Labor4Learning Trainees

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Apply to Work With a Labor4Learning Trainer

The Labor4Learning program is designed for beginning farmers seeking employment and additional training in farm management and production skills. Positions for the 2026 are now open.

Benefits of Being a Labor4Learning Trainee

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

How to Apply

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.

For all other questions about the program or Practical Farmers of Iowa, please contact Martha McFarland martha.mcfarland(at)practicalfarmers(dot)org or call our office at (515) 232-5661.

Open Trainer Positions for 2026

Meet the Trainers

Trainer Name: Michael Pipho

Farm Name: Rooster’s Crow Farm

Location: Black Hawk County

Start and end date: April-Oct

Contact: mjpipho@gmail.com

About the farm: 

We raise vegetables including greens, onions, brassicas, tomatoes, peppers, and summer and winter squash, as well as a small amount of corn and beans as field crops, which we are trying to move to food grade corn and small grains. We also raise grass-fed lamb and pasture-raised chicken for eggs and meat.

Our farm is mostly no-till and vegetables are generally grown using organic processes but not certified. Row crops are no-till conventional using cover crops and working towards fully regenerative extended rotation with grazing. Sheep are rotationally grazed when pasture is available and supplemented with hay in late fall through winter and early spring. Lambing starts in April. Fully grass-fed and -finished. Chickens are rotated on pasture with feed supplement. Planning on non-GMO feed locally sourced for next growing season. We sell from the farm and at farmers markets in Independence, Denver and Dunkerton. Looking to add online sales with pickup locations.

Job Title: Farm production staff

Wage, hours: $15 per hour, 20 hours a week, variable schedule and flexible for most tasks except for harvest and market prep

On-farm housing: No

Work Activities: 

Vegetable production tasks including bed prep, seeding or transplanting in beds; seed starting and seedling care in the greenhouse; weeding; irrigation; harvest and market prep; possibly attending markets; moving sheep using net fencing; watering sheep; feeding and watering chickens; moving chickens; cover crop seeding; maintaining hand tools

Training Opportunities:  

Knowledge and experience in any of the work activities.

Minimum Qualifications: 

Need to be able to work in hot weather. Ability to use hand tools for weeding and transplanting for up to 4 hours (with breaks for water and snacks). Ability to deal with 40-to-50-pound bags of feed. Able to operate utility vehicle and 2-wheel tractor with training.

Desired Skills:  

Livestock and tractor operating experience is desirable. Attention to detail and ability to document work done, harvest quantities, and address issues.

Trainer Experience:  

I am actively looking for farm help and like the idea of helping train new farmers to enhance and grow local food production in Iowa. I have been farming for 12 years. I worked as a supervisor of up to 10 employees in my early career at John Deere and later provided technical direction, training and mentoring for multiple employees until my retirement in 2020. I provided substantial mentoring at John Deere including developing and presenting training materials to engineers and service support staff, coached youth robotics teams through 4-H for high school students for over 10 years and planned and presented workshops through 4-H. My wife and I were 4-H leaders for many years. For the past two fall semesters, I taught a graduate level Systems Engineering class at UNI in Cedar Falls.

Trainer Names: Susan and Rich Young

Farm Name: Lucky Star Farm

Location: Iowa City, Iowa

Website and Social Media: 

• www.theluckystarfarm.com
• www.instagram.com/luckystarfarm.iowacity
• www.facebook.com/luckystarfarm.iowacity

Start and end date: mid-March-mid-November

Contact: susan@theluckystarfarm.com

 About the Farm: 

Lucky Star Farm sits on 20 acres between Iowa City and Kalona. We strive to implement humane and sustainable practices with minimal impact on our environment. We are dedicated to sharing local food, education and lodging with the community through:

Pasture-raised poultry – We gather, wash, store and distribute chicken and duck eggs weekly to local restaurants and individual customers.

Raw goat milk – We milk up to 10 goats each morning, then process, store and deliver raw milk and value-added products to local customers.

Flowers and produce – In season, we provide chestnuts, small bouquets, and fruits and vegetables to our regular customers.

Agritourism – We provide hands-on educational tours, goat yoga each spring, farm-to-table events and overnight lodging through two on-farm Airbnb units.

Past enterprises – In the past, we have also raised various breeds of turkey on pasture for Thanksgiving. We have the experience and equipment to support a new employee interested in restarting this enterprise or can help develop ideas they may have for new ventures as well.

Job Title: Farm Assistant

Wage, hours: $15 per hour, 20 hours a week, variable schedule

On-farm housing: 

If there is interest, we can provide a private, furnished room on the mezzanine within our farm shop. The shop has a kitchen, bathroom with a shared “camp” shower and laundry for trainee use.

Work Activities:  

Work activities on the farm are varied and change with the seasons:

• Mid-March through May is kidding and weekend goat yoga.
• Throughout the season, we milk and collect eggs daily, following standard operating procedures for egg cleaning and raw milk production and handling.
• We package and deliver orders to local customers each Thursday morning.
• All livestock on the farm require daily feeding, pastured coop and fence rotation, cleaning and maintenance, and general animal care.
• Agritourism activities, including cleaning and preparation for overnight guests, occur on an ad-hoc basis throughout the week.
• Other work may include general groundskeeping and maintenance, depending on hours desired, availability and interest.

 Training Opportunities:  

Trainee may be involved in any or all of the following, based on availability and interest:

• Raw milk production and value-added products
• Pasture-raised poultry and egg production
• Agritourism
• Flowers, produce, and chestnut harvesting, packaging and distribution

Minimum Qualifications: 

• Age 18+ with valid driver’s license & transportation to the farm
• Able to lift and carry 50 pounds
• Able to work in all weather conditions
• Good organizational and communication skills

Desired Skills:  

Candidates must be able to understand and follow instructions and standard operating procedures and able to work both as part of a team and independently. They must be dependable, positive and willing to learn. For the right person, this could be a long-term position.

