Ranching + Agritourism Internship at DD Ranch with Rogue Farm Corps

Last Updated On: febrero 25th, 2022 at 11:00AM MST

Contact information

Farm Address:
Rogue Farm Corps
Terrebonne (near Bend), Oregon, 97760

Primary Contact: Rogue Farm Corps
Primary Phone:
    Type: Cell
    Number: 541-588-3550
    Email: training@roguefarmcorps.org

Website: https://www.roguefarmcorps.org/host-farms/ddranch

Internship information

General Farm Description: We have 4 children, 19, 17, 13 and 10 who are involved at various levels with ranch work. The three older ones have significant sports commitments. Jeff and Linda both run and have backgrounds in swimming and cycling as well. We love to travel and have travelled extensively in the past. Linda had a dream of ranching after getting very involved with the Weston A Price foundation and had a goal of growing the kind of food we wanted to eat as well as provide it to our local community. We both speak Spanish, though not fluently. Jeff loves riding motorcycles and Linda loves riding horses. The ranch has been in operation with the same things that are currently offered since 2000. It was a hay and cattle ranch previously.

CRAFT Member Farm? No

Internship Starts: April/May
Internship Ends: October
Number of Internship Available: 1-2
Application Deadline: ASAP
Minimum Length of Stay: 6-8 months

Internship Details:

DD Ranch is a participating host farm with Rogue Farm Corps Apprenticeship program. RFC’s Apprenticeship Program is an on-farm learning experience for those who have at least one full season (5+ months and at least 600 hours) of farm or ranch experience (or equivalent). The Apprenticeship combines hands-on training and skills-based education for those ready to dive into the art and business of sustainable agriculture. This program helps people who want to continue in agriculture to learn the skills needed to manage and run a diversified farming operation, and deepen their understanding of ecological and sustainable agricultural practices.

Similar to the Internship Program, apprentices train at one of RFC’s partner Host Farms. Participants also engage in a series of educational weekend intensives in locations around the state which include farm tours, networking, and camping. They also participate in a handful of online classes and discussions to round out the on-farm experience. The Apprenticeship, like the Internship, examines the economic, ecological and social sustainability of farm practices, and continues to build on these themes.

RFC Apprenticeship host farm sites can be located up to 3 hours driving distance from an active chapter location (Portland Metro and Rogue Valley).

APPLICATIONS / SCHOLARSHIPS
Applications are accepted on our website on a rolling basis until positions are filled, but early applications are considered first. Apply by January 27th, 2022 for priority consideration. RFC has limited tuition scholarships available for BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, veteran, and low-income applicants.

RFC has developed COVID-19 safety protocols according to state and federal guidance and will adjust them as needed to protect the health and safety of our participants, staff, host farmers, and communities. In-person educational events are held outside with social distancing in place.

TYPES OF AGRICULTURE
Rogue Farm Corps partners with dedicated mentor host farms and ranches that focus on sustainable, regenerative, ecological, and/or organic approaches in their production methods. Host farm enterprises vary by farm and include animal (meat, dairy, eggs, etc) and plant-based production (vegetables, herbs, fruit, seeds, etc). Host farms are commercial, small-to-mid scale operations marketing to their local and regional community via a range of sales channels including farmers market, CSA, wholesale, and more. RFC participants are exposed to various farm production and marketing systems via RFC’s farm tour events.

COMMITMENT TO EQUITY AND INCLUSION
Rogue Farm Corps is committed to an ongoing learning process around privilege, power, inequality and systems of oppression. RFC has a goal of making our programs welcoming to, inclusive of, and accessible to communities who are 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.

Educational Opportunities: At DD Ranch, an intern will get significant exposure to all aspects of our business – from helping with sheep, pigs, cattle, horses, poultry, goats, planting and caring for pumpkins, hay production, irrigation, farmer’s markets, weddings, pumpkin patch, weekly staff meetings, and possibly accounting/business management if desired. We try to foster a learning environment here and of course are still learning ourselves. We bring in outside experts to help where needed to train staff. Because we operate a livestock operation with twice daily feedings, and move irrigation water twice daily, our farm is a 7 day a week operation. An intern would spend about half a day or more doing physically strenuous work. We will expect 36hours of training a week. Regular day(s) off will be scheduled to take into consideration other employees’ schedules.

Skills Desired: Rogue Farm Corps requires apprentice applicants to have at least one full season of farm experience (approximately 600 hours). Previous experience with horses, cattle and irrigation would be the most desirable. We operate the ranch mostly on horseback but a 4 wheeler can be used for non-riders.

Meals: Some food will be provided – meat, honey, eggs will be provided by the ranch.

Stipend: Yes. Apprentices are paid an hourly wage. Room, board, and wage details will be discussed during the interview process.

Housing: Yes. Housing will be provided on site, in an RV. The RV has its own bathroom, shower and kitchen. Intern can also use the barn kitchen and would be expected to keep it clean enough for the public to see.

Preferred method of Contact: email / website