Position Description (2024/2025)
Title: NEVADA FARM APPRENTICE
Note: Essential functions and level of activity in apprenticeships involve very heavy work. Necessary ADA accommodations are to be disclosed after an offer is made only.
The Nevada Farm Apprenticeship Program will prepare participants to become farm owner operators in Nevada. Through their engagement, apprentices will gain practical knowledge, contacts, and experience required to operate a small outdoor fruit and vegetable farm (approximately $25,000 - $350,000 gross farm income).
From October 2024 to September 2025, two successful applicants will be hosted as Farm Apprentices at the Desert Farming Initiative (DFI) within the Experiment Station of the College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources at the University of Nevada, Reno. The program emphasizes certified organic and climate-smart practices. Apprentices will receive on-farm training at DFI and partner farms; work through a science-based curriculum; and manage farm space with support of instructors. At the completion of the first year, apprentices will have the opportunity to apply to develop and manage their own incubator farm at DFI (subject to a successful application for a second year and available funding).
Summary Statement
Major responsibilities of the apprenticeship include:
- Farm work and grower-to-grower practical training, including engagement at DFI and partner farms to gain and diversify practical skills.
- Managing bed space from market identification and crop planning to production and invoicing with support of instructors and DFI staff.
- Successful completion of a science-based agriculture, food systems and farm business curriculum.
Apprentice positions will be overseen by the DFI Director, and guided by a team of specialists that includes University faculty, an agricultural business advisor, DFI Food Systems Program Manager, the DFI farm management team, partner farms, and food system organizations and businesses.
This program is an element of DFI’s mission is to advance climate-smart farming and food sovereignty in the region. In general, this mission is accomplished through:
- Demonstrating sustainable vegetable and fruit farming practices, while bolstering the regional food system.
- Providing practical on-farm learning experiences for UNR students and developing resources for other growers.
- Actively engaging with a diverse array of stakeholders to improve food security and prepare for farming in a changing climate.
- Partnering with academic faculty, other organizations, and industry on research to improve agricultural practices for desert climates.
Upon completion of this one-year position, Nevada Farm Apprentices will:
- Understand the regional farming landscape in Nevada, including the markets, climate, food system organizations, and food security and food sovereignty.
- Have developed the foundational horticultural skills and knowledge necessary for climate-smart outdoor fruit and vegetable farming in Nevada, including greenhouse propagation, transplanting and direct seeding, soil health, integrated pest management, irrigation and water conservation, and season extension.
- Be able to evaluate soil health and water resources.
- Develop a crop plan, food safety plan and farm business plan.
- Understand farm operations management including legal requirements and regulations, accounting, recordkeeping, planning software.
- Gain farm team leadership skills and be able to identify and access mental health resources.
- Have a collaborative network of other farmers and food systems organizations.
- Develop and present a farm business pitch deck.
- Understand how to access available farming guidance and science-based resources.
- Earn a certificate of completion from the Nevada Department of Labor.
- Be eligible for a second year farm incubator opportunity (dependent on year one performance, a successful application and program funding).
Major Responsibilities
The approximate percentage of time devoted to major responsibilities is as follows:
50%: Farm work and grower-to-grower practical training:
- Gaining and diversifying practical agricultural experience.
- Executing farm tasks under the direction of the Farm Production Manager.
- Engagement in farm tasks at partner farms, under the direction of farm owner/operator.
40%: Manage fruit and vegetable farming space:
- Assist with the preparation and successful implementation of a crop and sales plan.
- Market produce through retail and/or wholesale channels, including 25% of yield to food security programs.
- Support farm accounting.
- Be responsible for propagation, bed preparation, soil management, weed and pest control, harvest, washing and packing, facilities and equipment maintenance, upholding food safety and organic certification requirements, and distribution of produce.
- Network with market managers, farms and food systems contacts.
10%: Complete Nevada Farm Apprentice Program curriculum:
- Demonstrate knowledge attainment through successful completion of a science-based agriculture, food systems and farm business curriculum from a team of specialists.
- Write and present a farm business and food safety plan.
- Provide in-depth feedback on the curriculum to assist with Program refinement.
- Network with food systems contacts.
Minimum requirements and preferred qualifications of the position
Minimum requirements:
The Nevada Farm Apprenticeship Program is designed for participants that already have initial agricultural training. We are recruiting apprentices that have enough experience to know that fruit and vegetable farming is the career path they will pursue, and an initial foundation of skills that enable them to succeed in performing position responsibilities.
| Education |
Experience |
| Master degree in agricultural sciences or closely related field |
One year of related work experience |
| Bachelor degree in agricultural sciences or closely related field |
One year of related work experience |
| High School Diploma or equivalent |
Two years of related work experience |
| No diploma |
Three years of related work experience |
*Relevant Experience: Fruit or vegetable farming, intensive gardening (market scale), perennial crop management (market scale), agricultural research
Preferred qualifications:
- Passionate commitment to a career oriented to advance climate smart farming and a clear vision for a future farm business or position
- Effective work within diverse groups of people
- Enthusiasm for agricultural skill and knowledge attainment, and willingness to learn from a broad array of specialists
- Demonstrated ability to balance multiple tasks in dynamic environment
- Excellent time management skills including ability to independently plan for and efficiently meet project schedules
- Outstanding work ethic and positive attitude
- Ability to work in adverse weather conditions
- Good interpersonal communication and writing skills
- Strong computer skills and experience with Microsoft Office applications
- Strong organizational skills
Stipend, structure and term of position
Apprentices will complete a one-year position with an average 32-hour per week schedule, with flexibility that reflects the seasonal demands of farming. Each apprentice will receive a stipend of $40,000/year – received in quarterly payments. An Apprenticeship Agreement will be signed by the apprentice and DFI Director at the outset of the position, and the first 3 months are structured as a probationary period. Note: an apprenticeship does not entail employment at the University.
Classroom curriculum and practical training will be delivered primarily during the first half of the apprenticeship (October 2024 – March 2025), whereas the second half will focus on farm space management at DFI, gaining experience at a partner farm(s) off-site (approximately one day per week will be spent at a partner farm(s), and future farm business plan development (April – September 2024). The program will culminate in completion of a farm business plan and presentation to contacts, partners and funders from the region, and receipt of a certificate of completion from the Department of Labor. Alternatively, a final step in completing the apprenticeship could be application for a second year with DFI running a farm incubator; in this case, the apprentice would submit an incubator proposal to the program team for approval.
Application Instructions
To apply submit a cover letter, resume, three professional references and a copy of your photo ID to JordanH@unr.edu by July 31st. Candidates must be available for interviews on August 20th or 22nd.
The Nevada Farm Apprenticeship Program is funded by USDA AMS Award AM22RFSPNV1042-00 and Nevada Agricultural Experiment Station at the University of Nevada, Reno.
