Seasonal Farm-Hand

Sunshine River Farms is hiring for the Seasonal Farm-Hand position in Whitefish, MT. This hands-on role supports the operation's day-to-day production and care work. Reliable execution and early communication matter because the work directly affects plants, animals, equipment, coworkers, customers, or the surrounding property. What you will do • Seed, transplant, cultivate, irrigate, harvest, wash, pack, and store crops according to the farm's plan and food-safety procedures. • Use and care for assigned hand tools, wash-pack equipment, carts, and field equipment within training. • Monitor crops and communicate pest, disease, water, weather, quality, or harvest-timing concerns promptly. • Prepare beds, seed, transplant, cultivate, weed, irrigate, trellis, harvest, wash, pack, and store a diverse vegetable crop while learning the farm's regenerative production and product-quality practices. • Help prepare produce and supplies for the Tuesday Whitefish farmers market, maintain clean harvest containers and wash-pack spaces, and protect the cold chain and order accuracy from field through loading. • Support greenhouse, tunnel, field, and general farm upkeep, using tools and equipment only after training and communicating crop, irrigation, pest, weather, equipment, or workflow problems promptly. How the work fits together Farm priorities follow crop condition, weather, harvest commitments, and customer orders. The crew checks urgent irrigation and harvest needs first, then moves through field production, post-harvest handling, accurate packing, storage, and cleanup. Each employee's work affects both crop life and the quality customers receive. At Sunshine River Farms, the employer also makes these role-specific priorities clear: Prepare beds, seed, transplant, cultivate, weed, irrigate, trellis, harvest, wash, pack, and store a diverse vegetable crop while learning the farm's regenerative production and product-quality practices. Help prepare produce and supplies for the Tuesday Whitefish farmers market, maintain clean harvest containers and wash-pack spaces, and protect the cold chain and order accuracy from field through loading. Support greenhouse, tunnel, field, and general farm upkeep, using tools and equipment only after training and communicating crop, irrigation, pest, weather, equipment, or workflow problems promptly. What the employer is looking for • At least one year of manual-labor experience, with previous farm experience preferred, plus the stamina and attention needed for repetitive outdoor production work and changing seasonal conditions. • Reliable transportation to the Whitefish farm, consistent attendance, willingness to adapt start and end times around summer heat and harvests, and availability for a weekend shift when agreed; employee housing is not available. • Dependable attendance, direct communication, and willingness to follow the employer's safety, quality, and customer- or production-care procedures. • Ability to complete the role's active, in-person work and to ask for instruction before using unfamiliar tools, equipment, products, or animal-handling methods. Schedule, conditions, and compensation The main season runs from April through October. Full-time work is generally 40 to 45 hours weekly, primarily Monday through Friday, while part-time work averages about 25 hours and may range from eight to 25 hours according to the current role outline. The Tuesday Whitefish market operates from 5:00 to 7:30 p.m.; earlier starts are likely in summer, and occasional weekend availability is preferred but not required. Compensation is $17 to $20 per hour depending on experience, and employees receive farm vegetables. Confirm the actual opening date, assigned market work, overtime treatment, and weekly schedule before accepting. The employer publishes $17–$20 per hour. Applicants should confirm the final hours, overtime treatment, starting assignment, travel or reporting point, supplied equipment, and benefit eligibility directly with the employer before accepting an offer. This is an in-person agricultural production position with a small operation. Daily priorities can change with weather, plant or animal condition, equipment availability, customer schedules, and the season. The successful person should arrive ready to work, communicate early when a task or condition is unclear, follow the employer's safety and quality procedures, and leave tools, vehicles, production areas, and job sites secure and ready for the next shift. Applicants should expect active work that may include long periods of standing or walking, bending, lifting, repetitive hand tasks, noise, dust, mud, pollen, heat, cold, rain, or work around moving equipment. The exact physical demands differ by assignment. Candidates should discuss any accommodation needs with the employer and confirm the final schedule, overtime treatment, training period, travel expectations, and benefit eligibility before accepting an offer. Only compensation and benefits expressly published by the employer are included here; unpublished terms have not been estimated. How to apply Email a cover letter and resume to both eric@sunshineriverfarms.com and dane@sunshineriverfarms.com. Describe your manual-labor and farm background, specify full- or part-time interest, provide April-through-October availability, and note whether you can support Tuesday market work and an occasional weekend shift.