Trainer Experience:  

We would like to be trainers for L4L because we have fifteen years’ worth of on-farm knowledge, a wide variety of skills, and a unique, diverse agricultural experience to share. Susan was raised on a farm, is a lifelong educator and was a 4-H leader for ten years. Rich retired in 2022 and brings 30-plus years of business experience to our operations. We have mentored people getting started with dairy goats, egg production and turkey sales. Having evaluated, initiated and terminated various enterprises over the years, we can provide an entrepreneurial learning experience for a new farmer or someone who is looking to expand their own knowledge base.

We are also in the process of conceptualizing what transitioning primary responsibility for the activities on our farm will look like. As we have begun to do so, we have discovered that we can gain a deeper understanding about our own work when we break it down and explain it to others. Lucky Star Farm also has the facilities, resources and potential for creating value-added products, reigniting past enterprises or experimenting with new ones.

Trainer Name: Kate Edwards

Farm Name: Wild Woods Farm

Location: Solon, Iowa

Website and social media: 

• www.wildwoodcsa.com
• facebook.com/veggiefarm
• instagram.com/wildwoodscsa

Start and end date: March 1 – Sept. 1 (flexibility within this range)

Contact: Kate.wildwoodsfarm@gmail.com

About the Farm: 

Wild Woods Farm provides a community supported agriculture program in the Iowa City area. Our CSA is a subscription service that is designed to help families delight in eating healthy. We follow organic practices on our farm just a few miles north of Iowa City, in rural Solon.  Wild Woods Farm is owned by farmer Kate. We have been serving Iowa City and Solon since 2010. We offer a vegetable and flower CSA with on-farm pickup and wholesale to food banks. In addition to following organic practices, we use cover crops extensively and practice crop rotation.

Job Title: Farm worker

Wage, hours: $12-15 depending on experience, full time or part time

Other benefits: Vegetables

On-farm housing: No

Work Activities:  

• High tunnel work
• Planting
• Harvesting
• Washing vegetables
• Possibly staffing CSA pickup
• Possibly learning tractor work, depending on experience
• Involvement in all aspects of our diverse farm operation with an emphasis on vegetable production: weeding, planting, harvesting, soil preparation, pest management and irrigation

Training Opportunities:

Learning tractor driving and other work activities listed.

Minimum Qualifications:  

Able to work outside in all weather, stand for long periods of time, lift at least 50 pounds and possess a valid driver’s license.

If chosen for an interview, must be able to attend an on-farm interview at our farm just a few miles north of Iowa City and a few miles south of Solon.
You must be an energetic and efficient worker. You must be able to work outside in summer conditions. You must be able to lift 50 pounds.
Employee must like working outside and be willing to work physically hard. No farming experience is necessary.

Desired Skills:

We are looking for folks to join our team who are used to lifting heavy things and working quickly. Candidates should be available from 7 a.m. to early afternoon, a few days or more per week. Candidate will go through Wild Woods Farm interview process. We have a two-part process: a working interview and a zoom interview. To be successful at this job, you must be hardworking and dependable. You must have a fun-loving attitude and the ability to work with a diverse group of people.

Trainer Experience:  

I am deeply invested in training new farmers. We have many seasonal employees on our farm; some want to farm and some want to spend time outside. But for those that want to farm, or might want to, I believe it’s an honor to be intentional about training them well and investing in them. I am excited about this program as a way to formalize this process and really help some of these farm workers who are potential future farmers to get invested in the PFI community. I have taken the Becoming an Employer of Choice training, I have been involved in the past in WFAN training program, I have developed curriculum in the past to teach new farmers and I have trained employees that work on our farm. I was also mentored myself back in 2012 through the PFI SIP program.

Trainer Name: Ashley and Zachary Wenke

Farm Name: Pleasant Grove Homestead

Location: Montezuma, Iowa

Website and social media:  

• www.pleasantgrovehomestead.com
• Facebook: @pleasantgrovehomestead

Start and end date: March through any time (for the right person, position can become a year-round job)

Contact: ashley@pleasantgrovehomestead.com

About the Farm:  

Our Montezuma farm has been in operation with produce, poultry and pork for the last six years, with Zach and I being full-time farmers for three years. At that farm, we have three high tunnels, a quarter acre of strawberries, 80 fruit trees and about three acres of other produce crops. We’ve recently moved to Fremont, with seven more acres set aside for produce production and plans to add four high tunnels. We rent an acre of asparagus. We do not use any chemicals. We are aiming for 100 members in our PGH Elite (CSA program) this year. We sell through three farmers markets and cooperatives and food hubs in Iowa City, Des Moines and Grinnell. We have 40-plus produce crops including: lettuce, spinach, potatoes, onions, sweet potatoes, tomatoes and cucumbers are our main crops. We focus on growing early and out of season. We also have egg laying hens, meat birds and bees.

Job Title: Vegetable farm apprentice

Wage, hours: $15-19 based on experience, 40 hours a week

Other benefits:  

• Raise provided upon thirty days quality work experience
• Free produce
• Lunch and snacks often provided
• We have the ability to turn this position into more of a “field manager” position for the correct candidate.

On-farm housing:  

We can house someone at our old farm location (three bedroom, one bath house) and deduct rent from the paycheck. This housing can be adjusted to meet the needs of the employee (shared or not shared). The ideal candidate would be able to assist with crops at that farm location (about one day per week) and travel to our Fremont farm the other days. The drive is about 25 minutes. We would pay all utilities, including internet and mowing, in the cost of rent.

Work Activities:  

• We can adjust to what the candidate is hoping to learn, but activities include:
• Harvesting 30-plus varieties of produce (20 hours weekly)
• Pruning and trellising crops (10 hours weekly)
• Marketing produce (if desired, five hours)

Training Opportunities:  

If there is a specific area of the operation related to produce the employee would like to learn, we can adjust the work activities to meet their interests.

