• Overview

  Island Farm is a living history farm on Roanoke Island, on the Outer Banks of North Carolina, that interprets mid-19^th century daily life. The site is centered around a National Register-listed circa 1847 homeplace and associated reconstructed outbuildings.

  The homeplace at Island Farm is one of the oldest homes on the island remaining today. Daily programming changes seasonally and includes a diverse farming and heritage livestock program, blacksmithing, hearth cooking, historic trades, crafts, wagon rides, and more. Island Farm seeks a full-time Historic Farmer. This is a key position focused on livestock care, historic farming, and historical interpretation.

  Primary Responsibilities

  This is a full-time exempt position. Housing is included as a condition of employment. This employee works closely with a partnered Historic Farmer, as well as a Site Manager, Administrative Coordinator, Historical Interpreters, and volunteers; this position is supervised by the Executive Director. The Historic Farmer is an integral part of the Island Farm team. Key functions of this position include:

   

• To serve as primary caretaker for all livestock at Island Farm including equines, oxen, sheep and fowl
• In partnership with the Historic Farmer, maintain livestock, crop fields, and site grounds. This includes routine animal care of sheep, mules, horses, cows, and fowl, working draft animals, planting and harvesting, field preparation, pasture management, log splitting, fence building, etc.
• To interpret the history of Island Farm to the public
• To complete basic maintenance of the site’s buildings and grounds
• To work closely with other leadership staff and to serve as an integral part of the Island Farm team

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  Job Duties

•       Maintain and care for all livestock
•       Complete seasonal and daily farm tasks
•       Source feed and medications for all livestock
•       Schedule farrier and veterinary appointments
•       Provide routine facility maintenance on historic and reproduction structures
•       To assist with all aspects of hosting educational groups, and implementing events and daily programs
•       Help compile research and disseminate relevant information for programming
•       Assist with the Island Farm Community Food Assistance Program
•       Plan and organize educational events
•       Interpret the history of Island Farm for visitors through educational tours, special events, and daily programs and interpretation
•       Organize and implement community outreach involving livestock, and transport to off-site interpretive events
•       Provide living history demonstrations to the public and dress in historic, period-correct clothing on a daily basis
•       Participate in school-age and other large group tours
•       Participate in opportunities for continuing education
•       Prepare reports
• ·     Perform other duties as assigned

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  Qualifications/Preferred Skills

•       Strong work ethic
•      Experience working with livestock such as cattle/oxen, fowl, sheep, and equines
•      Ability to maintain flexibility and work with frequent interruptions and changing priorities
•       Ability to solve practical problems and to work both independently and on a team to carry out assigned duties with minimal supervision
•       A passion for and knowledge of history and education
•      Prior experience in agriculture or landscaping

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  Physical Requirements & Work Environment

•       Work will be performed both indoors and outdoors, in high and low temperatures, and in all weather conditions with frequent exposure to heat, cold, dust, dirt, and water
•       The employee schedule includes days off other than Saturdays, Sundays, and some holidays
•       There is a requirement to respond to emergency situations
•     This position is active in nature and will involve standing for long periods of time, walking, pulling and pushing, kneeling, stooping, and bending
•      Ability to lift up to 50 pounds

The salary range for this position is $35,000 – $40,000 per year. Housing in the farm-adjacent two-bedroom home is included as part of the compensation package. Vacation and sick leave are available and increases with tenure. For more information, call 252-473-5440. Resume and cover letter can be sent to P.O. Box 721, Manteo, NC 27954 or to info@obcinc.org. Application materials are due by Friday, January 9, 2026.