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Who we are:
Peaceful Pastures is a direct market, all natural, grass
fed, meat business producing and selling beef, lamb, goat,
pork, duck and goose located an hour east of Nashville, in
Hickman, Tennessee.
All of the species are free ranging in our 300 acre
scenic valley.
In addition, we maintain and manage 400 cow/calf pairs (both
registered and commercial.)
Peaceful Pastures also offers farm tours.
Tours are conducted twice weekly and have been well
received, especially by school groups.
The scope, size and
diversity of our operation allows us to offer outstanding
internship opportunities in several areas, yet being a small
family run business provides one on one learning, coaching
and evaluation.
Agricultural Science
Internship:
This hands on internship targets animal science, pre-vet,
agriculture and beef science students, but is open to all
agricultural disciplines.
Agricultural economics and agricultural business
students will benefit from our retail and wholesale
enterprises as well.
We attempt to tailor each internship to
the needs and interest of the individual.
Pre-vet students enjoy the option of volunteering one
day each week with the local vet to expand their
professional experience.
During this internship, the motivated
student will receive: understanding of low stress livestock
handling; rotational grazing principles; BQA (Beef Quality
Assurance) certification; intimate knowledge of what goes
into putting a quality product on the retail store shelf;
heat detection
skills; value of secure fencing; assessment and treatment of
common livestock ailments; small business management;
pasture improvement technologies; agricultural based GPS
uses; livestock water development practices; safe and
responsible tractor operation; and basic mechanical skills.
Requirements of job to be filled:
A willing, helpful, “can do”
attitude; reasonable expectations as to what the internship
entails; and the physical capacity to do the job.
Applicants must posses an open mind for working with various
species of animals and have strong communication skills,
both written and oral, including excellent grammar for
interacting with our customers. A valid driver’s license is
required, along with reliable transportation. Candidates
must be self-motivated and able to work independently at a
brisk pace with minimal supervision.
If hired, students must commit to a full semester (12 weeks
minimum).
Preferential hiring is given to students taking the
internship for academic credit.
Select applicants will be invited to the farm for a
working interview (required).
Our
setting is strictly drug, alcohol and tobacco free.
Employees must meet and follow a dress code while at work.
Interns are expected to begin work the week following finals
and must show proof of medical insurance.
Compensation:
Hourly wage, subsidized housing, at least one meal per shift
and free pasture and board for one (1) horse or the
opportunity to inexpensively lease a horse.
Equine Internship
Internship:
A college student majoring in an equine related field;
must be willing to devote themselves for the term of the
internship to natural horsemanship. The student will be
expected to put in 50 hours/week and should be physically
fit and capable of doing the job.
The student should have a confident, independent seat
and quiet, steady hands. Applicants must also have the
emotional fitness necessary to work with both unstarted and
green horses outside of an arena. The rider should be at
ease on trail rides and riding alone. The intern will be
responsible for the exercise and daily care of 10-12 horses.
Note: This is primarily a
riding position- no stall cleaning, no showing and no
lessons to give. Applicants should be willing to spend
at least 25 hours per week on horseback..
Strong
communication skills are necessary, both written and oral. A
valid driver’s license is required, along with reliable
transportation. Candidates must be self-motivated and able
to work independently at a brisk pace with minimal
supervision. Our setting is strictly drug, alcohol and
tobacco free. Employees must meet and follow a dress code
while at work
Educational Benefits:
At the end of this internship, the individual will have
experienced a summer immersed in riding (unstarted, green,
seasoned, and retired horses) and ground work, using natural
horsemanship. In addition, the student will audit local
clinics taught by a Parelli Natural Horse-Man-Ship certified
instructor.
Prior to completion of this internship a 1000 word essay or
equal project is to be submitted.
Compensation:
Includes housing, free board for one horse and a weekly
stipend. Salary and housing will be elaborated upon during
the working interview. At least one meal per shift is
provided along with milk, eggs, meat and garden produce.
Term:
In order to be eligible for the internship, students must
commit to a full semester, 14 weeks of work, minimum. (This
requirement is non-negotiable.)
