How do I distribute Agricultural Internship information?

July 23, 2012 12:16 AM

Where does one distribute information about a farming internship?

The girlfriend is interning at a farm in Idaho over the summer. This is a paid internship, but on a stiped basis. Oh, and the farm is hella-organic, for what that's worth.

She's decided that the internship isn't working out for her, and is going to quit. She wants to find a replacement for herself before she leaves, however.

So, to the question:
Where would be good places to post about farm internships? I'd imagine there are message boards, job listings, blogs, and the like devoted to this sort of thing.

I'm trying to help with this. I've got a couple contacts in university agricultural programs that I could send the info to, but I'm only connected to two schools. Are there inter-school distribution lists for this sort of thing, or do I literally have to email the right person at each school I want to contact?

Any other suggestions people have would be great. If anyone has gone through this, or the reverse process, your experience would be useful here.

Or if, you know, someone wants an internship on an organic farm in Idaho, that would also solve this problem. Memail me, kind soul, if this is you.

posted by justalisteningman to Work & Money (7 answers total)

I figure the farmers would want to have a say in who shows up at their farm. It might be better for her to just let the farmers know that she will be going, and give a timeline for her departure, and let them figure out who will be the next person to live with them. It's not really a decision for an outsider to make on their behalf.
posted by librarina at 1:01 AM on July 23, 2012 [2 favorites]

Maybe try Sterling College - they seem to have a framework for sending most of their students out on sustainable ag internships.
posted by Wylla at 3:54 AM on July 23, 2012

4-H? Future Farmers of America?
posted by Fferret at 5:20 AM on July 23, 2012

If it's not working out, she should feel free to just say so, and then present the farmers with a set of places where they can list the job, and maybe offer to do it. All this should certainly be discussed with the farmers in advance, with a couple weeks' notice to ensure a smooth transition. No doubt they are dependent on her labor and probably couldn't sustain a gap in the supply of labor, especially this time of year.

Below are the biggest places to list internships/apprenticeships.

WWOOF - Worldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms
Beginning Farmers
National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service
Sustainable Living & Farming Jobs
Northeast Organic Farming Association (despite the name, they carry listings for the country )
GrowFood
Sustainable Agriculture Education Association
posted by Miko at 5:57 AM on July 23, 2012 [1 favorite]

It is not unusual at all for a farm intern to quit. This is the farmers' problem. She can help them by telling them what is causing her to leave (has she talked to them about changing the arrangement? they may be willing to change her tasks or work hours, etc.).

ATTRA was the best database when I was looking at internships a few years ago. Since it's mid-season, they'll probably want to advertise locally as well, or possibly just fill in with family friends / extra hours.
posted by momus_window at 7:32 AM on July 23, 2012 [1 favorite]

justalisteningman: "I've got a couple contacts in university agricultural programs that I could send the info to, but I'm only connected to two schools. Are there inter-school distribution lists for this sort of thing, or do I literally have to email the right person at each school I want to contact?"

Send it to your two contacts, and ask them to pass it on. I have no doubt that they know their peers in other schools.
posted by SuperSquirrel at 8:29 AM on July 23, 2012

Another place to list a job would be goodfoodjobs.com. All sorts of interesting internships and jobs listed there, all at least tangentially related to food.
posted by hungrybruno at 9:45 AM on July 23, 2012 [1 favorite]