Farmhand/Milker – Glendale Shepherd

Last Updated On: May 7th, 2026 at 07:38PM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
7616 GLENDALE HEIGHTS RD
CLINTON, Washington, 98236

Primary Contact: Lynn Swanson
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 3605939935
    Email: lynn@glendaleshepherd.com

Website: https://www.glendaleshepherd.com

Internship information

General Farm Description: Glendale Shepherd Farm, located on Whidbey Island in Washington State, is a Grade A dairy milking sheep all year. We produce award winning cheeses and yogurt in our licensed milk processing facility. We rear our own market lambs and sell our products directly to our customers at 6 farmers markets in the Puget Sound area.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: 1-Feb-25
Internship Ends: 1-Feb-26
Number of Internship Available: 2
Application Deadline: 15-Jan-25
Minimum Length of Stay: 1 year

Internship Details:

Job Title: Farm Hand/Milker

Minimum Qualifications
• Milking parlor introduction and training
• Ability to work with animals
• Ability to accept supervision and guidance
• Punctuality, integrity, patience

Responsible To
Owner/Manager

General Responsibility
To perform the milking operation in a professional and efficient manner to produce high-quality product and promote animal well-being. Correct feeding, bedding and watering of sheep and lambs.

Specific Responsibilities
1. Prepare milking equipment for milking.
2. Bring in sheep for milking.
3. Follow recommended pre-milking preparation of sheep before milking.
4. Milk all sheep in an orderly, proper, and consistent manner.
5. Maintain treatment records so that milk from treated sheep is not put into bulk cans. It is the milker’s responsibility to guarantee that milk has no drug residues. If any question or concern is expressed about the safety of the milk, it should be discussed with the manager immediately.
6. Note sheep that may have mastitis or other problems and inform the manager for possible treatment. Perform CMT test on sheep that may have mastitis and treat according to CMT results with permission of manager and veterinarian only. Contact manager with any concerns.
7. Identify treated sheep or sheep with colostrom with appropriate markers, such as leg bands or livestock paint.
8. Clean the milking parlor, holding area, and milk room according to milking procedures.
9. Operate all milking equipment as recommended by the manager.
10. After milking, be sure all machinery and sanitation procedures are followed according to manufacturer’s specification.
11. Store filtered milk in milk room bulk tank. Maintain bulk tank temperature and cleanliness.
12. Deliver milk to cheese room on cheese make mornings in a timely manner.
13. Assist in ordering supplies by making a list and bringing to the manager’s attention any items in short supply.
14. If unable to be present at scheduled working hours, the manager must be given sufficient notice to arrange for a substitute milker.

Educational Opportunities: Animal husbandry specific to dairy sheep including lamb rearing, care of milking ewes, breeding, plus creamery experience, farmers market staffing, food safety training.

Skills Desired: Experience with livestock and willingness to learn is a plus.

Meals: No

Stipend: Yes this is a paid internship.

Housing: housing is provided at a reduced rate.

Preferred method of Contact: email