The first thing that you need to think about when you want to get started with farm internships is that you need to consider the duration. How long do you want your farm internship to be, and what kind of skills do you want to learn? One thing that many people do not expect is that there are farm internships that last just one weekend. You might be getting some great experience when it comes to harvests or you might find that you are simply getting to learn how to shear! When you want an internship that will last you the better part of a season or even a full year, you need to specify your search in this way.
Another thing that you need to consider is how far you can travel. How are you going to be able to get to the location and what kind of accommodations are you looking at? If the farm that you are staying at is off the beaten path, you will find that it is much more likely that you are going to be living on the farm itself. Are you comfortable with the idea of living in a large tent with other interns or in private rooms in cabins or barns? The conditions might be rather primitive, and some people will look for internships that allow them to drive in and out.
What are the resources that you can use when you are looking at how you can get the results that you want? Remember that in many cases, your search will start online. If you are searching in the United States or Canada, you will find that National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service has a page on internships and apprenticeships that might suit you. Similarly, remember that there are also farms that do not list their internships with this service. Your school likely has an internship office that you can check in with, so make sure that you consider what they can do for you and what kind of resources they can provide you with.
If you are in a place where you are interested in searching out farm internships, there are many different things that you can try. Above all, though, remember to be vocal about your search. Are you in a place where you are going to be able to network? You never know who might know someone who knows someone who can get you the internship that you need, so remember to talk. There are definitely opportunities out there; all you have to do is find them!
