Are You Planning to Travel Out West This Summer for Work?

Howdy, so you’d like to know more about working a summer job on a ranch? Well, let’s jump right into it!

What are Summer Ranch Jobs

Summertime ranch jobs are positions that are seasonal in nature and specific to the summer months. Many Dude and Guest Ranches operate on a similar summer schedule. For example, the guest ranches along the east entrance to Yellowstone (coming from Cody) typically open for business in May and will operate until the season tapers down in September and October.

Many ranches like this will urge staff to arrive in March or April to take care of summer preparation and knock out any projects that couldn’t be completed through the hard winters. Note: They are typically understanding if you can only work most of the season. On the other side of the coin some ranches will require that you be there for the whole season and will also have bonuses for a completed season.

What Positions are Available

No two Dude or Guest Ranches are the same but they will have some consistency in the available positions.

• Wrangler- This is the most sought after position. Being a wrangler on a ranch requires years of experience or having received some intense horseback riding instruction/ training. Being a wrangler is can be a tough job. You’ll be working with horses most of the day. You’ll be responsible for providing guests with a safe, fun, and engaging ride. Knowledge of horses and the ability to be personable are two of the best attributes an aspiring wrangler can have.

Click Here to See Wrangler Jobs

• Ranch Hand- Most seasonal ranches will have one or two ranch hands on the staff to be the man on the ground. Fence is down? Let the ranch hand know. Stall or paddock needs fixing? Bring our hand over, he’ll know how to fix it. Need the 1993 dodge up and running after sitting for a couple of years, a ranch hand will give his best try at fixing it.
• Cabin Staff- Cabin staff is a broad term but an essential position on seasonal ranches. Much of why people go to such ranches lies in the comfort of their stay. Cabin staff work to keep clean sheets on beds, clean towels on the rack, and keep guests happy. Many cabin staff will also work as wait staff for meals provided. Note: Depending on the ranch cabin staff and wait staff can be separate jobs.
• Cook/ Chef- How could the wait or cabin staff keep guests happy without serving the finest of meals prepared by seasonal chefs and cooks. The kitchen can be the make or break for some seasonal outfits. Many hire great cooks for summer positions.
• Other positions- Like we mentioned earlier, no two seasonal ranches are the same. Some have admin staff, handyman, and more.

What Jobs are Out There

You can view the Jobs listed on RanchJobsUSA.com or hop over to https://duderanch.org/ and see all of the ranches and opportunities within the Dude Ranch Association.