Looking for on-farm education?
Our Apprenticeship Program offers a one-of-a-kind experience providing beginning farmers with on-farm, technical education with a mentor farmer in the Midwest. Apprentices also take online coursework and have an opportunity for community-building throughout the year. Apply now to be considered for the next season.
Becoming an Apprentice
- What you will learn: Each apprentice will come away with a unique experience based on their host farm. In addition to on-farm mentoring, educational topics may include: perennial crop establishment, management, and harvest; farm planning and decision-making; equipment maintenance; product marketing; farm/tree finance, and more. You’ll also take our Beginning Farmer Online Course.
- Duration: Timing and duration is dependent on the needs of the host farm and the availability of the apprentice. On-farm experiences are at a minimum 10 weeks (part-time or full-time), and can be longer.
- Location: All participating mentors are located in the Midwest; all people able to work in the US are encouraged to apply.
- Pay, room and board: Payment and benefits vary by host farm. See the Benefits section in the host farm descriptions below for more information.
- Additional activities: In addition to the online course materials and on-farm experience, apprentices participate in monthly cohort calls; write a reflection about their on-farm experience, and participate and attend local field days.
How to Apply
- Fill out the application and indicate your top three choices for host farms. The Savanna Institute will forward your application to our partners at the three host farms selected.
- Application review begins in January each year. Applications will be accepted until all summer positions are filled.
- Mentor farmers will interview their top choices and offer a position to their final selection; apprentices can decline this offer for any reason. Our goal is for a good mentor-apprentice fit! Interviews may happen as early as February, or may continue into the spring, depending on the farm and timing required.
Email us at [email protected] with questions or for more information.
