Position Title: Honey Creek Ranch Foreman
Name of Ranch/Business: Petty Group, LLP
Location: Medina, Texas
Number of Full Time Employees Supervised: 5
Position: Petty Group seeks a person experienced in ranching to assist the Ranch Manager with the operation, improvement, maintenance and security of Honey Creek Ranch, including the improvements, equipment and tools on the ranch. The Foreman will report to the Ranch Manager. In coordination with the Ranch Manager, he will be available to all members of the Petty Family and support them in their use of the ranch, including preparing for and guiding hunts for the Petty Family and their guests, which includes weekends during hunting season. The Foreman will assist the Ranch Manager with the leading and training of all ranch labor.
About Us: Petty Group, LLP is a single-family office located in San Antonio, Texas serving three generations of the Petty family. The Petty family feels a deep sense of responsibility to care for the land, wildlife, resources and people, and their ranching properties and operations are an integral part of that devotion to stewardship.
Honey Creek Ranch is comprised of approximately 13,000 acres and is located approximately 8.2 miles northwest of Medina and 80 miles northwest of San Antonio in the Texas Hill Country in northwest Bandera and southern Kerr Counties. The property is rolling to rugged, including rocky/limestone-based soils, and is accessed by both public roads and ranch roads. It has water features and improvements, as well as equipment and tools. Vegetation includes oaks and cedar. The main land uses are agriculture, hunting and recreation, including a cattle operation and an active, 25-acre fruit and pecan orchard and a vegetable garden.
Competencies: An effective Foreman should have a preference for living and working in the country in a rural setting and possess the following skills or competencies or be willing and able to acquire them:
- Construction: Background and understanding of construction to assist in overseeing projects.
- Chemicals: Able to acquire private applicators license for chemicals.
- Farm, Orchard and Ranch Operations: Knowledge of and experience in farm, orchard and ranch operations, including experience working cattle, caring for horses, knowledge of irrigation and water systems, knowledge of Horticulture and Arboriculture (variety selection, planting, pruning, maintenance and harvest) and an understanding of current rules and regulations regarding land use, farming, ranching and hunting.
- Language: Conversational level of Spanish desired for communicating with H2A employees.
- Equipment: Able to operate and maintain farm and ranch equipment, including heavy equipment, with a mechanical knowledge for equipment repair and maintenance.
- Firearms: Able to safely shoot and handle firearms.
- Honesty, Integrity & Professionalism: Conduct himself at all times to enhance the reputation of owners and their organization for high moral character and integrity. Represent the Petty family and Honey Creek Ranch in a professional manner at all times.
- Safety: Ability to consider safety in all decisions, clearly communicate Petty Ranch Rules and safety protocols to anyone on the property and instill a culture of safety among all employees.
- Availability: Ability to be available (on call for questions, emergencies, etc.), including some assigned weekends.
- Physical Condition: Ability to lift up to 60 pounds, stand on feet for long periods of time and bend or stoop for periods of time. Must pass a Physical Exam.
Primary Responsibilities: The Foreman will assist the Ranch Manager under his supervision and direction with whatever needs to be done for the benefit of the ranch, which will include the following primary responsibilities:
- Roads: Assist in maintaining ranch roads and overseeing any road improvements or road construction, including working with road contractors, material suppliers or other vendors or contractors performing services or providing goods to the ranch in connection with the ranch roads.
- Other Ranch Infrastructure: Assist in maintaining ranch infrastructures such as fences, gates, deer blinds and feeders. Understand and become knowledgeable on the entire ranch and ranch boundaries, ranch roads and all feeder and blind locations.
- Operation, Maintenance and Repair of Equipment: Operate ranch vehicles, tractors, bulldozer, dump truck and other equipment, and maintain that equipment in excellent working condition, continually assessing the condition of the equipment to determine if it is in need of replacement or repair.
- Patrol/Security: Maintain constant awareness of security at the property and river including patrolling the property on assigned weekends. Repair the many water gaps after rain events.
- Livestock/Ranching/Farming/Pasture Maintenance: Work with Ranch Manager in performing duties such as cattle work, ranching, farming and pasture maintenance, and wildlife management, including, monitoring cattle herd by performing visual inspections of the cattle, food, and water sources, monitoring pasture conditions, ensuring all animals have access to water and food, and that horses and cattle have adequate shelter from extreme weather conditions, corralling animals for vaccination, branding or transportation, identify and determine proper treatment for sick animals and otherwise maintain high standards of animal welfare. Participate in and assist the Ranch Manager with Ranch wildlife surveys and assist in maintenance of predator control system.
Other Responsibilities: The Foreman’s responsibilities will also include the following:
- Orchard/Garden/Yards: Assist in maintaining the orchard, garden and yards/lawns, and maintaining, repairing and improving the drip irrigation systems, water sprinkler systems and other water systems on the ranch, including assisting the Ranch Manager in supervising the work of the other employees or laborers in the orchard and garden and checking water supply for all houses and making sure sources and systems are in proper working order. Supervision may include planting, pruning and maintaining trees and plants, the water and irrigation system, harvesting of products, delivering fruits and vegetables, transporting pecans to sheller and tracking volume and yields of pecans.
- Guiding/Hospitality: Be available to help owners (including carrying and unloading). Serve as a guide for ranch tours and hunting. Ensure that all guests are treated with courtesy and respect and are provided with an exceptional experience on the ranch. Be able to clean, cape, and quarter wildlife and maintain a working knowledge of wildlife management and hunting.
- Dwellings: Assist in maintaining all ranch facilities and homes and related equipment, including assisting Ranch Manager in supervising contractors performing any remodeling or new construction, maids who clean ranch houses, control and alarm services and other contractors such as those who maintain WiFi and other electronics and equipment at the houses. Assist in all ranch beautification work and projects including lawn mowing, weed eating, barn cleaning and vehicle cleaning.
- Supplies: Coordinate with Petty family office staff and ranch staff to purchase necessary supplies and stock facilities throughout the year, especially during hunting season.
- Other Ranches: May be required to assist with hunting, livestock, farming, and maintenance on other ranches as needed.
Compensation:
- Salary based on experience and qualifications
- Employer furnished work vehicle at no cost for use for ranch business
- Employer furnished tools, supplies and all farm and ranch equipment
- Employer provided housing is negotiable
- Health, Dental and Vision Insurance available
- 401k plan with employer match after 12 months
- Long Term Care/Disability Insurance/Life & Supplemental Insurance
To Apply: Please contact Keith Solbrig, Petty Group, LLP, Ranch Manager, Honey Creek Ranch
Ranch Contact Name:
Keith Solbrig
hcrranch@pettyco.com