Company description

Rogue Farm Corps trains and equips the next generation of farmers and ranchers through hands-on educational programs and the preservation of farmland.

We envision a world in which land is deeply cared for, power is equitably shared, and farms, ranches, and the people who work them flourish.

Internship description

Interested in a deep dive into the world of sustainable agriculture? Rogue Farm Corps’ Apprenticeship Program is an immersion for aspiring farmers who want to gain significant farming or ranching production experience. Hands-on field training with Host Farm mentors is complemented by a series of classes, farm tours, discussions, and networking events organized by RFC. Host Farms employ Apprentices as waged employees protected by federal and state labor law. Start and end dates vary based on the Host Farm. Full-time and part-time positions are available. Find Host Farm and position information on our website.

Applicants of all backgrounds and identities encouraged to apply. Scholarships are available with preference given to BIPOC, LGBTQIA2s+, veterans, and low-income applicants and those impacted by the carceral system.

These Apprenticeships are at farms across the state of Oregon, and classes and farm tours are also dispersed across the state.

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EDUCATIONAL EVENTS

Apprentices join other beginning farmers for an Educational Event Series facilitated by Rogue Farm Corps.

The full event series includes:

24 classes focused on foundational sustainable agriculture concepts, skills, and the food system.
7-10 farm tours which showcase practical skills and individual farmers’ stories and provide insight into diverse production and marketing systems.
3-5 discussion circles with topics including Food Justice / Food Sovereignty, and Next Steps for Beginning Farmers.

RFC strives to make all educational events inclusive and welcoming to people from all backgrounds and identities. Classes, tours, and discussions are led by Rogue Farm Corps staff, agricultural professionals, and expert farmworkers/farmers.

For more information on these events, please visit our event series page and sample schedule.

APPLICATIONS

Apprenticeship applications are accepted on the Rogue Farm Corps website until positions are filled (usually by April), early applications are considered first. Positions are beginning to fill, so please apply ASAP if you’re interested! Host Farms decide which applicants to interview and offer placements to. Applicants must be 18 years or older and have authorization to work in the U.S.COMPENSATION / FEES / SCHOLARSHIPS

Our Apprenticeship program works with partner Host Farm sites around the state of Oregon. Apprentices are hired as waged employees by their Host Farms, and paid at least $15/hr, although we have farms that pay as much as $20/hr. This varies farm by farm. You can read profiles for our Host Farms, here.

There is a $550-$800 program fee, which covers the cost of attending our educational event series and administrative support for Apprentices. The exact fee is based on the number of events an Apprentice will be attending. We do have scholarships available, and work to ensure that fees are not a barrier to participation for aspiring farmers interested in our programs.

TYPES OF AGRICULTURE

Rogue Farm Corps trains beginning farmers in sustainable, regenerative, ecological, and organic farming. Our partner Host Farms practice these production methods. Host farm enterprises vary by farm and include plant-based production (vegetables, herbs, fruit, seeds, etc) and animal-based production (meat, dairy, eggs, etc). Host Farms are commercial, small-to-mid scale operations marketing to their local and regional community via a range of sales channels including farmers market, CSA, wholesale, and more. RFC participants are exposed to various farm production and marketing systems via RFC’s farm tour events.

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION

Rogue Farm Corps is committed to an ongoing learning process around privilege, power, inequality, and systems of oppression. RFC has a goal of making our programs welcoming to, inclusive of, and accessible to communities who are under-represented as farm operators in Oregon, including women-identified, Black, Indigenous and people of color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA2s+ individuals, low-income individuals and immigrants. Our desire to create a more equitable food system is reflected in RFC’s programs and collaborations.

Learn more and apply: roguefarmcorps.org/apprenticeship

Questions? Reach out! training@roguefarmcorps.org

Compensation

this position is: salaried, $15-20/hr

Application instructions

Deadline

no deadline