Foreman Trainee Program (Future Opportunities)

Launch Your Career with the Industry Leader 

Location: Various Feedyard Locations in Texas, Kansas & Colorado

Position Type: Full-Time | Salaried | Entry-Level Leadership Development

About the Opportunity

This is a future opportunity listing for college students graduating in the coming semesters and individuals interested in building a long-term career with Cactus Feeders.

If you're looking for more than your first job after college, the Foreman Trainee Program is designed to develop the next generation of leaders in cattle feeding.

As a Foreman Trainee, you'll gain hands-on experience across feedyard operations while working alongside experienced managers who will mentor and develop your leadership skills. From managing employees and caring for livestock to improving operational efficiency, you'll play an important role in producing safe, high-quality beef while building a rewarding career in agriculture.

Many of our leaders began their careers in this very program.

About Cactus Feeders

Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Amarillo, Texas, Cactus Feeders is one of the largest cattle feeding companies in the United States.

Today, we operate 15 feedyards and outside cattle locations across the Texas Panhandle, Southwest Kansas, and Eastern Colorado, producing more than one million head of fed cattle annually.

As an employee-owned company, we believe our employees are our greatest asset. We are committed to developing leaders from within by investing in training, mentorship, and career growth opportunities.

When you join Cactus Feeders, you're joining an organization that values integrity, innovation, stewardship, and the future of agriculture.

Why Become a Foreman?

Foreman are the leaders who keep our operations moving.

This role combines livestock production, people leadership, and operational management to make a meaningful impact every day.

As a Foreman, you'll help:

• Lead and develop production employees
• Promote outstanding animal care and husbandry
• Improve operational efficiency and productivity
• Make decisions that directly impact cattle performance
• Support the production of high-quality beef
• Build a culture centered on safety, teamwork, and continuous improvement

If you're someone who enjoys solving problems, leading people, and making decisions that matter, this is an excellent opportunity to begin your career.

Program Overview

The Foreman Trainee Program is a structured leadership development program that provides exposure to every major area of feedyard operations.

Trainees complete rotations through four core departments:

• Feed Delivery
• Cattle
• Feedmill
• Yard Repair & Maintenance

Most trainees begin in the Feed Delivery Department, where they learn the fundamentals of cattle nutrition, feed management, employee supervision, and daily operations before progressing through additional departments.

Key Responsibilities & Leadership Development

As a Foreman Trainee, you'll gain hands-on experience leading people, managing daily operations, and learning every aspect of feedyard production. Through rotational training across each department, you'll develop the leadership, operational, and business skills needed to become a successful Foreman.

Responsibilities include:

• Complete rotational training through Feed Delivery, Cattle, Feedmill, and Yard Repair & Maintenance.
• Evaluate cattle behavior, health, feed intake, and bunk conditions to determine daily feed requirements.
• Coordinate feed delivery, hay delivery, cattle receiving, and shipping activities to support efficient operations.
• Supervise daily feed truck operations to ensure accurate, timely, and high-quality feed delivery.
• Monitor feed quality, ration accuracy, equipment performance, and department productivity.
• Assist with preventative maintenance of feed trucks, scales, feeding systems, and related equipment.
• Lead, coach, and develop production employees while promoting a culture of safety, teamwork, and accountability.
• Learn departmental planning, budgeting, and data-driven decision-making to improve operational performance.
• Support animal health and welfare by applying industry best practices in cattle feeding and husbandry.
• Collaborate with multiple departments to solve problems and continuously improve feedyard operations.
• Perform additional duties as assigned

Qualifications

Preferred

• Associate's or Bachelor's degree in Animal Science, Agricultural Business, Agricultural Economics, Agronomy, Ranch Management, or another agriculture-related field.
• Experience in one or more livestock production sectors, including cow-calf, stocker, feedyard, or related agricultural operations.

We're Looking For Individuals Who

• Have a passion for agriculture and livestock production.
• Demonstrate strong leadership potential.
• Possess excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Enjoy solving problems and making decisions.
• Are motivated self-starters with a strong work ethic.
• Thrive in a fast-paced, team-oriented environment.
• Are committed to continuous learning and professional growth.

Work Schedule

• Full-time salaried position
• Monday-Friday
• Extended hours during peak production periods
• Rotational weekend and holiday responsibilities as needed to support livestock care

Locations

Please Note: Foreman Trainee positions are based at our production feedyards—not at our Corporate Headquarters in Amarillo.

Opportunities may be available at:

Texas

• Hale Center
• Tulia (Wrangler)
• Hereford (Southwest)
• Cactus
• Stratford
• Perryton (Wolf Creek)
• Spearman (Frontier)

Kansas

• Ulysses
• Centerfire (Ulysses)
• Syracuse

Colorado

• Burlington

Benefits & Career Growth

At Cactus Feeders, we believe investing in our employees is investing in the future of our company.

Our comprehensive benefits package includes:

• Competitive salaried compensation
• 100% Company-Funded Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP)
• 401(k) Retirement Plan
• Medical, Dental & Vision Insurance
• Company-Paid Life Insurance
• Continuing Education Opportunities
• Leadership Development & Mentorship
• Career Advancement Opportunities within a growing, industry-leading organization

Cactus Feeders provides equal employment opportunities to all employees and applicants for employment and prohibits discrimination and harassment of any type without regard to race, color, religion, age, sex, national origin, disability status, genetics, protected veteran status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or any other characteristic protected by federal, state, or local laws.

This policy applies to all terms and conditions of employment, including recruiting, hiring, placement, promotion, termination, layoff, recall, transfer, leaves of absence, compensation, and training.