Moon Hill Dairy

Last Updated On: May 7th, 2026 at 07:36PM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
25490 CR 52E
Steamboat Springs, Colorado, 80487

Primary Contact: John Weibel
Secondary Contact: text

Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 970-367-6184
    Email: john@moonhilldairy.com

Secondary Phone
    Type: Cell
    Number: 970-367-6184
    Email: john@moonhilldairy.com

    Email: john@moonhilldairy.com

Website: www.moonhilldairy.com

Website: www.moonhilldairy.com

Internship information

General Farm Description: Grassed based dairy

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: 4/1/2021 --->5/1/2020
Internship Ends: 10/1/2021 --- 11/1/2021
Number of Internship Available: 1
Application Deadline: 12/31/2020
Minimum Length of Stay: Entire season

Internship Details:

Moon Hill Dairy
Facebook/moon-hill dairy
25490 CR 52E Steamboat Springs, CO 80477

General Overview of Business

We are a family run, 260 acre ranch using a holistic approach and biodynamic management. We have 20 dairy and some years and we will have Turkeys or Pigs (to give the intern accounting/financial management experience). Our current goals for cheese making are narrowing our focus of products made to 2-3 main cheese’s for regional distribution. Though we do make additional cheese for local consumption. We try to use portable electric fences to manage our intensive rotational grazing program. We have extensive irrigated lands that are watered by flood irrigation, while several sprinkler projects are at various stages of planning and implementation. We sell our grass fed beef, cheese and other farm products through local restaurants, farmers markets and regional distributors. We are located near some of the most incredible scenery the west has to offer, from high mountain hiking trails to viewing wild horses on the high desert.

There is no housing available at the moment, but that may change in July. Use of the office kitchen and however would be available, if the student chose to stay in a Camper.
Specific Objectives of the Experience

The Intern will:

Experience what it is like to work on a regenerative farm
See pastoral based agricultural methods
Experience dairy cattle handling on a small/medium sized acreage
Undertake HACCP training if not already done
Observe and participate in cheese-making
Observe and participate in soil sampling and analysis
Give farm tours and explain the benefits of pastoral based agriculture, nutritionally and environmentally
Chronology of Experience

Upon Arrival
Overview and tour of operations
Safety Training Orientation
Discussion of goals and opportunities

Periodically
Weekly discussion of tasks to be accomplished.
Review Objectives; give and receive feedback

Upon Departure
Final Evaluation of Program

Ongoing
Observe and help with care and feeding of calves and pigs or Turkeys – (maintaining accounting of feed, processing, etc, and labor hours to determine profit margins)
Assist in the once daily task of milking
Shadow and participate in cheese-making
Attention to food safety (assisting with HACCP required logging)
Learn chemistry in cheese-making
Ricotta and Feta are among the varieties created
Help envision and outline a meaningful “gap year” farm experience program for Moon Hill Dairy to implement – with the ultimate goal of creating a two year program with an accredited university to obtain course credits for individuals.
Take part in soil science activities: soil fertility, sequestering carbon, using samples to determine feed values
Assist with farm to table dinner planning and other agritourism activities
Help with setting and moving hotwire fences for rotational grazing
Observe and participate in rotating and branding cattle
Moving sprinklers for proper irrigation
Observe management, budget, and purchasing decisions on ranch
Compensation Dependent upon experience – With a season ending Bonus to be determined.

Geographic Location and Available Cultural Activities

Howelsen Hill activities in summer
Open space, parks and trails for hiking and biking
Fishing on Casey’s Pond and other locations
Visits to National Forest

Industry Information (Website)
https://www.stockmangrassfarmer.com/index.php

Geographical Location (Website)
Town of Steamboat Springs: http://steamboatsprings.net/
Routt National Forest: http://www.fs.usda.gov/mbr

Educational Opportunities: the entire experience will be educational.

Skills Desired: The more experience the better the pay. The most important skill is a good attitude and willingness to work

Meals: Possibly, but not planned.... Though food is a fringe benefit.

Stipend: The position does pay based upon skill level and a season ending bonus.

Housing: No -- though there is the ability to camp

Preferred method of Contact: email