Minimum Qualifications: 

Candidate is able to bend, move and perform physical tasks with stamina. Candidate should have good attitude and be open to our small children being around. Candidate must be able to complete tasks that happen weekly with little guidance after getting instruction.

Desired Skills:  

We are seeking a quick learner who can work well alone and alongside others.

Trainer Experience:  

In our first years of farming we wish we had more time to learn from other producers. We want to offer that kind of mentoring to someone else interested in being a producer. We see a huge gap of learning between having a home garden and running a market garden, and we hope to help someone else close that gap in learning. We also have a strong vision to expand our farm to meet the needs of our community and cannot do that without a team passionate about growing edible food. Ashley has extensive experience in training volunteers in the food pantry world to be in compliance with inspections as well as training volunteers on accurate recording and how to use a computer system. As a farmer, Ashley has provided mentoring in the form of presentations at conferences for PFI and Farm Bureau. Ashley is currently serving on a cooperative phone board with very differing views about how to complete tasks and can confidently find options that all members are happy and comfortable utilizing. Zachary’s previous work as an ag engineer provided him with ample experience mentoring new engineers about the programs and software used at his company.

Trainer Name: Elana Gingerich 

Farm Name: Olivia’s Orchard

Location: Parnell, Iowa

Website: oliviasorchard.org

Start and end date:  April-October

Contact: elanaginerich@gmail.com

About the farm:   

Located in southeast Iowa, 25 minutes west of Iowa City or 15 minutes southeast of Williamsburg. I grow chestnuts, pawpaws and other tree crops and raise grass-finished beef. The farm is guided by the values of growing food while being able to build soil and leave habitat for wildlife. Having agroforestry tree crops means we have a no-till operation using permanent ground cover and mulching. We are an Iowa state-inspected nursery. Our beef production is focused on grass-finishing with no regular use of vaccines or wormer antibiotics unless to treat one sick animal; it’s been three years since I’ve used an antibiotic on one cow. We do managed grazing using high intensity, high stocking rate, “mob grazing.”

We have:

• Twelve acres of Chinese Chestnuts planted between 2015-2024
• Four acres interplanted with pawpaws planted between 2015-2021
• Around one acre (scattered) of other fruit and nut trees including persimmon, heartnut, butternut, pecan, plum, peach, apple and more.
• Five cow-calf pairs, one bull and a handful of steers rotationally grazed over 15 acres of savannah timber and pasture
• Eight acres of timber being managed for invasive shrubs
  1000-plus tree nursery producing potted chestnut, pawpaw and other fruit and nut trees

Job Title:  Agroforestry assistant

Wage, hours: $15, variable hours

Other benefits:   

• Snacks from the farm, access to harvest and eating fresh berries, pawpaw, chestnuts, apples, pears, etc.
• Possible option to work for nursery stock
• Personal use of any leftover scion wood
• Occasionally, lunch and snacks

On-farm housing:  No

Work activities:  

• Chestnut Tree winter pruning and tube cleaning
• Nursery tree potting
• Nursery tree pruning, watering, pest management, etc.
• Planting trees via direct seeding, bareroot and potted
• Hand fertilizing and spraying herbicide around trees
• Mowing tree rows on a zero-turn mower
• Mulching trees with wood mulch
• Field grafting apple, pear, plum, chestnut, pawpaw and potentially more with multiple grafting techniques
• Post graft care
• Woodland management of invasive shrubs via hand cutting, pulling, mowing with a brush hog and spraying
• Firewood cutting, stacking, brushing, hauling, splitting
• Small amount of cattle moving and herding, possibly banding young bull calves
• Putting up and taking down temporary electric fence
• Tearing out old, barbed wire fence and repairing areas of permanent fence
• Possible small building projects
• Harvesting pawpaw, chestnut and more
• Pulping pawpaw for seed
• Taking videos and pictures for social media and doing some posts and reels for the farm (optional)

Training Opportunities:  

• Grafting techniques including collecting and storing scion wood and selecting rootstock trees and post graft care
• Potting of several varieties of fruit and nut trees, plus in pot care (water and nutrition management and pruning)
• Pest, fertilization and weed control management techniques for trees in field
• Timber thorny invasive species management
• Temporary electric fencing techniques
• Native and invasive tree, shrub, forb and grass identification
• Calculating stock density in grazing paddocks

Minimum qualifications:   

• Valid driver’s license to get to work and maybe use the farm truck
• Calm demeanor around livestock
• Able to lift and carry 50 pounds
• Able to work in all temperatures between 25-95 degrees and in high winds or humid conditions
• Able to walk quickly over rugged ground while carrying or pulling something
• Have a working cell phone for communicating about work hours and while working in different parts of the farm
• Be able to work independently with instruction
• Able to use a sharp knife and sharp tools, such as a shovel or pitchfork safely

Desired skills:  

• Experience on a zero-turn mower, but if none, we can practice
• Experience with moving livestock in a nonaggressive manor; not required
• Some experience with nursery plants or even vegetables
• Patience, listening skills, able to take feedback, read and follow directions but feel comfortable sharing insights and asking for clarification
• Experience working in any manual labor job

Trainer Experience: Growing chestnut trees here for nine years

I believe there’s a need for practical hands-on agroforestry education in Iowa for growers interested in getting started growing chestnuts or other tree crops but are having a hard time finding useful guidelines on how to do so. I think my short time farming has leant me to a few useful techniques I’d like to pass along to the next farmer. I’ve been growing chestnuts for nine years and had many helpers, volunteers and some paid labor along the way. I teach tree planting and care as well as grafting and nursery work to many people (employees, volunteers, family, customers, friends) including hosting a grafting workshop and some educational farm visits. I provide informal training to my tree nursery customers through short demonstration, written instruction and text “how-to” videos. In working with the Savannah Institute’s Mentorship program, I utilized their skills checklist to communicate on areas of improvement and desire for focusing on certain areas with my mentee. We utilized Google spreadsheets for task and hour communication. I do my best to communicate with my employee about work hours, start times, task priorities and more. As a fairly new farmer and employer, these are still skills I am actively developing.

