Are you an aspiring grazier looking to gain the hands-on skills and experience? Are you feeling like you’re not quite ready to start your own grass-fed, pasture-raised livestock business yet? Prairie Gold Pastured Meats is excited to offer a meaningful apprenticeship to help you on your grazing journey.
About the Farm
Prairie Gold Pastured Meats raises grass-finished beef, pastured pork, and eggs in Central Alberta. The animals are cared for in a manner that is harmonious with nature and regenerative to the soil, the grasses, the animals, and the eater. Prairie Gold Meats operates on the Tamara Ranch located just south of Red Deer which also supports two other farm businesses, Steel Pony Farms, a market garden, and Field to Fork, which raises pasture poultry. Tamara Ranch is a unique hub of new and young farmers, supported by the owners Tom and Margaret Towers.
About the Apprenticeship
This apprenticeship will teach skills in perennial pasture management using grazing practices that mimic the natural behaviour of the great herds of the grasslands build topsoil, sequester atmospheric carbon, reduce erosion, increase water retention and drought resistance, produce a diverse sward of healthy, pest-resistant, high-energy grasses that bring optimal health to the grazing animals of the farm including cattle, pigs and laying hens.
You will learn about planning, implementing and monitoring grazing systems. Prairie Gold Pastured Meats will also expose you to Holistic Management . You will also learn about direct marketing from the field to butcher shop to delivery to the customer.
As part of the apprenticeship, you will meet with other apprentices across Alberta who are part of the Young Agrarians Apprenticeship program. Field days, learning opportunities and potlucks will be planned with this group at each hosts farm. You will be provided with a learning fund to support travel or other learning opportunities you wish to pursue. You will also be invited to attend the 2018 Organic Alberta Conference .
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 to a learning plan with the host farm.
| LIVESTOCK HUSBANDRY | MANAGING CATTLE |
|---|---|
| LIVESTOCK HEALTH | ROTATIONAL GRAZING |
| LOW STRESS LIVESTOCK HANDLING | BALE GRAZING |
| MANAGING PIGS | CALVING |
| FARROWING | OPERATING FARM EQUIPMENT |
| FENCING | DIRECT MARKETING |
Housing, Stipend and Duration
The apprentice will live in separate housing. A minimal to moderate stipend will be paid depending on length of stay and expertise. This apprenticeship is 8-months long.
More Details about this Apprenticeship and How to Apply
Deadline January 31st, 2017.
Interested in an Apprenticeship but this isn’t quite the right one? Check out other Young Agrarians Alberta Apprenticeships being offered in 2017 here.