Boots on the Ground: NC Veteran Farmer Apprenticeship

Apprentices

The Advisory Team will evaluate and select the top candidates and pass on 2-3 applications to each host farm. Farmers will interview the candidates and make the final selection with the Project Director. Criteria evaluated in making selections include: 1) academic credentials and previous farming or farmer training experience, 2) applicant’s interest in gaining more experience in agriculture production as a career path, 3) applicant diversity, 4) matching applicant interests with needs of host organizations, and 5) applicant’s overall commitment to the program and potential to benefit.

Eligibility

Candidates for the Boots on the Ground: NC Veteran Farmer Apprenticeship must:

  • Be a US Veteran from any branch of the armed forces with a DD-214 with any type discharge other than “Dishonorable”
  • Be at least 18 years old
  • Be a high school graduate, or have a GED or equivalent
  • Have a valid, government issued photo ID and driver’s license if required by the host farm
  • Be physically able to perform farm/agricultural work with reasonable accommodations if requested in advance (Please email Dr. Angel Cruz at aecruz@ncsu.edu to discuss accommodations if you have any questions/concerns.)
  • Demonstrate a sincere interest in farming as a career by having at least 3-6 months of prior farming experience or completion of a basic farmer training course (5+ weeks). Eligible prior farming experience may include or be a combination of (but is not limited to) the following:
    • Full-time or part-time farm, agriculture, or horticulture-related employment
    • Farming internship or apprenticeship
    • Participating in a farm training or farm incubator program
    • Significant time spent volunteering with a farm
    • Community or technical college training in a related field
    • A two- or four-year degree in a relevant field of study
    • Significant self-study in sustainable agriculture or farm-scale food production

If you meet the eligibility criteria above and are interested in applying for the program, please fill out the application form here:

Application Form

Apprentice Application Process

Step One

Complete and submit the Apprentice Application Form on this page. We’ll check to see if you meet the minimum requirements to become an apprentice. If you need additional experience to qualify, we’ll suggest ways you can obtain that experience. If you are planning to use your GI Bill for OJT let us know ASAP so we can help you apply for that in a timely manner.

If you are already employed on a farm we will check to make sure you and your farm host meet all requirements and then begin the onboarding process.  

Step Two

We’ll review your application, and if approved we’ll create an “apprentice profile” for you that we’ll share with qualified and approved host farmers. We will provide your contact information to host farmers who might be interested in working with you, and they can then set up interviews. Telephone, video, in-person, and on-the-job interviews are all acceptable, but must be mutually agreed upon by you and the host farmer.

Step Three

Set your course. Once you connect with a host farmer you’d like to apprentice with, we’ll work with you and the host farmer to develop an apprenticeship agreement and set learning objectives for your experience to get registered with ApprenticeshipNC. There will be a 1 week or 30 hour minimum probationary period to ensure a good fit, and you can set up your working schedule with your farm host. CEFS will help coordinate and plan all of your related instruction/classroom hours. If you are planning to use your GI Bill for OJT then we can help you apply for that.

The Center for Environmental Farming Systems (CEFS) is an equal opportunity and affirmative action employer. All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sex, gender identity, age, sexual orientation, genetic information, political affiliation, status as an individual with a disability, or status as a protected veteran. Please see individual job postings for information about how to request disability-related accommodations during the application and interview process.