Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship

We are deeply honored and very excited to be engaged with the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship; the first accredited Apprenticeship program for farming in the United States.

We believe that this program provides a beacon of hope in a world in which dairy is considered to be a failing industry. Grazing practices not only provide an affordable point of entry into a start up dairy or diversified livestock operation, but they provide the apprentice with innumerable measures to provide ecosystem services to the community in which they decide to reside and farm.

Leon, with some coaxing from Abbie, decided that this program was the one with which to take a dive into the world of outside labor on the farm. We are thrilled with this model of learning. When so many young people are leaving college with immense debt this program allows for an apprentice to leave here with 3700 hours of on farm employment and training under a Mentor Grazier (Leon was the first certified in VT). In addition to a wage, our apprentice will be provided with a small apartment (utilities included), grass-fed and/or organic meat and all the milk you can drink! The program also incorporates 300 hours of classes, group education, and networking opportunities into your time here as well. You can apply to the Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship here.