Events Operations Worker TEMP - Barns and Arenas

Larimer County; Fort Collins (CO); On-site; USD 20,664 - 27,552; Part time

Benefits offered by this job

Sick leave

Employee Assistance Program

Job summary

Larimer County is seeking an Event Support team member at The Ranch in Fort Collins, Colorado. This hands-on position involves preparing and maintaining equestrian and livestock event spaces, operating various equipment, and ensuring safety and comfort for both animals and guests. Candidates must be 18 years or older, with a valid driver's license preferred. The position offers a 56-hour schedule every two weeks, requiring weekend availability and a flexible schedule.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Possession of a valid driver's license preferred.

Responsibilities

• Preparing event spaces and maintaining organization before and during events.
• Operating equipment for maintenance and setup in a livestock facility.
• Monitoring public safety and animal welfare during events.

Job description

Overview

Join our hardworking and dedicated team at The Ranch supporting a wide range of livestock and equestrian events. In this hands-on role, you'll help prepare, maintain, and tear down event spaces within our livestock barns and equestrian arenas. You'll work directly with equipment, animals, and event staff to ensure a safe, clean, and professional environment for both guests and participants.

Responsibilities

• Preparing livestock and equestrian areas for events by setting up and tearing down stalls, panels, alleyways, wash racks, tack areas, chutes, and other animal-specific infrastructure.
• Ensuring barns, arenas, and surrounding areas are clean, organized, and properly bedded with shavings or straw before, during, and after events.
• Performing routine barn maintenance such as repairing stalls, fixing gates, maintaining plumbing for wash racks, clearing drains, and keeping walking surfaces safe for animals and people.
• Operating tractors and other equipment to drag arenas, move footing or shavings, pull manure wagons, and maintain consistent footing for events.
• Providing direct support to show staff, event promoters, and participants by handling special requests, troubleshooting stall assignments, and coordinating animal load-in/load-out.
• Ensuring public safety and animal welfare by monitoring access points, maintaining clear fire lanes and emergency exits, and enforcing facility rules.
• Assisting with feeding and watering livestock during multi-day events in coordination with promoters or animal care staff.
• Monitoring and reporting concerns such as biosecurity risks, loose or injured animals, and facility damage.

What We're Looking For

• Willingness to work extended hours, weekends, or overnight shifts during large-scale or multi-day shows.
• Working knowledge of livestock and equestrian facility operations, including animal behavior, safe handling practices, and event flow.
• Familiarity with standard event types including rodeos, horse shows, livestock jackpots, breed shows, and 4-H/FFA events.
• Ability to operate arena-specific equipment (e.g., arena drags, water trucks, skid steers, forklifts) with care and precision in tight areas or around animals.
• Knowledge of how to effectively prepare and maintain an arena for specific equestrian disciplines such as reining, barrel racing, rodeo events, or hunter/jumper competitions: drag patterns, footing requirements, gate placement, and safe entry/exit flow for horses and riders.
• Capable of identifying safety hazards for animals and people and taking appropriate corrective action (e.g., removing sharp objects, securing loose panels, etc.).
• Comfortable working in high-stress, fast-paced environments around animals, the public, and show staff.
• Understanding of basic biosecurity practices and facility sanitization following livestock events.

Qualifications

• Must be 18 years of age or older.
• Possession of a valid driver's license preferred.

Benefits

For all temporary positions, sick leave and our Employee Assistance Program are available and other benefits may be available.

To view information on Larimer County's Benefits, visit https://www.larimer.gov/hr/benefits

Supplemental Information

Typical schedule: 56 hours per pay period (28 hours per week). Weekend availability is required due to the nature of events held at The Ranch, and holiday work may be necessary during major events. This position does not include overnight, on-call, or remote work responsibilities. Expected to last 12 months.

• Holiday work may be required during major events.
• This position does not include overnight, on-call, or remote work responsibilities.
• A flexible schedule is required, including the ability to work evenings, weekends, and holidays as needed.

Larimer County is an Equal Opportunity Employer and prohibits discrimination and harassment in all employment practices on the basis of race, color, religion, sex (including pregnancy, gender identity or expression, and sexual orientation), national origin, marital status, disability, genetic information, age, military status, or any other characteristic protected by law or regulation.