HF Bar Ranch
Anyone applying for jobs for our Team for the 2027 Season is welcome.
Guest ranch workers work long hours but the work is fulfilling, fun, and never over-taxing. It's a summer ritual that leads to friendships and connections through the HF Bar Ranch that can last a lifetime and turn into the return of so many with their own young families. This has been the tradition of this Ranch for over 115 years. Let's see if this can become yours!
Please complete the following:
1. Fill out the application (link below).
All returning employees are required to fill out a new application.
Generally, our hiring age range is 19 to 25.
2. Send a resume along with a simple letter stating why you would like to work on the Ranch and what you would bring to our Ranch Team. What we mean by that is we are looking for certain skill-sets and we chose employees based on what they can do and bring to us in terms of your experience in a past job or helping with home chores!
Examples are: Have you been a member of a mowing or groundskeeping service even as a teenager, can you operate a chainsaw, do you know how to do simple automotive tasks like change oil, windshield washer fluid, change a flat tire, add air to a low tire? Have you used weed-spraying equipment, built a fence or cabinet? Do you know how to clean a vacuum cleaner, mop a floor? Can you load a mouse trap? Can you empty one?
Have you ever had a job before?
ANYthing you may have done out doors or mechanically AND any practical experience, like helping your family with chores, will get you a step closer to being hired. Your answers do not have to be fancy, just informative! Have you helped around the house or school with laundry, serving tables, cooking? Did you participate in school clubs like speech, debate, environmental causes or honor society? Were you ever been a member of a 4H Club, Girl or Boy Scouts, local youth camps? We are looking for smart, self-thinking, curious and sharp young people who can make decisions about themselves! In other words, we are looking for highly motivated, responsible young people who are not afraid to go out on a limb, get out of their safety zone and try something new for a change of pace and activities! This Ranch is very outdoorsy and the work can be hard and fun all at the same time!
3. Please also consider sending in a photo of yourself, as we like to put a face to the name!
4. Email the application form, letter, resume and photo (optional) to:
ATT: Hiring Manager: hfbaremployment@gmail.com
Feel free to write to us at any time. We begin the hiring process in November. If you do not hear back from us within a week please send a follow-up email. We have a huge number of applications for every position and do not want anyone to slip through the cracks. Our Management Team reviews all applicants. Final decisions can be made immediately or by
mid-January - early-February.
Even if you have worked for the Ranch previously, you must resubmit a complete application. Thank you!
Click Here for Application.pdf
Employment Qualifications:
Applicants must be 19 years of age.
A positive ‘can-do’ attitude is expected of all employees.
We are an Equal Opportunity Employer and encourage both men and women to work
as employees in all of our departments.
Employment Timing:
Guests reservations begin on June 1st and are reserved through the months of
June, July, August and into early September. Employees who can stay from May 15th until September 15th will be prioritized. Employees who can stay from May 15th until August 25th have the next best chance of receiving a job offer. If you have to leave before August 20th, there will be little chance of a job offer. Think out any planned family reunions and your own timing because we do not and cannot make exceptions for people who do not meet these guidelines.
All employees will be trained as a part of helping open the Ranch for each summer. Preference will be given to anyone who can work all the way through August. We hire a select crew through September 15 to help close down the Ranch. Please let us know the latest date you are available right from the get-go. We do financially penalize any employee who does not live up to and keep their stated departure date by loss of end-of-season bonus.
General Employment Information:
All employees work 6 days per week with an assigned day off. We try to arrange days off compatible with other friends when possible. Along with your salary, the Ranch provides housing, food, wireless internet and coin-operated laundry services.
The experience of a summer at the HF Bar Ranch can be life-altering! We have seen life-long friendships form time after time, year after year.
General Job Descriptions:
You will hear often "Flexibility is the Key to All Employee Success at the HF Bar Ranch". This means you "roll with it". You may be asked to do any job or chore by Management. This approach has worked as a successful way of keeping the Ranch flowing for years!
So, please be ready to help in any area needed at any time! It keeps things fresh and fun!
Absolutely anyone operating a Ranch vehicle must have a valid Driver's License.
KITCHEN STAFF:
While working in our Kitchen does not require previous experience, it is recommended. The Kitchen is the main hub of our Ranch. We serve approximately 600 meals daily including all guests, staff and any outside guests or service people. The Code of the West is you always offer a meal. That could be the UPS guy or an old friend passing through Saddlestring. A love of food and creativity are required with an organizational attitude. You do not have to be a trained cook unless you are applying for a specific chef-centric position. You do have to come with a confident, creative and extremely positive good attitude and spirit! Everyone who works here practices all for one, and one for all in everything we do!
Positions in our Kitchen that can be available include:
Chef, Sous Chef, Baker, Salad Chef, Sandwich/Picnic Prep, Breakfast Cook, and Staff Cook. Depending on your level of experience, you will be placed into an appropriate position upon employment. We are looking for creative, smart Kitchen staff with more interest in cooking than actual knowledge, although some experience, certainly, is a plus!. Energetic, smart young people figure out things very quickly. Kitchen Staff will be required to abide by all State and Federal laws in regards to sanitation and safety within the Kitchen, as well as, general kitchen duties, including: proper culinary apparel and head coverings, daily cleaning of each work station, unloading weekly food trucks, and general overseeing of our Staff eating area. Kitchen hours vary, depending on position, starting anywhere from 6:00 a.m. ending around 8:30 p.m.