Trainer Name: Andrew Phelps

Farm Name: Phelps Farm

Location: Guttenberg, Iowa

Website and Social Media:

• phelpsfarmsiowa.com
• www.facebook.com/PhelpsFarmIowa

Start and end date:  April-October

Contact:  phelpsfarmsiowa@gmail.com

About the farm:   

Our farm is in northeast Iowa, just a few miles southwest of Guttenberg, near Osterdock. We are a diversified vegetable farm selling wholesale, through a CSA and a farmers market. We have a small number of cut flowers and force tulips for hydroponic production. We also have ducks and chickens for egg production. In addition, we produce maple syrup and honey. We follow organic practices but are not certified organic. We practice minimal tillage and utilize cover crops. Our poultry and goats are being integrated into our grazing rotation within our vegetable production area. We focus on building healthy soil to grow quality vegetables.

Job Title:  Farm Crew Member

Wage, hours: $14, part time, variable hours

Other benefits:  No

On-farm housing: No

Work activities:  

Trainee will learn various aspects of vegetable production such as bed preparation, transplanting, pruning and trellising, weed management, harvesting, packing vegetables, and assisting at our Saturday markets with setting up, selling and interacting directly with customers, and tearing down.

Training Opportunities:  

Trainee will learn time management skills with prioritizing tasks and will gain communication skills and an understanding of food safety.

Minimum qualifications:   

Ability to work outside in various weather conditions. Able to lift at least 50 pounds comfortably and consistently. Ability to learn and understand our farm practices, written and verbally. Must be dependable and reliable. Have an eye for details and ability to follow standard operating procedures. Must possess a valid driver’s license or provide your own transportation to the farm.

Desired skills:  

Farming experience or willingness to learn all aspects of growing vegetables in a production environment. Understanding of farm and food safety practices. Ability to solve problems quickly and effectively as our farm can be a fast-paced environment. Ability to understand and follow instructions, both written and verbal.

Trainer Experience: We purchased our farmland in 2019 and began our produce farming operation in 2021.

****POSITION FILLED****

Trainer Name: Mike Levine 

Farm Name: Fruit Of Levine LLC

Location: Douglas, Nebraska (Omaha)

Website and social media: 

• www.fruitoflevine.com
• Facebook

Start and end date:  mid-May through September

Contact: mdl1356@gmail.com

About the farm:   

We are located in Omaha, Nebraska.  Fruit of Levine LLC is a 15-acre farm owned and operated by Jodi and Mike Levine. We are a niche producer of specialty fruits, vegetables, duck and goose eggs, and honey products.  We focus on products that are difficult to source or hard to find locally. We are dedicated to producing sustainably with minimal impact on our environment. We produce specialty crops including, honey, honeycomb, red raspberries, black raspberries, blackberries, asparagus, annual vegetables, lavender and other herbs, cut flowers, and duck and goose eggs. We use tarps for occultation on our market garden area from winter to spring, which facilitates no-till planting. We heavily mulch for weed control and fertility. We are not certified organic, but we do only use materials that are acceptable to the National Organic Program. We sell to restaurants, ice cream shops and individuals.

Job Title:  Farm Assistant

Wage, hours: $15 per hour, 10-30 hours per week

Other benefits:  No

On-farm housing: No

Work activities:  

Planting, weeding, harvesting, preparing products for sale, trellising, pest control, irrigation (we use drip irrigation), cleaning of bird coop, spreading mulch, use of hand tools where appropriate (hoeing, shoveling, etc), and other tasks as required.

Training Opportunities: Learn what is involved in operating a specialty crop business including crop choice, organic pest control, organic disease control, drip irrigation, planting, no till farming, harvesting, processing and other aspects. If interested, we would discuss our marketing and sales strategies.

Minimum qualifications:  

Must be able to work outside in hot temperatures, willing to get hands (and other body parts) dirty and be able to lift at least 50 pounds. Able to stand, kneel and sit, and do repetitive tasks for long periods of time, depending on the requirements of the task, and is able and willing to learn.

Desired skills:  

We are looking for someone who is excited to work hard and learn about specialty farming, is physically capable of and willing to do manual labor, is a “self-starter” who, once they understand the task, can complete their jobs without constant supervision.

Trainer Experience: 

Farming, both full time and part time, and working in the food related and food processing business for 47 years. We have operated Fruit of Levine LLC since about 2012.

****POSITION FILLED****

Trainer Name: Mike Salama

Farm Name: Salama Greenhouse

Location: Boone, IA

Website and social media: 

• www.salamagreenhouse.com
• Salama Greenhouse & Flower Shop | Boone IA | Facebook

 Start and end date: March-June

Contact: salama.mike@gmail.com

About the farm:   

We are in Boone, Iowa. Approximately 20 miles from Ames, Iowa and 40 miles from Des Moines, Iowa. We are a full garden center selling ornamental plants, seasonal bedding plants, house plants, seasonal flowering plants, trees and shrubs, perennials, and cut flowers. We are in the beginning stages of doing some outdoor production and agrotourism.

We believe that health and happiness are the fundamentals that everyone is seeking. Good health is the foundation for a happier life in which a healthy individual is capable of achieving anything.  If you are not healthy, then you are not happy, and if you are not happy, then a change needs to be made.

We exist to produce plant products to contribute to the health and overall wellness of our community and environment. We exist to empower and educate our consumers to make healthier decisions for the body, mind and spirit.

