Farmer Training Internship in Washington

Posted on November 8, 2019 by Taylor in Education, Farming, Internships, Training Programs // 0 Comments

Farmer Training Internship at CMFC in Everson, Washington – 2020

Cloud Mountain Farm Center is accepting applications for our 8-month farmer training internship program.

The Cloud Mountain Farm Center (CMFC) Internship is designed for those interested in pursuing a career in agriculture, and includes both employment and education. Interns gain working experience in both fruit and vegetable production and learn first-hand what it takes to keep farmlands healthy and agricultural businesses thriving.

See full Farmer Training Internship program description here: https://www.cloudmountainfarmcenter.org/education/farm-internships/

The Farmer Training Internship program includes:

Lectures, Workshops, and Field Trips (approx. 8 hours/week)

Through instruction and exposure via lectures, workshops, and farm tours, interns complete a curriculum that introduces them to the following topics:

Business and Marketing: business planning, enterprise accounting, value-added production, overall farm finances
Soils and Land Management: soil science, tillage, cultivation, fertility, and cover crops
Crop Production: irrigation, crop culture, weed management, crop planning, integrated pest and disease management, and orchard and vineyard management
Propagation and Nursery: vegetative propagation, seedling care, and greenhouse management
Environmental and Social Systems: natural resource conservation, food access and food justice

Employment (approx. 30-32 hours/week)

The majority of interns’ time is spent working on the farm as an integral part of the field crew, and they are paid hourly at $13.50/hour. Work schedules will vary throughout the season and interns can expect to work some weekends. Hands-on education happens through meaningful work in our vegetable, fruit and nursery enterprises. Farm work is fast paced and physically demanding involving repetitive tasks and will include working in sometimes extreme weather conditions. You can expect to work outside in the cold, rain, and heat. Interns work in the following areas of production:

Annual Vegetables: seeding, transplanting, cultivation, irrigation, harvest, and high tunnel production
Perennial Orchards and Vineyards: pruning and training, pest and disease monitoring, orchard maintenance, and harvest
Retail Nursery: plant propagation and container growing
Post-Harvest: washing and packing produce for wholesale and local accounts and selling product at the Bellingham Farmers Market

Pay and Tuition

CMFC values and depends on the work performed by interns throughout the season and as such, we’ve structured the program so interns are paid for their work during the 30-32 hours/week of employment as outlined above. Additionally, interns will pay tuition for the educational portion of the program.

2020 Program Dates: Mid-March through October 2020

Apply Now for the Farmer Training Internship!

We will continue to accept applications and conduct interviews on a rolling basis until all positions are filled. Please send the following application materials and all other program inquiries via email to annah@cloudmountainfarmcenter.org

A completed application form available to download at https://www.cloudmountainfarmcenter.org/education/farm-internships/
Responses to the essay questions found on the application form
Your current resume including education and work experience
A list of 3 references. Two of them must be professional. Please include their name, address, email and phone number.

We look forward to connecting with you!