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Position Description

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Employer: UW Extenship Bayfield County; Northland College

Position: The Chequamegon Bay Farm and Agribusiness Internship Program

Posted On: Mar 24, 2009

Description: Program Overview: The Chequamegon Bay Farm and Agribusiness Internship Program seeks to provide experiential learning opportunities and training for beginning and aspiring farmers. The program is offered as two parts. Part 1 consists of individual internships and Part 2 consists of training sessions and field days offered to all interns. Farmers and agribusiness owners in Ashland and Bayfield County, WI provide internship opportunities and UW-Extenship in partnership with Northland College provide farm business and marketing training. In addition, farm visits and othe rlearning opportunities are provided to interns during the summer. Successful applicants are required to complete their farm internship and attend the various training sessions. College credit may be available through campus-specific programs.

Intended Audience: The Internship Program is intended for beginning and aspiring farmers seeking a real-life farming or agribusiness experience. Interns can be of any age, background, or experience level. Anyone currently farming or intending to farm and wanting real-life experience is encouraged to apply. Interns must be willing to work long hours in exchange for valuable farming experience, farm business training, and a small weekly stipend and/or room and board.

Program Committee: The Chequamegon Bay Farm and Agribusiness Internship Program is administered by Bayfield County UW-Extension in partnership with Northland College. A program Committee consisting of representatives of UW-Extension and Northland College and regional farmers run the program including: setting program policy, recruiting intern hosts and interns, mediating conflicts, and providing classroom and field training opportunities. Daily supervision of interns is the responsibility of the individual host farmers.

Part 1: Farm Internships In 2009, the program is recruiting up to 10 interns. The specific internship opportunities are described on separate pages in this packet. This year there are opportunities to work in fruit orchards, on a highly-diverified fruit, vegetable, and livestock farm, in a winery, in a vineyard, and in a fermented foods business. Each internship opportunity is different. Some are part-time, some are full-time, and some are very flexible. Each internship also varies in job duties and compensation. Potential applicants are encourage to review each internship opportunity carefully and to contact Jason Fischbach at 715-373-6104 ext 5 or jason.fischbach@ces.uwex.edu with questions.

Applications for the internships are due April 1, 2009. Phone interviews will be conducted of finalists and internships will be awarded on or before April 15, 2009.

The host farmer or business person and the intern are responsible for completing an internship agreement form clearly indicating job duties, work schedules, and responsibilities. Host farmers are responsible for daily supervision of the intern. In the event of conflict, the Program Committee will review the circumstances and mediate a solution.

Part 2: Farm Training The first training session will occur in early-June and will be a kick-off event for the new interns. This will be an opportunity to meet the other interns and farmers in the region.

During the summer months a series of classromm trainings will be offered on the essential topics of farm business palnning, marketing and sales, and farm financial management. Such skills are an essential part of any farm or agribusiness and, unfortunately, are often overlooked by beginning and aspiring farmers. These trainings are free to the interns are are part of the internship experience.

Periodically during the summer, there will be farm field days where interns will have the opportunity to visit other farms and see what the other interns are doing.

Program Questions: If you have questions about the program, the application, or any of the internship opportunities, you are encouraged to call the program coordinator: Jasno Fischbach at 715-373-6104 ext 5 or at jason.fischbach@ces.uwex.edu

Deadline: April 1, 2009

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