Job Title:  Greenhouse Intern

Wage, hours: $14-18

Other benefits: Discounted plants

On-farm housing: No

Work activities:  

Farm seeding, planting, watering, pruning, harvesting, packing, moving plants, etc.

Training Opportunities:   

Growing in a controlled environment, succession planting, pest management, sales and marketing.

Minimum qualifications: 

Stand for long periods of time, walk quickly, valid driver’s license, lift 50 pounds, work and dress for all weather conditions.

Desired skills:  

Horticulture, retail, flower shop, vegetable production experience

Trainer Experience:  

I’ve been doing this my whole life as it’s a family business. However, I officially purchased it from my parents in 2014, so a little over ten years as an owner operator.

Trainers Name: Emma and Marcus Johnson  

Farm Name: Buffalo Ridge Orchard

Location: Central City, Iowa

Website and social media 

• Website
• Facebook

Start date:   May-December

Contact: buffaloridgeorchard@gmail.com

About the farm:    

We are a family-owned and -operated, 80-acre diversified farm that grows herb plants, vegetables, apples, pears and row crops. We use organic practices for our vegetable crops and an integrated pest management system for our orchard. We have two moveable high tunnels for extending our growing season. The apple orchard is medium and high density, and we grow over 50 different varieties of apples. We sell our produce through the Iowa City Farmers Market, direct-wholesale and through our CSA. We also have an on-farm store open May through December and a processing kitchen where we process our fruit.

Job Title:  Farm Laborer

Wage, hours: $15-$18 per hour, commensurate with experience; full and part time available

Other benefits: A weekly stipend of fresh produce from the farm and an end of the season bonus for employees that work through November.

On-farm housing:  No

Work activities: 

Activities include planting young apple trees, hand-thinning fruits, planting vegetable starts and installing trellising; weeding, washing and packing produce; completing required farm records; working farm markets; running deliveries; and processing apples.

Training Opportunities: 

Working on our farm, you can expect to gain knowledge of tree fruit and vegetable production. This includes developing crop rotations, choosing rootstocks and fruit varieties, and learning how to market it locally. You can also learn about how we manage our licensing and food safety requirements for our produce farm and food processing plant.

Minimum qualifications: 

Employees must be able to work outside in variable weather conditions, stand for long periods of time, lift at least 50 pounds, be at least 18 years old and possess a valid driver’s license.

Skills desired: 

Tractor or equipment, horticultural and sales experience preferred but not required.

Trainer Experience:

We have had 2-4 full-time employees working for our farm year-round for the past ten years. We have had good experiences with other Labor4Learning trainees. They are motivated and often end up collaborating with us in their future farming endeavors. We have been a Labor4Learning trainee for three seasons. Marcus has a bachelor’s degree in horticulture. Marcus also worked for the Royal Horticultural Society and Pennsylvania Horticultural Society. Emma has a certificate of training from the Produce Safety Alliance and Preventative Controls 1 & 2. Both Emma and Marcus have a degree in landscape architecture and worked in this field for seven years prior to moving to the farm.

Trainer Name: Shae Pesek

Farm Name: Over the Moon Farm

Location: Coggon, Iowa

Website and Social Media:  

• www.overthemoonfarmiowa.com
• Instagram: @overthemoonfarm_
• Facebook: Over the Moon Farm

Start and end date:  May-August, option to continue into the fall

Contact: overthemoonfarmandflowers@gmail.com

About the farm:  

We are a diversified livestock farm located in eastern Iowa between Coggon and Ryan. Our primary focus is raising 100 Berkshire hogs annually in a farrow-to-finish system, along with pasture-raised chickens and turkey.

Our poultry are raised on pasture using rotational grazing systems, while our hog production utilizes a mixed system of outdoor lots and barns.

We sell direct-to-consumer through our e-commerce platform, offering weekly home deliveries throughout eastern Iowa and weekly nationwide shipping.

Job Title:  Farm Assistant

Wage, hours: $15-18 depending on experience, 10-15 hours per week

Other benefits:  Access to a half share of our meat CSA for the duration of the summer (equaling approximately 5 pounds of meat per month)

On-farm housing:  No

Work activities:   

• Primary responsibilities may include:
• Assembling boxes for shipping orders
• Moving electric fence for chickens, turkeys and ducks
• Moving poultry from brooder space to pasture (requires bending and lifting)
• Loading poultry for processing (potential for one evening a month to do this from 5-8 p.m.)
• Cleaning out brooders and participating in manure management
• Power washing and sanitizing poultry crates, livestock trailer, and feed and watering equipment

Training Opportunities:  

Trainee will have opportunity to learn about livestock management, direct-to-consumer sales and other mentorship about running a business

Minimum qualifications:  

• Must be able to lift 50 pounds repeatedly
• Must be 18 years of age
• Must be able to provide own transportation to farm

Desired skills:  

• Willingness to learn
• Experience with livestock desired but not mandatory
• MUST follow humane handling practices, as trained by the farm operators. Failure to do so will result in immediate termination.

Trainer Experience:  

I grew up in a family farm and have operated my own business since 2019. I want to support a beginning or aspiring farmer wanting to learn more about pastured poultry production at scale. I have had the opportunity to manage employees for several years, including overseeing flower CSA deliveries. Last summer, I specifically managed one employee who assisted with poultry care and other farm tasks. Overall, my experiences working with employees have been very positive, and I’ve developed strong management skills that foster collaboration and efficiency on the farm. I have had the privilege of serving as a mentor for PFI’s Savings Incentive Program, where I gained valuable experience in guiding others toward their financial goals. Throughout my career, I have held numerous leadership positions, which have helped me develop strong communication and problem-solving skills. I am confident in my ability to provide clear and insightful explanations, ensuring that complex topics are easily understood. Additionally, I have extensive experience in raising a variety of livestock species, which has further honed my skills and knowledge in animal husbandry.