Interns are expected to begin work the week following
finals, work through the weekend before classes resume and
must show proof of medical insurance
Application:
Contact Jenny or Darrin Drake for further information and/or
a written application. Select students will be invited to
the farm for a working & riding interview.
Application
:
In
addition to the written application, the student must submit
a video or DVD, no longer than 20 minutes in length that
shows the following:
Horse A
(under saddle with bridle or hackamore-may be the student’s
own horse, in an open pasture or large outdoor arena)
Mount the horse from
both sides
Walk, trot, canter both directions
Figure 8’s at the trot and canter (with simple, drop to trot
lead changes)
Horse B
(bareback, on a loose rein, can be in a round pen-borrowed
or school horse)
Walk, trot, canter both directions
Show at least 4 trot-canter, canter-trot transitions
Finally, trailer load (either of the horses) into a 2 horse
or slant load.
Throughout the video, horses should be
freely moving out; no western jog or short loping please.
You will not be
evaluated based upon show ring equitation!
Deadline for all written
applications & videos is March 10th.
Horticulture Internship
Internship:
This broad internship has four main components:
Planting, cultivating and harvesting a ¼ acre vegetable
garden. This varied garden supplies not only for our
household, but for our summer interns as well. The student
will be responsible for designing, planting, cultivating and
harvest.
Design and maintenance of landscaping around the farm and
three out buildings. These are the structures first visible
to the public. Currently there is no aesthetic appeal to
these areas and a creative student will employ imagination
and practicality while beautifying.
Mowing and weed eating areas open to the public. This
includes the above mentioned areas as well as the walking
and animal visitation segments of the farm tours.
Conducting farm tours. Our farm is
now open to the public and has been well received by both
our customers and school groups. The 45-60 minute tours
focus on farm animals, farm history and rural lifestyle.
Requirements of job to be filled:
A horticulture student physically fit and capable of
repeatedly lifting and carrying 50 pounds and able to safely
operate a weed eater, lawn mower, and garden tiller with a
willing, helpful, “can do” attitude.
Applicants must posses an open mind for all aspects of farm
life and have strong communication skills, both written and
oral, including excellent grammar for interacting with our
customers. A valid driver’s license is required, along with
reliable transportation. Candidates must be self-motivated
and able to work independently at a brisk pace with minimal
supervision.
If hired, students must commit to a full
semester (12 weeks minimum).
Preferential hiring is given to students taking the
internship for academic credit.
Selected applicants will be invited to the farm for a
working interview (required).
Our
setting is strictly drug, alcohol and tobacco free.
Employees must meet a basic dress code while at work.
Interns are expected to begin work the week following finals
and must show proof of medical insurance.
Compensation:
Hourly wage, subsidized housing, at least one meal per shift
and free pasture and board for one (1) horse or the
opportunity to inexpensively lease a horse.
Community life and
surroundings: Located in the scenic
Cumberland Plateau of the Tennessee Smokey Mountains. There
are numerous church denominations within 20 miles. Five
colleges are located within an hour. Boating, fishing and
swimming are available in local rivers and 2 large, man-made
lakes. Nashville, Music City USA, is less than an hour away.
Please Note: In order
to be eligible for the internship, students must commit to a
full semester, 12 weeks of work, minimum. (This requirement
is non-negotiable.) With the internship, we offer $6.50
-7.00/hour salary, meals while you work, and we may provide
subsidized housing and utilities (except for phone). Interns
are expected to begin work the week following finals and
must show proof of medical insurance.
Application: Contact
Jenny or
Darrin Drake for further information, an initial
interview and/or
application. A working interview at the farm is
required.
Summer 2007 Interns:
See what our 2007 summer interns Krista and Brittny did during a typical day here at Peaceful Pastures.
Krista's June Paper,
Krista's August Paper and
Brittny's Typical Day on the Farm. They both had a
very enjoyable summer here. They learned the ups and
downs of farm life and lived to tell there story :o)
Their papers' really help give us "city folk" an idea what
really goes on at a working farm!
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