.
• Follow procedures designed to prevent the spread of illness between animals, groups, and areas of the farm.
• Maintain personal cleanliness and required protective practices when working with animals, milk, feed, and equipment.

Safety & Operational Standards

• Follow all farm safety policies, procedures, and training requirements.
• Wear required personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Maintain awareness of livestock movement, equipment, vehicles, machinery, environmental conditions, and other potential hazards.
• Report hazards, unsafe conditions, equipment concerns, animal health concerns, and operational issues promptly.
• Follow established procedures when working around livestock, equipment, chemicals, and other farm hazards.
• Maintain a clean and orderly work environment.
• Communicate effectively with the Herd Manager and other farm team members regarding animal care, work assignments, and operational concerns.
• Maintain professional behavior when interacting with coworkers, managers, visitors, and other individuals on the farm.
• Reports to work as scheduled and consistently completes assigned responsibilities.
• Follows established procedures and recognizes changes in animals, equipment, cleanliness, or milk quality.
• Demonstrates appropriate awareness of animal behavior, movement, health, and safety.
• Consistently follows milking, calf‑care, sanitation, safety, and biosecurity procedures.
• Willingly performs hands‑on work and maintains productivity throughout the shift.
• Communicates clearly with the Herd Manager and farm team and works cooperatively with others.
• Recognizes hazards and follows safe work practices around livestock, equipment, chemicals, and farm conditions.
• Demonstrates willingness and ability to learn new tasks, procedures, and farm operations.
• Maintains clean, sanitary, and orderly work areas and equipment.

Supervisory Responsibilities

None

Travel

No travel is expected for this position.

Qualifications

• Must be at least 18 years of age.
• Previous experience in dairy farming, milking operations, livestock care, or calf care is preferred.
• Experience working directly with livestock is preferred.
• Experience operating farm equipment, such as a skid steer or similar equipment, is a plus.
• Ability to follow established safety rules, sanitation requirements, animal‑care procedures, and operating practices.
• Demonstrated reliability and dependability.
• Ability to work independently while also working effectively as part of a team.
• Ability to communicate effectively with supervisors and coworkers.
• Willingness to perform hands‑on work involving livestock, cleaning, feeding, and other routine farm duties.
• Ability and willingness to work in a 365‑day agricultural operation, including weekends and holidays.

Work Schedule

• Full‑Time: 30+ hours per week; Part‑Time: approx. 20 hours per week
• Morning milking begins as early as 3:00 AM; Afternoon milking begins at approximately 3:00 PM.
• Weekend and holiday availability is required.
• Employees are expected to perform scheduled milking and calf‑care responsibilities as part of their regular work schedule.
• Additional hours or schedule adjustments may be required based on herd needs, calving, staffing, seasonality, weather, and other farm operations.

Physical Demands and Work Environment

The physical demands and work environment characteristics described here are representative of those required to successfully perform the essential functions of this position. Reasonable accommodation may be made to enable qualified individuals with disabilities to perform essential functions.

While performing the duties of this job, the employee is regularly required to:

• Stand and walk for extended periods, up to the full shift
• Bend, kneel, stoop, crouch, and climb
• Perform repetitive hand and arm movements associated with milking, cleaning, feeding, and animal care.
• Lift, carry, push, and pull supplies, equipment, feed, bedding, water, and other materials.
• Work in wet, muddy, uneven, and slippery conditions
• Work in close proximity to large livestock and other farm animals
• Safely navigate around moving animals, equipment, and vehicles
• Work in varying temperatures and weather conditions
• Tolerate strong odors, noise, dust, and other conditions common to a working dairy farm.

Work environment includes

• Indoor milking parlors and barns.
• Open‑air barns and livestock areas.
• Outdoor calf hutches and pens.
• Exposure to hot, cold, wet, muddy, and other weather conditions.
• Exposure to livestock, animal waste, agricultural dust, and other farm‑related materials.
• Wet and slippery surfaces.
• Cleaning chemicals and sanitizing agents.
• Farm equipment, machinery, and vehicles.

Employees are required to follow all safety procedures, wear required PPE (including waterproof gear, gloves, and hearing protection where applicable), and comply with sanitation and biosecurity standards at all times. Proper footwear is required and must be durable, closed‑toe, and slip‑resistant, suitable for wet and uneven farm conditions.

What We Offer

• Competitive pay
• Benefits for eligible employees
• 401(k) with company match
• Paid time off
• Employee discounts
• Training & growth opportunities (subject to eligibility requirements and applicable company policies)

Wright’s Dairy Farm & Bakery is an Equal Opportunity Employer committed to a diverse, inclusive, and equitable workplace. We operate a drug‑free environment and adhere to ADA regulations as applicable.