While many students are just hitting the pillow at 4:30 a.m. on a Saturday morning, student herdsmen at the Waterman Dairy Farm are just beginning their day’s work.

“We milk twice a day. Morning milking is at 4:30, and afternoon milking at 3:30. Once you get used to getting up so early, you just want to get started and get it done,” said Chris Bursiek, a junior in agribusiness and applied economics, who began living at the Waterman Dairy Farm in September.

Bursiek is one of many students who, after classes, comes home not to a residence hall or a house, but a barn. The five Ohio State livestock barns, located in Dublin and on Carmack Road, each house up to three students.

Barn apartments feature separate bedrooms with a community kitchen and living area. Students receive free rent and utilities and a small wage. Unlike your typical college job, taking care of livestock is a 24-hour, seven days a week commitment.

“We had a mare that aborted this fall, so we were checking on her constantly. I got up at two in the morning to check her. We have some sleepless nights,” said Dallys Malenfant, a senior in animal sciences who has been living at the horse center since September.

According to Bursiek, the worst part about living at Waterman are surprises during the nightly barn checks. For example, you might have to stay up half the night to watch a cow which is calving. The students also help look out for each other and the animals.

“All barns are on alert if animals get out. When the beef cattle got out, we were all chasing them around Dublin,” said Jill Carter, horse center assistant manager.

Aside from unexpected occurrences, students do daily chores such as feeding, watering and maintaining the barn.

The amount students work per week varies between barns, but the average is 10 to 15 hours. Students may clock in more than 30 hours on the weekends.

According to Dairy Herd manager John Lemermen, working at Waterman provides students with valuable skills for the workplace, particularly because they manage the farm on weekends.

“We work every third weekend, whoever lives in the apartments are in charge of weekend crew. We have to oversee normal chores like milking, feeding and general cleaning,” Bursiek said. He said he feels the responsibilities of working at the farm will aid him in his job search.

“The leadership responsibilities have been a benefit. The companies I’ve interviewed with like to see that I’ve taken on leadership responsibilities,” he said.

Students must have at least part-time student status to live at the barns. The commute isn’t bad either; they live where they work and study.

“Balancing work and classes is pretty easy. I work the same amount as anyone else, but my apartment is right across the arena,” Malenfant said.

According to Jennifer Southworth, coordinator of horse production and management, there is no age requirement for a student interested in living at the farm, but rather an interest in the species and a strong work ethic.

Students such as Chuck Dyer, a junior in agricultural construction systems management, who plans on a career with livestock.

“I want a career in dairy and this job has helped me determine that,” Dyer said.

City-slickers have no fear, even if you have never gotten close enough to smell a farm, your shoes could be filled with the sweet aroma of hay and manure.

“I didn’t grow up on a farm. I get a lot of different experiences that I didn’t have growing up,” Dyer said.

Many of the students who work at Waterman do not have experience in dairy, but really just want the chance to get out of the city for a while, according to Lemermen.

Bursiek, who used to live on a grain farm, enjoys the chance to revisit the country air in the midst of all the campus commotion.

“After living in the city you still feel like you’re at home on the farm. It’s your own getaway in Columbus,” he said.