What our past participants said about their experience in the Corps:

Great experience, good pay, learned lots, and overall made me a better, more responsible person. – Oscar

You get to meet some amazing people who otherwise you probably wouldn’t have talked to, make new connections, have fun and a lot of laughter. – Lennox

I have made some great memories and good friends during the internship. It was more than just a job to me and it deeply impacted me as a person. – Chayan 

Very beneficial! You gain many skills that are needed in a professional place. – Kaylee

Would you like to serve as a WNCStrong Youth Service Corps Member?

In addition to $16/hour for their internship and time spent on all other program activities, Corps members also gain

• connections with a network of farmers and youth from around the region, 
• experience engaging in their own communities,
• leadership, communication and professional skills, and
• agricultural career awareness

Corps members commit to: 

• their 28-week internship on a local farm for 5 hours/week during school and 10 hours/week in the summer
• mentorship meetings with mentoring teachers and Corps staff each week
• one service day per month assisting with disaster recovery & resilience in their home county and the region
• monthly career readiness sessions that build agricultural and pre-professional skills; and 
• developing, conducting, and presenting on a community-centered resilience initiative that they design

If you’re interested in those benefits and ready to make the commitment, follow this link to apply to the WNCStrong Youth Service Corps.

Below is a preliminary timeline for the 2026 WNCStrong Youth Service Corps