Labor4Learning

The Labor4Learning program helps beginning farmers get paid on-the-job training with experienced farmers, and pays experienced farmers for their time and effort.

Beginning Farmers

Are you looking to get paid, on-the-job training with experienced farmers in Iowa? The Labor4Learning program is designed for beginning farmers seeking employment and additional training in farm management and production skills. Practical Farmers of Iowa “trainer” farmers will be hiring in the early part of the new year for the upcoming growing season. Browse the list below for training opportunities near you.

Get paid at least minimum wage and earn other benefits, including:

Learn farm business development from an experienced PFI farmer
Paid time off to attend a PFI event during the term of employment
Discount to the Practical Farmers of Iowa Annual Conference ($100 value)
Connect with other “PFI Trainees”
A free PFI membership

Qualifications:

Apply and be hired by a PFI Trainer farmer.
Have a strong motivation to learn the business of farming.

To apply, send current resume and three work-related references directly to the trainer. Direct any questions about job details to the trainer as well.

See a Labor4Learning profile from Donna Warhover’s Morning Glory Farm in 2017.

Curious about your rights as a farm worker? Be sure to check out our Farm Employment FAQ for answers to your questions.

Experienced farmers

Are you looking for a high quality, motivated farm employee? Want to get paid up to $200 per month (maximum $1,000 per year) by Practical Farmers to share the business details a beginning farmer needs to know to be successful managing his/her own farm? Apply to be a Practical Farmers of Iowa Trainer.

Applications to become a Trainer are accepted through December 31st for the following season. All complete applications submitted will be reviewed by a committee made of diverse Practical Farmers member farmers, and selections will be made in January. Applicants must be PFI members who farm in Iowa to be eligible.

To request an application or for more information, please contact Steve Carlson at steve@practicalfarmers.org or by calling (515) 232-5661.

Hesitant to hire a farm employee due to questions about legal requirements? Check out our Farm Employment FAQ about the rights and responsibilities for Iowa farm workers and farm employers.

Interested in becoming a Labor4Learning trainer farm?

LEARN MORE HERE

2019 Labor4Learning Trainers

Name	Farm Name	County	Enterprises	Status
Paul and Nancy Ackley		Taylor	Beef cattle, corn, soybeans, small grain, hair sheep and forage (perennial and annual)	Available
Jon Bakehouse	Maple Edge Farm, Inc.	Mills	Corn, soybeans, cow/calf, beef cattle, pasture, hay, small grains	Available
Hannah Breckbill	Humble Hands Harvest	Winneshiek	Organic vegetables, sheep, some perennial crops going in, planning on pastured pork	Filled
Andy and Melissa Dunham	Grinnell Heritage Farm	Poweshiek	Organic vegetables, select fruits, chestnuts, beef cattle, hay, occasional poultry	Available
Rob and Tammy Faux	Genuine Faux Farm	Bremer	Organic vegetables and fruits, broiler chicken, turkey, eggs	Available
Jeff and Earl Hafner	Hafner Inc.	Guthrie	Cow/calf, finish hogs, aquaponics, laying hens, organic small grains and row crop, organic flour mill and seed cleaning	Available
Dean and Judy Henry	Berry Patch LLC	Story	Berries, cherries, apples, horticulture	Filled
Marcus and Emma Johnson	Buffalo Ridge Orchard	Linn	Apples, pears, vegetables, row crops	Available
Barb Kraus	Canoe Creek Produce	Winneshiek	Organic vegetables, some fruits and berries, cut flowers, small flock of sheep and chickens	Filled
Will Lorentzen, Adrian White	Jupiter Ridge Farm	Clayton	Vegetables, mushrooms, herbs	Available
Jenny Quiner	Dogpatch Urban Gardens	Polk	Vegetables with emphasis on salad greens, onsite farm stand	Filled
Dale and Marcie Raasch	Bridgewater Farm	Adair	Organic vegetables, fruit, hay, cattle, hogs, broilers, layers	Available
Derek Roller	Echollective	Cedar	Vegetables, some tree crops, flowers animals (every year is different but we have chickens, and sometimes pigs), mushrooms	Available
Mike Salama	Salama Greenhouse and Floral	Boone	Ornamentals, bedding plants, cut flowers, potted annuals, hydroponic tomatoes, basil, winter greens	Available
Erik Sessions	Patchwork Green Farm	Winneshiek	Vegetables and fresh herbs	Available
Scott Shriver	Shriver Farms, LLC	Greene	Organic corn, beans, small grains, alfalfa	Filled
Donna Warhover	Morning Glory LLC	Linn	Vegetables, laying hens, community/learning events	Filled

View a detailed description of each trainer here

Contact Information

For any questions about the Labor4Learning program: contact Steve Carlson at steve@practicalfarmers.org.