Hawkeye Buffalo and Cattle Ranch
Fredericksburg, IA
Apprenticeship Mentor Farm
Agroforestry Systems:
Silvopasture
Farm Information
At Hawkeye Buffalo & Cattle Ranch, beef cattle and bison graze in 250 acres of pasture and timber of Northeast Iowa. The McFarland family has been farming here for generations. Dan McFarland diversified his family’s land in 1994, reintroducing the esteemed bison to the landscape. The bison graze on grass in an oak savanna pasture, and experienced hunters respectfully harvest their healthy meat each winter. The ranch focuses on regenerative practices with no chemical inputs, grounded in a deep connection to the land and animals.
In addition to bison, Dan and his daughter Martha raise Polled Hereford cattle and sell a variety of grass-fed meats to the community in butcher boxes. Hawkeye Buffalo & Cattle Ranch invites the community on tours year-round to learn more about and appreciate the bison. The Iowa Department of Agriculture and Land Stewardship recognized the ranch as part of its Heritage Farms Program, which honors operations stewarded by the same family for more than 150 years.
Acres:Â 15
Established: 2020
Located:Â Oregon, IL
Apprenticeship Opportunities
The majority of intern work at the ranch revolves around building and maintaining high tensile and electric fences, clearing and improving the understory of the woods to develop grasslands where multiflora rose has taken over, and general farm maintenance.  There will also be cattle checks, waterline checks, and herd moves.  Each week will also include opportunities for closely supervised lessons on heavy equipment including skid steer, tractors, hay mowers, manure spreaders, and chainsaw use. You’ll also have opportunities to learn about bison and cattle behaviors and management, and making hay. Timing includes early spring through early summer starting no later than May, for 20 hours a week.
Availability: Open
Qualifications
- No prior farming experience required
- Able to lift 50 pounds
- Must be able to walk long distances
- Drivers license required
- Must work long days in hot, sweaty or rainy conditions
- Willingness to get really dirty doing farm jobs
- Must provide your own transportation
- Must have your own insurance
Benefits
- Pay: $10-12 an hour, dependent on experience
- Housing: Shared housing on the farm.
- Food: Groceries are provided with opportunity to share meals.
- Remoteness: The farm is located 5 miles south of Fredericksburg, Iowa, which has gas stations, a small grocery store, a pizza place and small restaurant. Larger towns with movie theaters and big box stores are an hour away and there is no public transportation. No wifi, so you will rely on your phone.
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