Beginning Farmer Apprenticeship - in Oregon Portland

Beginning Farmer Apprenticeship – Multiple Locations in Oregon

Applications are open for Rogue Farm Corps’ Apprenticeship Program in Oregon for the 2023 farm season. This paid sustainable farm apprenticeship provides hands‑on field training at host farms augmented by a series of classes, tours, discussions, and networking events organized by Rogue Farm Corps. Host farms offer wages and may provide housing and/or food. Start and end dates vary by host farm, generally spring through fall.

Full‑time and part‑time positions are available. Host farm and position information can be found on our website.

Rogue Farm Corps seeks to train an inclusive next generation of farmers and encourages applicants of all backgrounds and identities to apply. Scholarships for program fees are available.

No experience is required to apply, however we recommend that applicants have some prior agricultural exposure or physical/outdoor work experience. Many host farms prefer applicants who have previous outdoor or physical work experience.

Apprentices join other beginning farmers for an Educational Event Series facilitated by Rogue Farm Corps. The full event series includes:

• 15‑20 classes focused on foundational sustainable agriculture concepts, skills, and knowledge and the food system.
• 10‑13 farm tours which showcase practical skills and individual farmers’ stories, and provide insight into diverse production and marketing systems.
• 3‑5 discussion circles with topics including Farm and Food Advocacy, Food Justice / Food Sovereignty, and Next Steps for Beginning Farmers.

RFC strives to make all educational events inclusive and welcoming to people from all backgrounds and identities. Classes, tours, and discussions are led by Rogue Farm Corps staff, agricultural professionals, and expert farmers.
For more information on the events, please visit our event series page and sample schedule.

Apprenticeship applications are accepted on our website on a rolling basis until positions are filled (usually by early‑mid March), but early applications are considered first. Approved applications are passed to host farmers. Host farms decide which applicants to interview and offer placements to. Applicants must be 18 years or older and have authorization to work in the U.S.

Program fees are between $475 and $775 and are based on the number of events an apprentice will attend. RFC has limited program fee scholarships available for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, veteran, and low‑income applicants.

Rogue Farm Corps partners with dedicated mentor host farms and ranches that focus on sustainable, regenerative, ecological, and/or organic approaches. Host farms vary: some produce vegetables, herbs, fruit, seeds, meat, dairy, eggs, and more, in various combinations. Host farms are commercial, small‑to‑mid‑scale operations marketing to their local and regional community via farmers market, CSA, wholesale, and more. RFC apprentices are exposed to other farm production and marketing systems through farm tours.

Rogue Farm Corps is committed to an ongoing learning process around privilege, power, inequality, and systems of oppression. RFC aims to make our programs welcoming, inclusive, and accessible to communities under‑represented as farm operators in Oregon, including women, Black, Indigenous, and people of color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA+ individuals, low‑income individuals and immigrants. Our desire to create a more equitable food system is reflected in RFC’s programs and collaborations.

Learn more and apply:
To see an overview of all our farmer training programs, see our Farmer Training Programs page. Questions? Reach out at training.