Job Information
Ponderosa Partnershi Ag Equipment Operator in Center, Colorado
**For Job Seekers:
If you are interested in this position, meet the experience requirements, and are willing to commit to the entire contract period, please visit your local South Central Workforce Center in Monte Vista or Alamosa for full details and application instructions.
*Position: * Ag. Equipment Operator
Requirements: Must be at least 18 years old and have a valid driver's license and/or be able to obtain one within 30 days of hire. Must have a clean driving record for operating company vehicles and be able to pass a criminal background check post-hire at the Employer's expense due to the presence of children on the farm. Failure to pass criminal background check will result in termination of employment. Must be capable of lifting and carrying items weighing up to 50 pounds (lbs). Must have at least three (3) months positive, verifiable work experience relevant to the position. Must be capable of performing physically demanding tasks, extensive pushing and pulling; extensive sitting; extensive walking and performing repetitive movements. Workers must be able to speak English and adhere to strict biosecurity, company policies, and food safety guidelines, ensuring compliance with health and safety regulations. Workers must be responsible, follow instructions, and comply with attendance, punctuality and work schedules. Repeated absenteeism, failure to meet job expectation, misconduct, insubordination or violations of safety protocols may result in termination. The use of electronic devices during work hours is restricted to emergencies and smoking, alcohol and firearms are strictly prohibited in work areas and employer-provided housing.
Job Description: All job duties are in relation to the farming and production of Alfalfa, Barley and Potato crops and will need to perform any combination of the following tasks at the Employer owned and operated work site, to include:
- Load and unload crops or containers of materials, manually or using conveyors, hand trucks, forklifts, or transfer augers;
- Mix specified materials or chemicals, and dump solutions, powders, or seeds into planter or sprayer machinery;
- Spray fertilizer or pesticide solutions to control insects, fungus and weed growth, and diseases, using hand sprayers;
- Observe and listen to machinery operation to detect equipment malfunctions;
- Manipulate controls to set, activate, and adjust mechanisms on machinery;
- Operate or tend equipment used in agricultural product, such as tractors, combines, and irrigation equipment;
- Maintain farm machinery and notify supervisors when machinery malfunctions;
- Attach farm implements such as plows, discs, sprayers, or harvesters to tractors, using bolts and hand tools;
- Load hoppers, containers, or conveyors to feed machines with products, using forklifts, transfer augers, suction gates, shovels, or pitchforks;
- Direct and monitor the activities of work crews engaged in planting, weeding, or harvesting activities;
- Operate towed machines such as seed drills or manure spreaders to plant, fertilize, dust, and spray crops;
- Weigh crop-filled containers, and record weights and other identifying information;
- Walk beside or ride on planting machines while inserting plants in planter mechanisms at specified intervals;
- Drive trucks to haul crops, supplies, tools, or farm workers;
- Guide products on conveyors to regulate flow through machines, and to discard diseased or rotten products;
- Position boxes or attach bags at discharge ends of machinery to catch products, removing and closing full containers;
- Irrigate soil, using portable pipes for ditch systems, and maintain ditches or pipes and pumps;
- Drive and operate farm machinery to plant, cultivate, harvest and store grain crops;
- Till soil, plant and cultivate grain;
- Tow harvesting equipment;
- Drive and operate self-propelled combine;
- Set up and oper te irrigation equipment;
- Inform farmers or farm mangers of crop progress;
- Operate tractors, tractor-drawn machinery, and self-propelled machinery to plow, harrow and fertilize soil, or to plant, cultivate, spray and harvest crops.
Anticipated Hours of Work Per Week: Up to 40 hours per week from 7:00AM to 4:00PM, Monday - Friday.
Anticipated Period of Employment: February 9, 2026 to November 1, 2026
Application Deadline: June 21, 2026
Job Location: Employer owned and operated work site in Center, Saguache County, Colorado.
Pay:
$20.02/hour for any US workers hired for this job. Exceptional performance may be rewarded with additional compensation or benefits at the Employers discretion. Employer provides housing for workers only and will provide transportation from the housing location to the work site and back each day for the duration of the contract. Transportation will also be provided once per week to/from closest town or city for personal errand for workers residing in employer-provided housing.
**Effective 1/1/25, overtime must be paid after 48 hours worked per week, or 56 hours worked per week for up to 22 "peak weeks" for highly seasonal employers.