Seasonal Equipment Operator

Seasonal Equipment Operator at Caylor Jacobsen in Choteau, MT.

From January 10 through mid-April, the work centers on cattle/cow/calf operations and the early-season field preparation needed to support them, with employees helping cows through the birthing process, monitoring pregnant cows throughout the day and night, providing daily feed and water, and caring for newborn calves while also fertilizing hay ground for the next year’s crop; during this period, SOC 45-2093 represents 60% of the work performed, as livestock duties require constant supervision of calving, monitoring animal health, and general animal husbandry, while SOC 45-2091 represents 40% of the work performed, as employees operate and maintain agricultural machinery and equipment to spread fertilizer on hayfields in preparation for the growing season. From mid-April through mid-June, livestock work continues with fence repair, vaccination, and moving or hauling cattle to designated summer pastures, while machinery work shifts to operating irrigation equipment, including portable irrigation pipes, pumps, and ditch systems, and maintaining water distribution systems, as well as using agricultural spraying equipment to control noxious weeds in pastures and hay-producing areas. From mid-June through mid-September, employees monitor cattle on summer pasture, rotate livestock between grazing locations as needed, and continue feeding, watering, and checking livestock for illness, injury, disease, weight gain, and physical condition, while also operating tractors, mowers, rakes, balers, loaders, trucks, trailers, and related equipment to cut, rake, bale, harvest, load, transport, stack, and consolidate hay from the first and second cuttings and to support regrowth through continued irrigation as necessary. From mid-September through October, the work shifts toward gathering cattle closer to the main operation, assisting with weaning calves, preparing and handling livestock for sale, and helping with pregnancy checking cows for the following breeding and calving season, while also cleaning, inspecting, servicing, and performing routine maintenance and repairs on hay harvesting machinery, tractors, irrigation equipment, pumps, pipelines, and related implements after harvest, along with cleaning irrigation ditches and transporting harvested agricultural products within the farming operation. Throughout the season, employees maintain livestock pens, stalls, and handling facilities, identify livestock using brands, tags, or other markings, and maintain livestock health and production records as part of the ongoing cattle and hay production cycle. The employer, at its sole discretion, may grant pay increases based on factors such as performance, longevity, and/or experience. Workers returning for a consecutive season will be paid at their previous season’s rate if that rate exceeds the current published rate. Job requires lifting up to 75 lbs. Must possess a valid, standard, non-commercial driver's license (e.g., Class C, D, R, E, F or 3 depending on state). Employee must have 3 months of verifiable experience.

Work begins January 10, 2027 and ends October 31, 2027.

Pay is $18.62 per hour.

Housing is provided.

Typical schedule: about 50 hours per week.