Ranch Technician

Overview

Job Title: Ranch Technician

Location: Bad River Ranch – Ft. Pierre, SD

Type: Full-Time / Salary / Exempt / Benefits-Eligible

Housing: Yes

Do you enjoy wide open spaces, and do you have a passion for preserving them? Have you dreamed of being a part of the largest and most progressive bison operation in the world? At Turner Ranches, we’re dedicated to sustainable ranching and conservation, and we’re looking for talented, like-minded individuals to be a part of our growing team.

Bad River Ranch, a pristine, 148,000-acre bison ranch located in central South Dakota, is seeking an energetic Ranch Technician who is passionate about low-stress livestock handling and innovative grazing practices.

As a Ranch Technician, your primary duties will be centered around grazing and rangeland management, bison movement and processing, and infrastructure development and maintenance. You’ll assist in managing bison herds using adaptive grazing practices across the Ranch. The ability and skills to use ATVs/UTVs to perform ranch work, including moving bison, is required.

• Operating and maintaining equipment, including farm machinery and construction equipment.
• Utilizing technology, including temporary fencing in a range environment.
• Assisting in the preparation of pastures (fences, water systems, forage inventory) ahead of the grazing rotation and ranch-wide as needed.
• Moving/Handling bison in the pasture and corrals using low stress techniques on foot, ATV or UTV.
• Feeding bison (hay, cake, salt, and mineral).
• Developing and maintaining fences, water sources, corrals, ranch buildings, and other ranch infrastructure.
• Performing range monitoring and grazing planning as necessary and providing monthly reports to management.
• Using a welder, plasma cutter, cutting torch, and other shop equipment safely.
• Using herbicides as appropriate and assigned for weed management.
• Watching for fires during storms, suppressing wildfires and assisting with prescribed fires as necessary.
• Vaccinating livestock using syringes and hypodermic needles or other means.
• Participating in Ranch safety programs, including safe operation of vehicles, equipment, and ATVs/UTVs.
• Handling monthly reporting of grazing activity, range health, feeding and feed inventories, fuel and maintenance logs, capital project status updates, and conservation efforts.
• Assisting with the development of plans for capital improvements.
• All other duties as assigned.

• Working on horseback.
• A management or supervisory position.

• A high school diploma or general education degree (GED)
• Experience in livestock care and low-stress animal handling
• Experience operating heavy equipment and ATVs/UTVs
• Basic computer skills, including preparation of reports and spreadsheets
• This position requires operation of vehicles, and you’ll need to possess a valid driver’s license or be able to obtain one within 30 days of employment. Your driving record will need to meet the standards and requirements of the Company and the Company’s insurance provider
• You’ll need to present documentation establishing both identity and employment authorization within three days of hire pursuant to federal law

• Relevant bachelor’s degree in Agriculture, Natural Resources or a related field
• Five years’ experience in production agriculture

• Extreme Ownership
• Commitment to Mission and Team
• Stockmanship
• Initiative and adaptability
• Humility and ability to learn from others

The Company offers full time employees an elite benefits package, including medical dental and vision insurance, basic life insurance, short term disability, 401(k) plan with matching contributions, paid time off and paid holidays.

On-ranch, single-family housing with basic utilities (power, water, propane) will be provided subject to a Company Housing Agreement and Company policies.

On a regular basis, you can expect to:

• Stand; sit; walk; move hands and fingers; reach with hands and arms; stoop, kneel, crouch, or crawl; and talk or hear.
• Lift and/or move up to 75 pounds.
• Perform physical labor for extended periods of time.

On a frequent…