Trainer Name: Eric Franzenburg

Farm Name: Pheasant Run Farm

Location: Van Horne – Keystone, Iowa, 30 miles west of Cedar Rapids, Iowa

Website and social media:

•  www.pheasantrunfarmiowa.com
• Facebook
• Instagram

Start date and end date: May–September (negotiable)

Contact: eafran@netins.net

 About the farm:   

We have row crops of corn and soybeans and also raise strawberries, blueberries, elderberries, honeyberries, sweetcorn, tomatoes, cucumbers and peppers in the field. We have grown tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers in greenhouses and are looking at doing this again. We have a cut flower enterprise that we work with our son, Calvin, on. Calvin has taken over the majority of that enterprise. We have agritourism (Sunflower Experience) which we continue to grow. We also grow medicinal herbs for the wholesale trade in the United States.  The addition of a shrimp production facility will occur during the 2026 growing season. We have endeavored to develop a diversified farm operation on the family farm. We are looking to focus more directly on developing an on-farm market where we can sell our farm production locally off the farm. Our crops are conventional, certified organic, no-till and strip-till.

Job Title: Farm Operations Intern

Wage, hours: $13-15, commensurate with experience, full time and somewhat flexible hours.

Other benefits: Fresh produce and cut flowers, raises will be given for positive performance

On-farm housing:  

Four-bedroom house available on the farm rent free available for the intern. We would take care of utilities, but you would need to get your own groceries and take care of the yard.

Work activities:  

Job duties include planting, weeding and harvesting specialty crops like blueberries, strawberries, tomatoes, sweetcorn, cut flowers and sunflowers, and working in all aspects of our shrimp production facility. Intern could also participate in sales and marketing (working on sales from the farm and at farm events) along with developing social media for the farm. Ability to drive a tractor is a plus. If desired, this intern could also be involved in planting and harvesting row crops like corn and soybeans.

Training Opportunities:  

The trainee will be working with other employees on the farm and will have the opportunity to supervise their work.  The trainee will also be learning about production practices in the field with a wide range of different crops and equipment.  The trainee will be learning along with us regarding raising shrimp in Iowa. Also, the ability to learn about different marketing techniques including the use of social media. This internship has the potential to become a partnership between Pheasant Run Farm and the intern. The intern can start their own operation with the use of our equipment and the availability of land in exchange for labor for Pheasant Run Farm.  This would be negotiable based on the intern’s interests.

Minimum qualifications:  

Able to work outside in all weather conditions. Have a valid driver’s license. Work independently with little supervision.

Desired skills:  

Preferred skills include tractor experience, the ability to solve problems and learn on the job and the ability to think outside of the box would be beneficial.

Trainer Experience:   

We have been farming since 1993, and we are interested in developing a longer-term relationship with a young farm family in which we can provide land, equipment and experience in exchange for labor. We can help them get started farming and then they can decide whether they would remain with our farm or start their own farm operation. Since we started farming in 1993, we have had over 50 employees, primarily as seasonal workers. We have had full-time employees periodically during our farming careers.

Trainer Name: Emma Barber 

Farm Name: Rhubarb Botanicals

Location town:  Mount Vernon, Iowa

Website and Social Media: 

• rhubarbbotanicals.com
• instagram.com/rhubarbbotanicals

Start and end date:   March-October

Contact: emma@rhubarbbotanicals.com

 About the farm:  

We are a diversified organic farm growing cut flowers, medicinal and culinary herbs, and vegetables, and raising livestock. We are a low-till operation that is prioritizing restoring soil structure in our farming practices. We sell our cut flowers through our flower CSA, at our farm store and farmers markets, and wholesale to local grocery stores. Our herbs are crafted into value-added products such as tea blends, salt and spice blends, herbal salves and lip balms, and more. These products are sold online through our website, locally at independent retailers throughout the Midwest and at farmers markets in eastern Iowa.

Job Title:  Flower Farm Crew

Wage, hours: $15-$16, full-time

Other benefits:  Paid lunch, discount on in-house products

On-farm housing:  No

Training Opportunities:  

Employees will learn key components of running a successful horticultural farm. Tasks and learning opportunities include greenhouse and nursery production, field preparation, weeding techniques, irrigation maintenance, and more. Employees will learn the specific harvest stages of over 50 varieties of cut flowers and learn how to efficiently create a crafted bouquet. Employees will learn many of the behind-the-scenes decision making process that informs business strategy, production and marketing. Employees will also learn about value-added production and creative ways to transform agricultural products into additional offerings.

Work activities:  

Tasks include: Seeding and greenhouse production, field preparation (laying landscape fabric, fertilizing, broadforking and raking, etc.), planting, weeding, harvesting of cut flowers and herbs, post-harvest bunching and sorting, flower bouquet assembly, recordkeeping of harvests and task list, occasional vending at the farmers market and farm store, field clean-up, and organization and cleaning of shared use spaces.

Minimum qualifications:  

Employees must have a collaborative spirit and a can-do attitude. Clear communication and accountability are a necessity. Employee should be comfortable working both as part of a team and independently. Employee should be in good physical condition to handle repetitive movements, standing or kneeling for 8-plus hours a day, and occasionally lifting objects that weigh 40-50 pounds. While we attempt to shift tasks to suit the weather, employee should be prepared to work outdoors in all conditions including heat, cold, rain and wind.

Desired skills:   

Previous experience is not required. An eagerness to learn and receptivity to feedback is most important.

Trainer Experience:   

Emma has been farming specialty horticultural crops professionally for seven years. Her area of focus has been on cut flowers for local markets and herb cultivation for fresh and dried use. Prior to starting her own farm in 2022, Emma worked for two years as a farmhand at Northerly Flora, a multi-site farmer-florist company in Minneapolis, and at Keepsake Cidery, an organic orchard and cidery. She completed the Land Stewardship Project’s Farm Beginning course in 2018.

