Filter by Popular Categories
Are you an aspiring farmer who wants hands-on experience raising organic livestock and poultry on a diversified regenerative ranch? Spray Creek Ranch in Lillooet, BC, might be the place for you!
About the Farm
This ranch is situated on the traditional territories of the St’at’imc people, whose history with this land extends back into time immemorial as a seasonal gathering place.
Spray Creek Ranch is a 500 acre farm in the rain shadow of British Columbia’s Coast Mountains. The Ranch is a diversified regenerative farm using ecological principles to produce wholesome, delicious pastured meats. They believe in the power of regenerative agriculture to change the world, the power of food to connect people, and the power of consumers to change how farms are managed.
Spray Creek Ranch raises certified organic beef cattle, pigs, sheep, meat chickens, turkeys and laying hens on pasture as part of an integrated and regenerative agroecological system. They also operate a growing on-farm abattoir, and are moving toward slaughtering all their livestock on the farm and providing slaughter and cut & wrap services to other farms in the region.
Tristan and Aubyn raise livestock because they love animals. They treat their animals with care and respect and use the latest technologies such as electric fencing, to manage livestock in a way that improves animal welfare, animal performance, and soil health. Spray Creek Ranch is a predator-friendly farm.
Over the last decade, Spray Creek Ranch has gained the respect and loyalty of a dedicated group of customers who expect the quality of their meats and eggs to be top-notch, and trust their stewardship of the land. These customers know that when they purchase the products they are not only investing in their health, but a brighter future and a better way of farming.
Website: spraycreek.ca
Facebook: www.facebook.com/spraycreekranch
Instagram: www.instagram.com/spraycreekranch
Our Workplace Culture
Depending on the season, Spray Creek Ranch employs between one and three ranch hands, some of whom return each year. Typically, the team meets briefly in the morning to make a plan before splitting up to carry out the day’s tasks independently.
About the Farmers
Aubyn majored in Studio Art at University of Puget Sound in Tacoma, WA and Tristan studied Natural Resources Conservation at University of British Columbia in Vancouver before we married — but they met in band class in high school in Northern California! Tristan was raised rurally for most of his childhood, with a large homestead garden, poultry and horses to keep him busy with chores. His father was a property manager for childrens’ summer camps, and the skills Tristan learned early have served him well since. Aubyn, on the other hand, grew up in California’s bustling Bay Area, far from her grandmother’s roots as a farm girl. Her childhood acquaintances might be surprised that their vegetarian hippy friend is now a Canadian rancher.
In 2009, Tristan and Aubyn got married and began their life together homesteading. They fell in love with self-sufficiency, raising livestock the right way, and exploring the principles of regenerative agriculture. In 2014, their vision grew into Spray Creek Ranch. Today, they steward the land as a family committed to quality food, good health, and an unwavering dedication to conserving the land.
Alongside their ranching work, they homeschool their 6- and 8-year-old children. Tristan also serves as the president of the Small Scale Meat Producers Association and is actively involved in the organic farming community.
About the Apprenticeship
The apprentice’s primary learning will come from being an integral part of the day-to-day ranch operations. They will share the responsibility of performing tasks with other ranch hands, working both alone and as a team, and managing schedules and tasks to ensure everything is accomplished. The Apprentice will learn to use equipment such as trucks, ATVs and tractors daily. They will maintain and move various irrigation systems daily April through September, monitor the health of the forage and coordinate with grazing to ensure adequate production. The apprentice will also complete daily livestock chores, contribute to ranch projects, and build and maintain equipment and infrastructure. When other tasks on the farm require additional personnel, including slaughter, butchery and order packing in the meat shop, they will assist as needed.
The ideal duration of employment is April 1 – October 30, 2026.
The job requirements are:
- Love animals and understand animal behaviour
- Have a driver’s licence valid in BC
- Have basic farm knowledge
- Possess basic mechanical abilities
- Be able to perform physical labour in the outdoors in all conditions
- Thrive working alone in an unstructured environment
- Be self-motivated, result-oriented and organized
- Enjoy problem-solving
- Be an excellent and direct communicator
Apprentices are willing to learn these skills:
- Observing biodiversity
- Techniques to integrate cropping & livestock
- Animal Health
- Feeding & watering livestock
- Moving animals in a field
- Handling Animals
- Assessing forage quality & health of pasture
- Truck & tractor basic operation
- Truck & tractor troubleshooting & maintenance
- Hand tools operation
- Trailer back-up
Compensation
We offer the wage of Starting wage is $19/hour, negotiable depending on experience.
Applicants must be 30 or younger and a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. Applicants not meeting this criteria but with additional farming or trades experience are encouraged to enquire about eligibility.
About the Community
Lillooet is a vibrant small community offering essential amenities and welcoming local culture. It has all the amenities of a small town, including the REC Centre, the public library, and a wide range of community events and outdoor activities. This is an area of incredible natural diversity, with lush red cedar and cottonwood growing only a few hundred metres from shrivelled prickly pear cactus and sagebrush. This blend of natural beauty, convenient access to town, and strong community connections creates a uniquely fulfilling rural lifestyle.
The Ranch is located 15 kilometres south of Hwy 99, down Texas Creek Road on the west side of the Fraser. It’s a beautiful 20-minute drive out from Lillooet.
Accommodation
Accommodations: yes
Accommodation details:
On-farm housing is available in a very nice communal setting with a private room and shared kitchen, bathroom, and living room. This space is shared by other employees and personal guests to the ranch. For those who prefer more private accommodations, a trailer may be available seasonally, or you can bring your own trailer.
Accommodations shared with other employees/apprentices: yes
Access to a full bathroom with running water: yes
Type of dwelling: Four seasons
Accommodation checklist:
- Furnished
- Clean
- Running water (potable)
- Shared bathroom
- Shower
- Bath
- Shared Laundry
- Air conditioning
- Electricity
Pets permitted: no
Guests permitted: yes
Rent: Rent is arranged with the landowners at approximately $600/month depending on the room.
Accommodation Agreement: yes
Other information: videos available upon request.
Spray Creek Ranch looks forward to seeing you!
