Farm Team Member / Mechanic / Maple Syrup Producer

Farm Mechanic / Maple Syrup Producer / Diversified Agriculture Team Member

Maple Syrup & Regenerative Agriculture – Southern Vermont

Are you the type of person who enjoys bringing old equipment back to life? Do you get satisfaction from diagnosing problems, fabricating repairs, welding broken parts, and keeping machinery operating when others would replace it?

Lily Farms is seeking a mechanically skilled, highly motivated team member who enjoys working with tractors, skid steers, forestry equipment, farm machinery, hydraulic systems, vehicles, buildings, and infrastructure. This is a hands-on role where no two days are the same. One day may involve rebuilding a hydraulic cylinder, troubleshooting a vacuum pump, welding a broken attachment, or repairing a tractor. The next day may involve helping with maple syrup production, orchard work, livestock projects, mowing, or forestry operations. If you can pull an excavator cylinder in the morning, replace a few barn siding boards in the afternoon, and pick strawberries before heading home, you may be exactly who we're looking for.

Maple production experience and general farming knowledge are valuable for this position and will be considered alongside experience with equipment maintenance, repair, and fabrication skills. We are looking for someone who enjoys solving mechanical problems, building things that last, and helping create a productive and resilient agricultural operation. This is not a position for someone who wants to spend every day in a shop or every day on a tractor. The ideal candidate enjoys a highly varied work environment, can transition comfortably between tasks and is willing to contribute wherever needed on the farm.

Equipment You’ll Be Working On

Komatsu PC78 Excavator, CAT 277 Skid Steer, Thwaites Dumper, Kioti Tractor, CAT D4 Dozer, Deere 540A Skidder, Vermeer Chipper, Ford F800 Dump, Ford F350, Firewood Processor, Woodmizer LT40 Sawmill, Exmark mower, Honda SXS , Polaris ATV, Chainsaws, RO Systems and Maple Vacuum Systems

Primary Responsibilities

• Diagnose, maintain, and repair farm equipment, vehicles, and machinery
• Troubleshoot hydraulic, mechanical, electrical, and small-engine systems
• Perform welding, fabrication, and equipment modifications
• Maintain tractors, skid steers, trailers, forestry equipment, maple equipment, pumps, generators, and farm infrastructure
• Assist with construction, carpentry, and facility maintenance projects
• Develop preventative maintenance systems and repair schedules

Secondary Responsibilities

• Property maintenance including mowing, trimming, snow removal, brush cutting and trail maintenance.
• Maple syrup production including tapping, sap collection, boiling, filtering, packaging, and system expansion
• Garden, orchard, and crop management
• Livestock care and pasture management
• Forestry and wood production activities
• General farm labor as needed

Highly Desired Skills

• Strong diesel, gasoline, and small-engine repair experience
• Experience diagnosing and repairing hydraulic systems
• Welding and metal fabrication skills
• Equipment troubleshooting and practical problem-solving ability
• Ability to independently complete repairs with limited supervision
• Experience maintaining tractors, skid steers, excavators, forestry equipment, or agricultural machinery
• Basic electrical troubleshooting skills
• Experience operating excavators, tractors, skid steers, and other farm equipment
• Carpentry and construction experience

Preferred Additional Skills

• Maple syrup production
• Diversified farming or regenerative agriculture experience
• Food processing, storage, or preservation experience is a plus
• Chainsaw operation and maintenance – tree felling
• Sawmill operation

Candidate Qualities

• Comfortable performing both skilled trades and physical labor
• Enjoys fixing, building, and improving things
• Commitment to safety and quality craftsmanship
• Interest in sustainable agriculture and long-term land stewardship

About the Farm

Maple Syrup Production

• 35-acre sugarbush currently supporting approximately 500 taps, with long-term expansion potential to 3,000 taps
• Refurbished 16' x 24' sugarhouse with equipment ready for immediate production
• Maple syrup production is the core enterprise of the farm and will continue expanding incrementally each season
• Strong interest in candidates who are excited about helping grow a long-term maple business

Existing Infrastructure

• 15 fenced acres
• Heated and conditioned 30' x 50' barn/garage with bathroom
• Established orchard with approximately 80 fruit trees and berry plantings
• 100' x 100' production garden

Diversified Agriculture

• 275 acres with agroforestry and silvopasture opportunities
• Orchard and berry management
• Log-grown shiitake mushroom cultivation
• Livestock including sheep, goats, alpacas, and chickens

Forestry & Wood Production

• Sustainable forestry management
• Firewood processing and milling using a Wood-Mizer sawmill
• Brush chipping, trail maintenance, and reforestation work

Compensation

Compensation is flexible and negotiable based on experience, responsibilities, and long-term fit. We are open to a variety of arrangements, including performance incentives, revenue sharing, or expanded operational responsibilities for the right candidate.

To Apply

Please send your resume and a detailed cover letter outlining your experience, interests, and relevant skills to:

jonathan@lilyfarmsvt.com

We are excited to find someone who wants to help build a thriving and resilient agricultural future in southern Vermont.

Pay: $20.00 - $30.00 per hour

Benefits:

• Flexible schedule
• Paid time off

Work Location: In person

Salary : $20 - $30