Farm Lead
What started as a small garden in a vacant lot in this little inner-city neighborhood, quickly turned into the City of Dallas’ first urban farm. The original farm is 1.25 acres boldly situated in the South Dallas community of Bonton, an area ravaged by generational poverty, crime, and classified by the USDA as a food desert. In 2016, a local family, the Treffingers, were inspired by the mission of Bonton Farms and generously donated 20 acres of land located about 10 miles from the original farm. They loved it so much that when another 20 acre plot adjacent to the original one became available, they purchased it and donated it for further expansion of Bonton Farms. That 40 acre site is what we call "The Bonton Farms Extension". It happens to be one of the largest urban farms in the Unites States. In this unlikely setting, we are cultivating a sustainable and vibrant urban farm with the mission to restore lives, create jobs and ignite hope.
- 401(k)
- Dental insurance
- Health insurance
- Vision insurance
Overview
- Work with Senior Farm Lead to on the overall operations of the farm.
- A critical component of this role includes training, mentoring, and managing Bonton Farms apprentices who participate in our workforce development program. Operate with a servant leaders heart and attitude each day on all tasks which include coordination of schedules, training and developing people on various tasks and character traits, observing areas of development and providing the daily assignments. Be hands-on with the farm team to ensure modeling of behaviors and outcomes expected.
- Manage volunteers by providing them with direction, monitoring their progress throughout their time on the farm, retraining in instances, and providing the narrative around Bonton Farms and the Bonton community.
- Play needed roles in planting, cultivating and crop harvesting activities to provide high quality with abundant vegetation.
- Provide input and leadership for practices and management of the healthier and higher producing livestock.
- Utilize best practices in regenerative agriculture throughout farm operations.
- Create and maintain inventory controls throughout the farms utilizing systems and processes that not only encompass vegetation and livestock, but all equipment, tools, and other miscellaneous items on the farm.
- Assist in the delegation and review of daily tasks to ensure completion
- Track and document farm standards of operating practices (SOPs) at the farms.
- Review with the Senior Farm Lead the business needs to purchase farm machinery, livestock, seed, feed, and other supplies prior to purchase.
- Work with other departments in planning of the vegetation and livestock production, supply harvest of crops and animal products, as well as assist in the development plans and opportunities for apprentices in various other areas.
- Assess challenges and recommend solutions for the farm, ensuring that the farm operations for crop and livestock are sustainable.
- Understand and help implement processes and systems for increased production and enhanced efficiency.
- Develop and build relationships with vendors, suppliers and customers.
- Culture: Showcase the values of the organization (Courage, Love, Unity and Excellence) to all within the organization, community, visitors, donors, and all others engaged with Bonton Farms to increase positive social impact.
- Having 2 or more years of farming experience either from working on a specialized crop and/or working with livestock.
- An associate’s or bachelor’s degree in agriculture, agriculture business, animal science, plant science. Alternative fields of study may be considered if an internship for at least a combination of 6 months or other relevant experience is also reflected.
- Demonstrated experience in leading others for at least 6 months either through employment or extracurricular activities.
- Experience working with vendors, suppliers or clients in the farming industry.
- Computer skills to include Microsoft Office Suite of Products.
- Strong written and verbal communication skills.
- Passion and patience to grow people and assist them in their development and what they are purposed to do.
- If not already trained as a peer specialist, the selected candidate will undergo training as this provides necessary skills to develop apprentices within the organization.
- Understands the core values of Bonton Farms and purpose “To see the image of God fully manifested in the lives of those we serve.”
- Ability to thrive in a flexible, growth-oriented environment while maintaining a positive solution-oriented approach.
We are an equal opportunity employer and all qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability status, protected veteran status, or any other characteristic protected by law.
Our Mission
Transform lives by disrupting systems of inequity, laying a foundation where change yields health, wholeness and opportunity as the norm.
Vision
The change in Bonton becomes the change in the World.
Core Principal
Our values are bathed in our Christian faith, born out of a passion for people and guide how we put them into action.
What is Bonton?
For the last 200 years, racial injustice and systemic oppression prevented opportunities in Bonton, a community in South Dallas, that were a given elsewhere. People here experienced higher rates of diabetes, stroke and cancer, and 48% of residents lived in poverty. Residents have been denied access to the seven human essentials that are necessary to survive and thrive - health & wellness, economic stability, safe and affordable housing, transportation, a sense of belonging, education and access to fair credit. Today, the community is transforming, and healing is coming from within.
Who We Are
Bonton Farms is on a mission is to transform lives by disrupting systems of inequity, laying a foundation where health, wholeness, and opportunity are the norm for all people. While many nonprofits work to solve one issue, Bonton Farms focuses on place-based interventions to build community capacity for long-term change. As the ecosystem of community resources improves, the neighbors in Bonton use these resources to build successful, self-sufficient lives, ultimately interrupting the impact of decades of disenfranchisement. Bonton Farms’ programs focus on the all of the seven human essentials that the community has been denied for so long. We invite you to come and join us in the transformation!
(if you already have a resume on Indeed)
Or apply here.