The Breakfast Chef is off duty after prepping for next day by about 12:00 p.m. Because of the workload and need for some expertise, Kitchen salaries do trend higher.
HASHER:
A Hasher’s primary responsibility is to serve our guests in our Dining Area. We, primarily, eat outside on our Dining Porch with weather being the only reason we might move inside to the Dining Room.(The term "hasher" comes from the early-1800s days of "slinging hash".) This job includes greeting guests as they arrive for meals, serving three meals daily, a rotating breakfast dishwashing schedule, cleaning of the Dining Area and general Ranch House area before and after each meal. Hashers begin work at approximately 6:30 a.m., and work through until about 8:00 p.m., with a small break between breakfast and lunch and a large break between lunch and dinner service.
CABIN KEEPER:
Job responsibilities in the co-ed Team include making sure all occupied cabins are cleaned before noonon a daily basis, deep cleaning of cabins between guests visits, a nightly turndown service, and various other chores/tasks throughout the guest public areas. All Keepers will be part of the rotating lunch and dinner dishwashing schedule.
KEEPER
Responsibilities of this co-ed Team include lawn care, delivering ice and firewood to all cabins, trash/recycling management, and various grounds work. Additionally, Keepers lead paintball games twice a week, manage private dinners at our "Mountain Cabin", and help bartend. These specific jobs within this department are assigned each summer.
All Keepers will be part of a rotating lunch and dinner dishwashing schedule.
WRANGLER:
Responsibilities include general horsemanship and wrangling duties–morning and afternoon wrangling rotations, saddling horses, daily cleaning of the Corral and Barn, assisting guests with familiarizing themselves with the surrounding countryside and their horses, leading out most rides when needed. We operate on a Safety-First Program. Horseback rides will include any and all of the following: Morning Rides, All-Day Picnic Rides and after dinner Evening Rides. Good experience with horses and people is a must! We are looking for someone who knows horses and can learn to understand that people management is a vital part of this job. You MUST be able to remain calm in the incidence of an accident or injury to rider or horse, to calmly control a group of riders and to be able to be firm with any guests who might insist on something that you do not consider safe for the situation i.e. loping with a group not totally capable, running back to the Corral, not conforming to the level of the weakest rider in the group without consultation with your wrangler. Wranglers, usually start work at 7:00 a.m., and work until all evening rides are in, around 9:00 p.m., with a long afternoon break each day.
Wranglers do Saturday lunch and dinner dishes/pots on a rotating schedule.
** If possible, please include a 10 min. video that demonstrates you riding ability.
KID TEAM:
Children between the ages 2 and 12 very often make up one half of our daily population.
We rely heavily on our Kid Team for, not only, the entertainment during the day of the children, but for their safty and well-being at all times. Our Kid Team is responsible for assisting, organizing, coordinating, and supervising FUN and safe activities for children. You will be responsible for watching the under-5 younger children in the morning (while families are on rides) with simple craft projects, a morning snack and led horseback rides out in a pasture so that parents can be sent captivating photos of their children. This team, also, coordinates all-age activities for the afternoons and evenings for some of the older aged kids and teens. Kid Team activities begin at 9:00 a.m., and continue throughout the day, ending sometime between 8:00 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. Defined breaks during the day are arranged within the department as this group works very long and attentive hours. Kid Team employees do not participate in dishwashing, like everyone, except on Saturdays along with the Wranglers who work similarly long hours and can only do dishes one day per week.
OFFICE/STORE/BARISTA:
Our Office is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. The Office team will be responsible for checking guests in and showing guests to their cabins, as needed, explaining the Ranch daily schedule, answering telephones, responding to guest requests and inquiries, and other administrative duties, as needed, including preparing and presenting each guest family's final bill. Store and Office staff are responsible for keeping the Store and Office clean, stocked, and organized. Assisting guests and employees with purchases and espresso drinks. Good manners and people skills, along with a self-starting personality, is very important as the Office is the "hub" of the Ranch. Barista experience and retail experience recommended, but not required. An outgoing and sharp persona is more valuable. Our Ranch Store is open daily from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. with a rotating late start day at 9:00 a.m. and break midday from
2:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m. for fairness of hours worked.
BARTENDER:
You will be responsible for working bartending shifts, beginning late afternoon and often until about 11:30 p.m. You will work in coordination with other bartenders and should be prepared to work in other areas of the Ranch, as needed. Other responsibilities will include ordering alcohol, managing inventory, cleaning the bars and ensuring that all systems and protocols are followed. You must be 21 or older for this position.
Also, you will be a part of the rotating lunch dishwashing schedule.
SHOOTING DEPARTMENT:
Our clay-shooting program is a Ranch favorite amongst our guests, and we are looking for individuals who are incredibly patient, outgoing, organized, self-starters, etc. You will be under the direct supervision of Richard Platt, who has been the head of our Shooting Program for the last 31 years. We offer 5 different time slots daily for our guests to go shooting, and you will be asked to do other tasks around the Ranch as needed. Certification is not required, but strong gun and shooting safety knowledge is required.
You will be a part of the rotating lunch and dinner dishwashing schedule.
FISHING GUIDES:
The Ranch works in partnership with Rock Creek Anglers, and if you are interested in a position as a fishing guide, please contact them through their website: www.rockcreekanglers.com
Because we offer room and board to the separate fishing staff, you will have some Ranch responsibilities and must abide by all Ranch rules and policies.