****POSITION FILLED****

Trainer Name: John Rafkin & Wendy Johnson 

Farm Name: Joia Food Farm

Location: Charles City, IA

Website and social media: 

• www.joiafoodfarm.com
• Instagram: Joiafoodfarm
• Facebook: Joia Food Farm

Start and end date:  mid-April-September

Contact: wendy@joiafoodfarm.com

About the farm:   

We are located in northeast, north central Iowa near Charles City. Our guiding values are to celebrate life by observing the natural synergies between soil, plants and animals and how they adapt to change. We are a 100% perennial farm specializing in managed adaptive grazing of sheep and cattle on perennial pastures and Kernza; growing small grains such as Kernza, oats and other novel small grains; and agroforestry practices including established silvopasture, riparian buffer, enhanced windbreaks and micro orcharding. We integrate poultry and pigs into our operation at a smaller scale. We are certified organic and certified humane. We use adaptive management grazing, no antibiotics, no-GMOs, and are certified grass-fed and -finished. We sell grass-fed beef, lamb, pork, chicken, turkey, duck and food grade small grains sold in our virtual farm store, and through buying clubs, on farm sales and retailers.

Job Title:  Agroforestry and managed grazing apprentice

Wage, hours: $15, 5-10 hours per week

Other benefits: Lunch is provided if working over the lunch hour. Lunchtime is unpaid.

On-farm housing: No

Work activities: 

Maintenance of less than three-year-old trees, ensuring livestock have fresh water daily, assisting with moving all herds and flocks daily, creating biochar, assisting with lambing, cutting undesirable small trees and shrubs, product deliveries, and other activities as needed.

Training Opportunities:  

Learning managed grazing techniques we use, creating biochar, marketing and direct sales techniques.

Minimum qualifications and desired skills:  Able to work outside in all weather, stand and walk for long periods of time, lift at least 50 pounds, possess a valid driver’s license, have their own mode of transportation, have emotional maturity to handle criticism and accolades, have the learning spirit and act with humility while learning (feel comfortable to ask questions if you don’t know, don’t assume), be self-motivated and driven, have some experience with hand tools and lawn mowers, have punctuality, integrity in your work, and be reliable. Be organized and detailed. Can follow and take directions well. Can work by yourself and with a team.

 Trainer Experience: 

We started Jóia in 2014 and have offered training internships and apprenticeships on our farm for the past six years. We are spreading our reach of applicants with PFI’s Labor4Learning. We have had past full-time and part-time employees as well as seasonal employees. We have had paid interns and apprentices. We have trained and mentored around 15 people for short-term and long-term positions.

****POSITION FILLED****

Trainer Name: Alice McGary

Farm Name: Mustard Seed Farm

Location town: Ames, Iowa

Website and social media:

• Mustard Seed Community Farm

Start and end date : April-November (work for at least three consecutive months, flexible dates)

Contact: mustardseedbee@gmail.com

About the Farm:  

Mustard Seed Community Farm is an 11-acre, 16-year-old farm located ten miles north of Ames, Iowa.  We are founded on a belief in ethical food production and distribution, ecological land use and community. Using organic and sustainable methods, we typically grow a variety of vegetables and fruits along with herbs, flowers and prairie. The farm also keeps bees and small flocks of chickens and sheep.

Job Title: Farm Apprentice

Wage, hours: $15 or commensurate with experience, 25-40 hours per week, flexible hours

Other Benefits: Food and housing

On Farm Housing:  

Our housing is very simple. Workers are able to have separate sleeping quarters but all other living spaces are shared. We provide food but share chores of communal cooking and dishes.

Work Activities: 

Work will be diverse and involved with all aspects of the farm. We would like our trainee to manage one enterprise of their choice. This person will also plant and handle annual and perennial crops; participate in decision-making meetings, recordkeeping and on-farm research; and assist with livestock care and fencing. The trainee would also be involved with the farm’s community outreach and education efforts.

Training Opportunities:  

Managing enterprises, recordkeeping, on-farm research and care of livestock.

Minimum Qualifications:  

Able to work in all weather and lift 30 pounds. Be curious, have a drive to learn and a desire to contribute to food sovereignty-based agriculture and social justice.

Desired Skills: 

Any of the following: annual or perennial horticultural skills; farm systems management experience; communication and community engagement; sheep and poultry; Spanish-language skills; big-picture organizational talent. This is an opportunity for a skilled person to manage one aspect of our farm, with mentorship, while learning new and diverse skills.

Trainer Experience: 

I strongly believe in mentorship. There are so many skills needed to farm, and mentors have been (and continue to be) incredibly helpful in our success in farming. I want to continue to be a part of supporting ethical, creative, viable farming in our world. I have been a mentor with WFAN for more than 10 years and have expanded our mentorship program into hiring trainees for the past four years. I have a certification in secondary education in Iowa (expired) and teach classes regularly in art, farming and folk skills. I have been managing an agro-ecology education program for more than 10 years.

Trainer Name: David Royer 

Farm Name: David Royer Farms

Location: Coon Rapids, Iowa

Start and end date: Anytime-July 1, with extension, or full-time employment possible

Contact: sdroyer@gmail.com (712) 249-1355

About the farm:  

I have 800 row crop acres, as well as 125 beef cows and 2,500 wean-to-finish hogs. We use no-till over as many acres as possible each year. We also use cover crops and extended rotations by utilizing oats or by hay and pasture rotation. We use rotational grazing on our pasture. We utilize grid soil sampling in conjunction with variable rate lime and fertilizer applications, as well as variable rate seeding. Our markets: Corn sold at local chicken farm, local ethanol plant and local food grade corn processing plant. Beans sold at local Landus (ADM partner).

Job Title: Farm hand

Wage, hours: $13 starting, negotiable based on experience, full time

Other benefits: No

On-farm housing: No

Work activities:  

Daily farm life might include fixing, maintaining and operating farm equipment, care and monitoring the cow-calf herd, as well as land management.

