Food System Internship
Become part of the next generation of sustainable producers & local food leaders!
Expanding upon our successful Sustainable Ag and Farmers Market Internships, the FARRMS Food System Internship Program aims to cultivate the next generation of local food leaders by providing a comprehensive understanding of sustainable local food systems. Interns will explore various aspects of the food system including production, distribution, access, and engagement with key stakeholders throughout the entire process.
This internship will provide an opportunity to gain a comprehensive understanding of sustainable local food systems by extending beyond farms and farmers markets to include diverse community partners from public health, economic development, school nutrition programs, community leaders, and more.
About the Internship Program
Interns will be placed at Forager Farm & Bakehouse and Bismarck Burleigh Public Health in the Bismarck area and Family Roots Farm and Red River Harvest Cooperative in the Fargo area.
Details
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Internships will run approximately May through October with interns spending most of their time at a primary host site with brief rotations at secondary sites.
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Interns will also attend farm tours throughout the season and may assist in organizing these tours.
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Between mid-May and late August interns will attend weekly Zoom classes on diverse aspects of food systems with guest speakers and homework assignments.
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Interns will be paid by FARRMS at $15/hr for time spent on the farm, in class and doing classwork and for attending field days for 20hrs per week up to 350 hours during the season. They are considered employees of FARRMS.
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FARRMS hopes to coordinate with local universities to offer academic credit for the experience. While this internship is geared towards college students, the opportunity is open to anyone over 16 who demonstrates a passion for local food, community building, food access, farming, or sustainable agriculture.
The Food Systems Internship will place interns at a primary host site, Forager Farm & Bakehouse or Family Roots Farm, for roughly half of their hours. Interns will have brief rotations at local food organizations, Bismarck Burleigh Public Health or Red River Harvest Cooperative, for the other portion of their time. At the start of the season, interns will identify interests and learning goals with the FARRMS Local Food Educator and host sites.
On Site Learning
Weekly Classes
Between mid-May and late August interns will come together to attend weekly Zoom classes on diverse aspects of food systems with guest speakers and out-of-class assignments.
Independent Project
Interns in this program will also complete an independent project throughout the summer. This will be a specialized food system project that interns will create with the FARRMS Local Food Educator and host site on a topic that interests them. These projects will presented to the class at the end of the program.
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Pictured at right: Gretchen Ivers designed and built a chicken tractor at Stable Days Youth Ranch during her Sustainable Ag Internship in the summer of 2021.
Farm Field Days
Interns will attend in person, farm tours around the state as an opportunity to explore North Dakota local food systems, meet new producers, and discover unique and innovative forms of agriculture. Assistance in organizing these tours may also be a part of this program.
View the video at left with highlights from our 2021 farm field days.