Agriculture Steward

Job Description

Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) is a nonprofit environmental science education organization. Since 1968, ACES has inspired a life-long commitment to the earth by providing innovative and immersive programming for all ages. We have three locations: Hallam Lake, Rock Bottom Ranch, and Catto Center at Toklat. Our programs focus on ecological literacy, regenerative agriculture, forest and ecosystem health, land restoration, and environmental leadership. Through this, ACES meets our mission of educating for environmental responsibility.

Rock Bottom Ranch

Located mid-valley in Basalt, CO, Rock Bottom Ranch is a 113-acre site that dedicates approximately 70 acres to natural wildlands and about 35 acres to pasture-based, rotationally grazed multi-species livestock systems and intensive low-till vegetable production. Rock Bottom Ranch also serves as an outdoor classroom for summer camps, school groups, and community education programming, engaging visitors and staff alike with questions about how humanity interacts with and impacts our ecosystems through a lens of nature-based scientific exploration and food production.

The Agriculture Program aims to spark a community of food-educated citizens by demonstrating forward-thinking, environmentally, socially, and climate-aware agriculture and land stewardship practices. We seek to educate farmers on profitable, scalable, and replicable agriculture systems. Our livestock production raises sheep, laying hens, cattle, broiler chickens, and rabbits. Our vegetable production grows 50+ crops on our ⅔ acre of intensively spaced outdoor production and in our four-season extension structures. Rock Bottom Ranch's livestock and vegetable products are featured at our summer dining events, weekly farmers' markets, vegetable CSA, and on-farm sales.

Our production farm and educational site is open to the public five days a week during the summer and offers farm tours, youth and adult programs, and dining events. Agricultural staff are primarily involved in the diverse array of production agriculture operations but have the opportunity to become involved in customer service, events, and educational experiences.

Position Summary

ACES is offering 10-week Agriculture Stewardship opportunities to our community members. High school students, college students, and other community members are encouraged to apply. These Ag Steward positions will become involved in our regenerative agriculture program for the 2025 season, working with both our intensive vegetable production and our rotational livestock systems. Stewards will spend 5 weeks in each production area.

The Agriculture Stewardship position is part of Rock Bottom Ranch's Farmer Training Program. This position provides hands-on learning geared towards those curious about regenerative agriculture and have a desire to learn more. As an Ag Steward, you're exposed to numerous aspects of vegetable and livestock production. The Agriculture Stewards play an essential role on the Agriculture Crew during peak season. Time will be taken to explain the whys and hows, but those who are observant, ask questions, and eager to learn will succeed the most.

Possible Duties and Responsibilities

Responsibilities include, but are not limited to, the following:

1. Vegetable Production
   • Assist with vegetable production, including soil preparation, seed propagation, irrigating, transplanting, and cultivation.
   • Assist with harvesting, washing, packaging, and selling final vegetable products.
   • Assist with the maintenance of the vegetable production area by mowing and weed-whacking.
2. Livestock Production
   • Assist with the daily care of cattle, sheep, goats, laying hens, broilers, pigs, and rabbits.
   • Daily care includes: providing feed and fresh water, creating electric fencing paddocks and moving animals through a multi-species rotational grazing system, mucking out stalls and houses, collecting and washing eggs.
   • Participate in humane, on-property slaughter of chickens and turkeys.
3. Site Maintenance
   • Site maintenance includes mowing, weed-whacking, fence repair, trail repair, event preparation, cleaning, or other site duties.
4. Customer Service
   • Provide a welcoming and educational environment to all guests.
   • Assist with sales of produce and meat at local farmers' markets and at the Ranch.
   • Participation in on-farm events, including, but not limited to, dining events, educational programs, and farm tours.

Qualifications

Candidates must have the following:

• Strong willingness and desire to learn.
• Strong work ethic and understanding that farm work is rewarding yet physically demanding.
• Enjoy working outdoors in varying weather conditions.
• Able to lift heavy items.
• Friendly, inviting personality and positive attitude!
• Respect for farm products, the public, fellow crew members, and all ACES staff.

Location: This position is located at ACES' Rock Bottom Ranch site in Basalt, Colorado.

Work schedule: Monday-Friday 7:30-4pm OR Tuesday-Friday, 7:30am-4pm.

Position Dates: Tuesday, June 9th, 2026, through Friday, August 14th, 2026.

Compensation: This position pays $18/hr. Housing is not provided, and we are seeking candidates who already have housing in the Roaring Fork Valley.

This position is designed to fit various needs and interests. Please email [email protected] with any questions.

ACES employees work with schoolchildren; therefore, ACES conducts background checks on criminal history and motor vehicle records.

Aspen Center for Environmental Studies (ACES) is an Equal Opportunity Employer and complies with all federal laws. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, religion, sex, national origin, or protected veteran or disabled status, and will not be discriminated against.