Semester-based internships in Gunnison for high school students. Receive a $1,200 scholarship upon successful completion of the internship.

• FALL 2025 Hydroponics Internship - 0.5 credits

  Not currently enrolling, stay tuned!

Semester-based internships available to students enrolled at Western Colorado University.

• ENVS 499: Cold Climate Food Systems Internship (3 credits) (Fall 2025, Summer 2026)

• ENVS 499: Food Justice Internship (3 credits) (Spring 2026)

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Internships for community members not affiliated with educational institutions. Intern at several regenerative farms in Gunnison Valley.

Options to intern during Spring Startup, Peak Season, or Full Season. (2026)

Learn more soon.

A two‑year (22‑month) immersive, paid training program in regenerative agriculture designed to prepare aspiring farmers for careers in sustainable food systems. It includes hands‑on learning, classroom instruction, mentorship, and certifications.

You’ll gain expertise in over 50 competencies across:

• Soil health & fertility

• Crop production & season extension

• Composting, cover cropping & no-till practices

• Integrated pest management (IPM)

• Business & financial planning

• Food safety & post-harvest handling

• Land access, leasing, conservation

• Farm tools & mechanical systems

• Leadership, resilience, & self-care

Optional modules may include animal husbandry, permaculture, hydroponics, medicinal herbs, and more.  View the Core Competencies here.

You’ll train at:

• Gunnison Gardens

• Mountain Roots farm sites

• Infinity Greens hydroponic farm, as available

• Other partner farms, orchards, & ranches (smaller amount of time)

Field work happens across multiple microclimates, giving you experience with diverse tools, crops, and growing conditions.

Gunnison is one of the most extreme growing environments in the country—with only 65 frost-free days and 10-12 inches of rain per year, USDA Growing Zone 3. Our high-elevation, cold-climate farming is a powerful teacher: “If you can grow food here, you can grow food anywhere.”

You’ll learn season extension techniques, water conservation and efficient irrigation, soil restoration to improve water-holding capacity, restorative practices that increase the land’s water-holding capacity—crucial in high-altitude and drought-prone climates, how to farm through cold, wind, and drought, and more. Learning to farm in this environment builds deep problem-solving skills and adaptability that apply across a wide range of farming conditions.

You’ll start in early spring, alongside three other apprentices who are entering their second year. Each cohort progresses through two growing seasons, for a dynamic peer‑learning experience.

Apprentices work full-time, averaging 40 hours per week across the season—but this isn’t a typical 9-to-5 job with the same schedule every week.

• High Season (Spring–Fall): Expect longer days and more than 40 hours/week. That’s farming! This is when most of the hands-on learning happens—planting, harvesting, weeding, markets, etc.

• Off-Season (Winter): Hours are lighter and focused on classroom learning, conferences, greenhouse growing, strategic planning, equipment maintenance, and professional development.

The schedule balances out over the course of the year, but not necessarily week by week.

Farming is seasonal—and living things don’t take weekends off.
Even on your day off, you may still be responsible for:

• Feeding animals like chickens

• Opening/closing greenhouses or ventilation

• Covering or uncovering crops during frost events

• Quick harvests ahead of weather

• Checking irrigation or automated systems

This daily rhythm surprises some first-time farmers, but it builds a deep sense of stewardship and responsibility.

Yes—it’s a paid apprenticeship. You receive a living stipend and wages starting at $17/hour, with tiered increases based on experience and performance. In addition, you may receive:

·        Housing support (stipend or AmeriCorps-provided)

·        SNAP/Medicaid eligibility

·        AmeriCorps Segal education award (~$7,495/yr)

·        Gear/clothing allowance

Mental health and personal development supports

Yes. Apprentices receive:

• At least 1 day off per week. Usually 2.

• Federal holidays (if they fall during your work schedule)

• Sick time and personal days

• Time off for family needs or emergencies (with supervisor approval)

• Up to 2-3 weeks off late December to early January.

Note: Because farming follows the seasons, time off is more limited in the peak growing months (June–September). We encourage longer rest breaks during the slower winter months.

While the apprenticeship is open broadly, Mountain Roots is committed to welcoming participants from underrepresented groups—such as women; BIPOC; Hispanic/Latinx folks; LGBTQ+ individuals; and veterans—and aims for at least 75% of apprentices to come from these communities. You must be 18 or older, legally able to work in the U.S., and physically able to perform farm work.

Our top priority is selecting candidates who are pursuing farming as a long-term career—whether that means managing a farm, launching your own operation, or working in the food system professionally. While we respect the desire to homestead or grow for personal use, our program is designed for people who want to play a role in building a resilient, community-based food system.

