Are you an aspiring rancher looking to gain experience of integrating cattle and grain production in a way that’s good for the planet? Richards Family Farm and Livestock is excited to offer an apprenticeship just for you.
About the Farm
Richards Family Farm is located on Treaty 4 territory, near Bangor SK.
Garry, his wife Lynn, and their 3 children, Rebekah, Evan, and Caroline operate a mixed grain and cattle farm. Their goal is to have a resilient, low risk, profitable farm that works with nature and creates healthy food, healthy ecosystems, and healthy people.
Their family farm is 120 years old and now encompasses a 500 cow-calf herd and additional yearlings in the summer. They grow some grain and work to improve soil health through cover crops, perennial forage, and intensive grazing of livestock. Richard’s family farm is passionate about the benefits of livestock in grain production.
About the apprenticeship:
Mid-April the farm starts preparing for seeding in May. Cows calve from May to July. At that time the farm focuses on making silage and hauling bales. Beginning in August they prepare for harvesting any grain crops, vaccinating calves, and preparing herds for bull turnout. Mid-August they market yearlings and start harvest in September. October involves preparing for winter, vaccinating and castrating calves. All through the growing season, they are moving cattle in their planned grazing system. In November winter feeding starts and in December they wean calves. Garry, Lynn, and their family are also excited about integrating permaculture into projects on their farm.
As part of the apprenticeship, you will meet with other apprentices across Saskatchewan who are part of the Young Agrarians Apprenticeship program. Field days, learning opportunities, and potlucks will be planned with this group at each host’s farm.
About the farm mentors
Garry grew up on his family’s farm and then went off to university and became a pharmacist. Lynn is trained as a nurse. When they returned to the farm, they wanted to see if it was viable without long-term income from pharmacy and nursing. They believe that farming can be fun, profitable, and have the potential for future generations if agricultural practices mimic nature. They see the farm as a great way to grow food that makes people and ecosystems healthy and builds up communities and people. They are active in a network of regenerative farms and look to build relationships in that group
Skills this farm has to teach:
The following skills are being offered by this farm. While you’ll get exposure to many of these areas, it is likely that not all will be covered. Apprentices will work to identify the skills they want to develop through a learning plan with the host farm.
| Livestock husbandry | ADAPTIVE MULTI-PADDOCK GRAZING |
|---|---|
| LIVESTOCK HEALTH | HOLISTIC MANAGEMENT |
| SOIL health | Low-stress livestock handling |
| Cattle genetics | regenerative crop production |
| forage production | Monitoring ecosystems |
| GRAZING INFRASTRUCTURE DEVELOPMENT | FARM FINANCIAL PLANNING |
| MONITORING OF SOIL AND ECOSYSTEM HEALTH | DEVELOPING DIRECT-TO-CONSUMER SALES FOR FARM PRODUCE |
| CATTLE MARKETING |
Skill required of the apprentice
Apprentices working at Richards Family Farm must have the desire to learn, think logically, be self-motivated, and able to prioritize a number of tasks. Basic quad and tractor-driving skills are an asset. Apprentices will work hard both mentally and physically, so determination and perseverance will come in handy. Apprentices must have attire for work on a farm.
Housing, Stipend, and Duration
The apprentice will have the option to rent a fully furnished farmhouse as their private accommodation. There will be accessible laundry and possibly WIFI. The apprentice will be invited to one meal per day with the host family. Some meat and vegetables will be provided when they are in season, however, all other food is the apprentice’s responsibility.
The apprentice will need their own personal vehicle for nonfarm use.
The wage/stipend, and room and board are to be discussed in the interview process.
This apprenticeship will take place from Mid-April to Mid-November. This can be flexible for students. Apprentices will have 2 days a week off depending on the busyness of the season.
About the Community and Land
Bangor, SK is located in the Eastern part of Saskatchewan. About 30 minutes to Melville, 1 hour to Yorkton and 45 minutes to Cowessess First Nation. The farm is also about 40 minutes north of the beautiful Qu’Appelle valley with nice lakes and swimming holes! Heading to the North East, 1 hour and 20 mins to Assesippi Provincial park and the Assiniboine river in Manitoba. And to the north 1 hour and 15 mins is the beautiful Good Spirit Lake. Lot’s of beautiful land to see and experience on and near Richard’s Family Farm!
“I acknowledge that many First Nation people were displaced by others in the settlement of Canada. I would like to focus primarily on the future and how to get First Nation people back on the land. We rent land from Cowessess First Nation and I have talked with leaders in the community to send anyone to visit our farm who is interested in farming.”
-Garry
To show our respect for the history of the Land and People, Young Agrarians acknowledges:
This farm is located on Treaty 4 territory and the traditional and ancestral lands of the cultures, languages, and People from Cree, Ojibwe, Saulteaux, Dakota, Nakota, Lakota, and Métis roots. These communities have a deep relationship with this land based on, among other things, a spiritual connection and subsistence extending back thousands of years.
More Details about this Apprenticeship and How to Apply
Deadline January 31st, 2023
Contact Alieka- Saskatchewan Apprenticeship Coordinator with questions:
saskatchewan@youngagrarians.org