Training Opportunities: 

The trainee will learn how to operate a variety of equipment with many different motor and transmission designs, as well as different technology platforms. They would also learn numerous trade skills such as welding or repairing equipment. These skills would transfer to many other careers.

Minimum qualifications:  

• Show up for work on time
• 8 a.m.-5 p.m., Monday through Friday, with some exceptions based on job task or weather
• Be accountable
• Valid driver’s license
• Lift 50 pounds
• Work outside and stand for extended periods

Desired skills: 

The ideal trainee would have a positive outlook on life and enjoy being out in nature.

Trainer Experience: 

I got out of the Army in 1979 and harvested my first crop in 1980. I have been farming ever since. I am interested in keeping family farms in families, not companies. I have worked with numerous employees over more than four decades of my farming operation, with many different ages and backgrounds and experience levels. I mentored as I raised my four children on my farm, and two of them decided to stay in farming, and both now have successful farming operations.

Trainer Names: Naomi and Andrew Friend

Farm Name: Friend’s Flowers

Location: Story City, Iowa

Web and social media:   

• https://friends.flowers
• facebook.com/friendsflowerfarm
• instagram.com/friendsflowerfarm

Start and end date: mid-April-mid October

Contact Information: friendsflowers@outlook.com

Job title: Flower Farm Assistant

Pay rate, hours, terms: $15 or commensurate with experience, 30 hours per week

Other Benefits:   

A reasonable amount of free cut flowers each week.

On-Farm Housing: No

Work Activities:  

Activities include planting flower seeds and plugs, weeding, washing buckets, cutting and harvesting flowers, and arranging and delivering flower orders. Marketing activities include helping customers and arranging flowers at farmers markets, leading of the market (after training), helping with wedding and event arrangements, and providing customer service during U-pick hours.

Training Opportunities:  

Employees will gain experience in small-scale flower farming, floral arranging, customer service and direct-to-consumer sales. Additional opportunities include learning about high tunnel flower production, succession planting and basic farm equipment operation.

Minimum Qualifications:  

Be able to work outside in all weather, ability to squat and kneel repeatedly for short periods and lift at least 50 pounds. Must possess a valid driver’s license. A good candidate will have experience driving a pick-up with trailer and sub-compact tractor and implements, or willingness to be trained for these skills. Previous floral or customer service experience is preferred but not required. We require availability to work most Saturday mornings from May-October to help staff and lead the Ames Main Street Farmers’ Market.

Desired Skills:  

• A positive attitude, reliability and strong work ethic.
• Ability to work independently and as part of a small team.
• Attention to detail, particularly in floral arranging and monitoring plant and field conditions
• Strong communication and customer service skills
• Comfort with social media or photography for farm marketing is a plus

Trainer Experience:  

We have over ten years of experience operating a flower farm and farmer-florist business and are committed to developing capable, learning-minded employees. Naomi has trained and supervised multiple full- and part-time farm staff, and we have mentored students and emerging professionals in a variety of settings, including Iowa State University and art workshops. Several past employees have gone on to start their own flower farms and floral businesses. We focus on teaching practical skills in profitable flower production, direct-to-consumer sales and basic floral design.

Trainer: Lee Tesdell

Farm Name: Tesdell Century Farm

Location: Slater, IA

Website and social media:  

• https://tesdellfarm.wordpress.com

Start and end date:  May-August

Contact: (515) 201-6454

About the farm:     

We raise sheep, chickens, garlic, hay and Kernza. I rent out 50 acres for row crops. No-till, cover crops, paddock grazing, prairie strips, terraces, edge-of-field practices. Garlic, lamb & Kernza: Iowa Food Coop and other local markets.

Job Title:  Farm help

Wage, hours: $15, variable hours

On-farm housing: no

Work activities:  

Sheep work, hay baling, chores, data gathering, farm maintenance.

Training Opportunities:  

Anything related to work activities.

Minimum qualifications:  

Be able to work most weeks for some hours, lift feed bags, hold lambs and ewes for treatment, and drive equipment.

Desired skills: 

Good communication skills, livestock experience, recordkeeping.

Trainer Experience:  

I was a teacher for 42 years and have mentored several young farmer helpers on my farm over the years.

Trainer Name: Derek Roller

Farm Name: Echollective Farm

Location: Mechanicsville, IA

Website and social media:  

www.echollectivefarm.com

Start and end dates: May-September

Contact:  echocsa@gmail.com

About the farm: 

We raise primarily veggies, have a handful of the agroforestry species on farm and have dabbled with different livestock. We tend to incubate at least one (often more) other enterprise by an aspiring farmer a year. Our markets are CSA, farmers market, restaurants, institutions and donations. We collaborate with other neighbor farms, and, as a CSA farm, we grow a lot of different veggies both on bare ground and in protective culture. We have mostly annual and a few perennial species.

Job Title:  Farm team member

Wage, hours: $14, part or full time

Other benefits:  Veggies

On-farm housing: Possibly

Work activities:   

As a horticulture worker, it could involve lots of things depending on experience and past trainings. The basics are planting, weeding, picking and pack shed work.

Training Opportunities:  

Open to what your interest is. For example, one year a person was really interested in hoop houses, so we focused on that. Another year someone was interested in garlic production, so we focused on that.

Minimum qualifications:   

Able to work outside in all weather. Able to stand for long periods of time and maintain a positive, team-oriented attitude.

Desired skills:  

We are open to any and all skill levels! I love a good attitude and someone who plays well with others.

Trainer experience:  

I like to work with folks that are interested in remaining in ag. Echollective has had a lot of farmers (still farming, or retired) pass through on their way to their own farms or other farm adjacent jobs. I’ve been an employer for nearly 30 years. In various business, I’ve taught high school, trained both on farm and in a restaurant, and I’m a parent.