Farm Hand Jobs in the USA – Working with Livestock

In this article we’re going to take a look at one of the most important jobs in the United States – being a farm hand who works with livestock like cows, chickens, pigs and more. Roll up your sleeves because this job gets dirty, smelly, but also super rewarding. Let’s dive in!

What Exactly Is a Farm Hand?

A farm hand is someone who helps out on a farm or ranch doing all the hard work to keep things running smoothly. When it comes to livestock farms, their days are filled with tasks like:

• Feeding and watering the animals
• Cleaning out stables, coops and pens
• Moving animals between pastures or buildings
• Monitoring animals for any health issues
• Assisting with births and caring for baby animals
• Repairing fences, equipment and structures
• Planting, growing and harvesting crops to feed the livestock

As you can see, it’s a very hands-on job where you’ll be working directly with all types of farm animals every single day. No day is the same!

The #1 Reason to Become a Livestock Farm Hand (It’s Awesome)

While being a farm hand is definitely hard work, the #1 reason to consider this job is…you get to work up close with some amazing animals!

Think about it – where else can you:

• Feed and pet baby cows, lambs, chicks or piglets?
• See animals give birth right before your eyes?
• Play a part in rearing animals from babies to adults?

For animal lovers, this has to be a dream come true job. You build real bonds with the livestock as you care for them daily. Pretty cool, right?

But caring for livestock goes beyond just the cute and cuddly side of things…

The Dirty Truth About Farm Hand Jobs

I won’t sugar coat it – working as a livestock farm hand is one of the dirtiest, smelliest jobs out there. Why? Well, where there are animals, there’s…you know…poop. Lots and lots of poop.

A huge part of the job is cleaning out stalls, barns and pens by shoveling and disposing of animal waste. It’s smelly, nasty work that has to be done every single day without fail.

But that’s not all. Livestock farming is also incredibly physically demanding work. You’ll be on your feet for hours lifting heavy feed bags, pushing wheelbarrows, repairing structures, and more.

It’s the kind of job where you’ll be dead tired by the end of every workday. The good news? All that physical labor means you’ll be getting an awesome workout while getting paid!

So if you don’t mind getting dirty and doing some heavy lifting, being a livestock farm hand could be right up your alley. Now let’s look at some of the skills and experience you’ll need.

What It Takes to Be a Great Livestock Farm Hand

While you don’t necessarily need a college degree, there are some key skills and traits that will help you succeed as a farm hand working with livestock:

Skill #1 – You Need to Be an Animal Lover This one is obvious – if you don’t genuinely love being around animals and caring for them, a livestock farm hand job is NOT for you. The animals rely on you for their wellbeing, so you have to be passionate about keeping them happy and healthy.

Skill #2 – Physical Strength and Stamina Like we discussed, farm hand work is incredibly physically demanding. You’ll need to be strong enough to lift heavy objects, work with large animals, and be on your feet for hours on end. Building up your overall stamina is a must.

Skill #3 – Attention to Detail When you’re responsible for caring for so many livestock animals, it’s crucial to have a keen eye for detail. You’ll need to closely monitor each animal’s health, feed intake, behavior and more to catch any potential issues early on. Missing something can be dangerous.

Skill #4 – Experience Working with Livestock (Very Helpful) While not 100% required, having prior experience actually working hands-on with farm animals like cows, horses, pigs, etc. is extremely valuable. This shows potential employers you understand what caring for livestock entails.

Ways to Get Experience:

• Work on a relative’s farm or ranch
• Volunteer at animal sanctuaries or rescues
• Take agriculture vocational classes
• Get a job at a petting zoo or dairy farm

Skill #5 – Ability to Follow Rules and Procedures There are very strict rules, protocols and safety guidelines when it comes to caring for livestock on a farm or ranch. You have to be able to follow these to the letter – cutting corners can put the animals and yourself at risk.

If you can check off most or all of those skills and traits, then a livestock farm hand job could be an awesome fit for you!

What About the Pay?

At this point you may be wondering – with all that tough, physical labor involved, do livestock farm hands at least get paid well?

The honest answer is…not really. According to PayScale, the average hourly pay for farm hands/agricultural workers in the United States is around $12-14 per hour.

While the salary isn’t huge, there can be nice perks that come with the job like:

• Free housing provided on the farm
• Farm-grown fruits/veggies to take home
• Discounts on buying meat/dairy from the farm
• Potential for raising if you show skill/work ethic

So while you won’t get rich, a farm hand job provides a steady paycheck plus some cool extra benefits for hard workers.

How to Land an Awesome Farm Hand Job

Okay, let’s say you have a passion for livestock, the strength and skills for the job…how do you actually go about landing one of these farm hand positions? Here are some tips:

Tip #1 – Search Smart Start by finding local farms and ranches in your area that have livestock operations. AgCareers.com and FarmHired.com are two great sites to look for openings. Also check local job boards and farm/agriculture websites.

Tip #2 – Apply Directly Don’t just rely on online listings – also be proactive! Print out your resume and cover letter, then drive around to farms and walk in to inquire about open positions. Farmers really respect hustle.

Tip #3 – Stand Out on the Resume On your resume and cover letter, really play up any experience you have working with animals, doing physical outdoor work, operating farm equipment, etc. This will instantly grab the farmer’s attention.

Pro Tip: Add a section titled “Farm & Agriculture Skills” where you list out every relevant skill, certification, etc.

Tip #4 – Ask Smart Interview Questions During the interview, you’ll want to ask questions that show off your genuine interest and knowledge about livestock farming. Questions like:

“What types of animals do you raise here?” “What does a typical day/week look like in this role?” “Can you tell me about your feeding program and protocols?”

Tip #5 – Highlight Your Work Ethic & Passion Farmers and ranchers value hardworking, reliable people who have a true passion for agriculture. During the interview, give examples of times you went above and beyond, and explain why you’re so drawn to this type of work.

If you go after job opportunities the right way, you’ll greatly increase your chances of getting hired as a livestock farm hand.

The Bottom Line

While being a livestock farm hand is definitely not your typical “easy” job, it’s incredibly rewarding work – especially if you’re an animal lover. Yes, the workdays are long, physically grueling and messy. But you get to wake up every morning surrounded by amazing animals that you play a vital role in caring for.

Few other jobs give you that kind of connection to the animals and the land. If you have the passion and can hack the demanding workload, a farm hand job working with livestock can be an awesome career path.

What are your thoughts on working as a livestock farm hand? Leave a comment below and let me know! Also feel free to share any other tips from your own experience getting hired for agriculture jobs.