The Farm Manager Apprenticeship is a 22-month paid Registered Apprenticeship based in the Gunnison Valley, Colorado.  Includes 2,000 hours of on-the-job training and 144 hours of related instruction covering 52 core competencies in small-scale regenerative farming.  

Pay starts at $17/hr equivalent plus a living stipend, housing support, AmeriCorps education awards, healthcare, certifications (OSHA, CPR, FSMA), and mentorship.  Pay increases to $19/hr equivalent in Season 2.

Applications for the 2027–2029 cohort open on September 15, 2026, with the program starting on February 22, 2027.

In this 22-month Registered Apprenticeship, you’ll learn the foundations of small-scale regenerative farming in Colorado’s challenging high-altitude climate. You’ll gain hands-on experience at Gunnison Gardens, a four-acre diversified farm, as well as a community farm, community gardens, and Mountain Roots’ four hydroponic container farms.

The program spans two full growing seasons, giving you time to build your skills, learn through observation, and take on greater responsibility. Three new apprentices join each year, creating a supportive environment where newer apprentices can learn from those further along in the program.

Learn more here:  https://www.mountainrootsfoodproject.org/beginning-farmer-training-program