Farm Apprenticeships

The Anne Saxelby Legacy Fund (ASLF) seeks to cultivate and inspire the next generation of food and agriculture leaders by sponsoring one month apprenticeships on farms similar to those that Anne engaged in during her early 20’s. Participants will work full-time with a farm/production team for a 30-day immersive experience.

• Candidates will be paired with a participating farm or food business for a one month working apprenticeship as an employee of the farm or food business.
• Apprentices will participate in farming and production activities and will follow a tailored program that gives a general and overarching experience of the operation.
• Apprentices will be compensated $20 per hour for 40-hour work weeks. Lodging, a stipend, and travel expenses will be provided.
• Apprentices will create a Storytelling Project with support from the ASLF Team. The project can be any medium and should demonstrate the impact of your month at your host farm and why the work is important to you.

Our apprenticeship program focuses on adults over the age of 17. We encourage applications from anyone, including those who are in life or career transitions that have led them to a desire to work in food and agriculture—all will be considered so please apply! No relative experience is required. Most apprenticeships take place in July and August. To see a list of our participating farms, please visit annesaxelbylegacyfund.org/aslf-farms

APPRENTICESHIP DESCRIPTION

Applicants should posses:

• Enthusiasm for the ASLF mission.
• A strong work ethic.
• The ability to work outdoors in all types of weather and perform physical activities as needed.
• A basic competency with word processing and spreadsheets.
• The ability to work alone on a task or take direction from peers and supervisors.
• The ability to attend safety and orientation training as required.
• Strong communication skills throughout the apprenticeship with ASLF staff including sharing photos and videos.

WORK ENVIRONMENT

The work environment will depend on the unique host farm and the season. Participants should expect a variety of conditions and experiences on a working farm. One should be prepared to work outdoors on a variety of farm types and in variable weather conditions. Chores conducted in facilities may include a production facility such as a cheese making room, livestock barn, packing-house, cheese cave, or a pop-up retail stand at the farmers’ market.

AGREEMENT

Once the application and references are submitted, the ASLF Selection Committee will review the application and schedule an interview with promising candidates. Prior to final acceptance, an interview with a host farm will be scheduled and the candidate will have an opportunity to understand the scope of the farm’s program. The farm will then make a final decision. If selected, the ASLF apprentice will become an employee of the farm, and all earnings will be subject to payroll taxes and all customary deductions.

A formal agreement between the farm, the candidate and ASLF will be provided.

The agreement will include the following:

• Summary of the host farm/ business.
• Outline of apprenticeship curriculum / essential duties / responsibilities.
• Contact information for all host farm personnel and ASLF Liaison.
• Orientation / welcome information / important dates and information.
• Code of conduct.

TIMELINE

1. All complete applications are due by Sunday, March 15th at 11:59 PM PST.

2. Promising candidates will be contacted for a virtual interview with the ASLF Selection Committee to be scheduled between March 26th–April 8th.

3. Promising candidates will be paired with host farms for second-round interviews.

4. Acceptance into the program will be announced on or before May 1st.

5. The host farm, ASLF, and the candidate will formalize details in an apprenticeship agreement.

6. Most apprenticeships will take place in July and August 2026.

7. At the conclusion of the apprenticeship, each ASLF Apprentice will be required to share their experience through a storytelling project.