Up to three participants are selected each spring.

You will be eligible to earn certifications such as Food Safety, First Aid/CPR, OSHA, FSMA, and ultimately the RAP Regenerative Farm Manager credential from the State of Colorado.

Roughly 85–90% of your time is spent in the field—on farms, in greenhouses, and at our hydroponic sites. You'll farm in all kinds of weather, digging beds, managing irrigation, harvesting, and handling produce. The rest of your time (~144 hours per year) is dedicated to classroom instruction, workshops, conferences, peer learning, and leadership development.

Farming is rewarding—but it’s also demanding. Expect to get dirty, tired, and sore. We encourage self-care, community support, and mental resilience as part of the learning journey.

You’ll participate in mentorship, peer networking, professional development, and attend regional conferences like Western Colorado Soil, Food, & Farm Forum, AgriSummit, and/or Regenerate. “Members on Board” farm field trips, farm tours and community engagement also expand your professional network.

Our Registered Apprenticeship is paired with an AmeriCorps term of service through the Healthy Futures Program. That means:

• You are both an Apprentice and an AmeriCorps member.

• In addition to wages (starting at $17/hour), you receive AmeriCorps benefits such as:

  • A Segal Education Award (~$6,895) upon completion

  • Student loan forbearance and interest repayment

  • Healthcare coverage (if not already covered)

  • Childcare assistance (if eligible)

• You gain access to the national AmeriCorps alumni network, which can open doors in nonprofit, government, and community food systems careers.

AmeriCorps also helps make the program financially accessible—by adding stipends and benefits on top of the apprenticeship wage, you can focus on learning without the burden of paying tuition or fees.

An advisory group—formed in fall 2025 with diverse representation—guides outreach, recruitment, and program refinement. The program includes culturally sensitive, targeted marketing and supports to reduce barriers (financial, housing, mental health, veterans support, etc.).

Eighty percent are expected to move into one or more of these pathways: launching or expanding a farm business, developing a business plan, finding employment on a farm, pursuing further education, accessing farmland/resources, networking, or applying regenerative practices.

The Registered Apprenticeship is a big step—it's immersive, hands-on, and designed for people who are serious about pursuing a career in farming or the food system. Ask yourself these questions before applying:

1) Do I have some hands-on experience with farming, gardening, or food production?

You don’t need to be an expert—but we expect that you’ve:

·       Volunteered, interned, or worked on a farm

·       Helped in a community garden or greenhouse for a full season

·       Participated in a food justice or school garden program

·       Done more than “just gardening at home”

> If your only experience is gardening with grandma or watering tomatoes on the porch, this may not be the right first step. Consider starting with our seasonal internship instead.

2) Am I exploring farming as a career, not just a hobby or homesteading goal?

We love backyard growers—but this program is for people who want to:

·       Launch or manage a commercial farm

·       Work professionally in food systems, land stewardship, or agriculture education

·       Build a business or nonprofit rooted in regenerative farming

> We prioritize applicants who are looking to make a lasting impact in agriculture.

3) Am I physically and mentally ready for the demands of farm life?

Farming requires:

·       Long days outdoors in heat, cold, wind, and rain

·       Repetitive, physical work: lifting, digging, bending, carrying

·       Emotional resilience when things go wrong (and they will)

> This is a lifestyle, not just a job. You’ll learn how to pace yourself, care for your body and mind, and build systems of support.

Am I ready to commit to a full-time, 22-month program?

This program isn’t seasonal or part-time. It’s a long-term, full-time paid apprenticeship. That means:

·       40+ hours/week during the growing season

·       Showing up every day—even when it’s hard

·       Balancing AmeriCorps service with farm learning

> This is a job, a school, and a service opportunity rolled into one.

Still not sure?

That’s okay! We also offer seasonal internships that may be a better fit if you’re just starting out.

Unlike many programs that charge participants, this apprenticeship pays you to train—and is among the first Registered Apprenticeships layered with AmeriCorps in the country. It’s designed to be financially accessible and is deeply embedded in regenerative and hydroponic agriculture.

·        You get paid to learn, because the world needs more farmers.

·        Registered with the U.S. Department of Labor

·        Integrated with AmeriCorps service for added benefits

·        $14,000 toward further education upon completion

·        Rigorous cold-climate growing conditions

·        Deep focus on regenerative farming principles

Strong commitment to equity, mentorship, and community

Applications open annually in September, with the next cohort beginning in early spring. Applications are open Sept 1 – Oct 15. Interviews will be held between Oct 15-30, and selections will be announced Oct 31. You can learn more and apply directly via the program’s “Apply” link on the Mountain Roots website.