Program Description

The 2026 Growing Together Internship will occur between June 1st and July 31st and will meet three days per week. Interns will work in the Rio Fernando Community Farm at Taos Land Trust one day per week and spend the other two days working on diverse farms and ranches around Taos County. These experiences will provide interns with a wide range of agricultural knowledge and skills. Interns will complete around 160 hours of work-based learning over the 9-week program (about 6 hours per workday) and earn a competitive internship wage. In addition to learning career-oriented skills, interns will connect with mentors and other nonprofits throughout the community, growing their network of potential employers.

Who can apply?

The application is open to youth between 16 and 19 years old. Interns are expected to have reliable transportation (this can mean getting a ride from a family member or setting up a carpool group with fellow interns). While one day per week is centrally located at Taos Land Trust, the other two days per week will occur at various farms and ranches throughout Taos County and interns are expected to be able to get themselves to these locations. Most locations will be within a 25 minute drive of the town of Taos, but a couple of farms of unique interest may be as far as 45 minutes from town.

Compensation

First-year interns earn $16.75/hr, with the possibility of a raise based on demonstrated commitment and engagement with the program. Second-year interns earn $18/hr and have leadership roles and increased responsibilities based on their level of experience. Snacks and drinks will be provided on each day, but interns are expected to bring their own lunch.

Expectations

Interns are expected to show up on time for work each day. Occasional absences and tardiness are acceptable as long as interns notify their crew leader. This is a work-based learning opportunity, meaning that both the work and the learning aspects are equally important. Interns are expected to not only show up ready to work outside and be helpful, but are also expected to engage with the educational content of the program. Prior agricultural knowledge is not required for this program, but a commitment to learn is necessary. Interns are expected to work and learn to the best of their individual abilities, work collaboratively with a team, and be respectful of their fellow interns and mentors. Rivers & Birds has a zero tolerance policy for discrimination, bullying or harassment of any kind, and interns are expected to uphold this standard during the entirety of the internship.

Learning Outcomes

By working at the Rio Fernando Community Farm each week, interns will be involved in all aspects of maintaining and managing the gardens for the duration of the internship. Interns will come away with a solid understanding of the work required to care for a garden throughout the growing season, as well as a diverse set of skills and knowledge gained through working on different farms and ranches.

Over the course of the internship, interns will learn about raising and handling livestock, regenerative grazing methods, irrigating with acequias, planting and harvesting for a market garden, building soil health, making compost, growing a food forest, growing and processing heritage grains, preserving crops and much more! Not only will interns acquire technical knowledge and skills, they will gain a holistic understanding of our local food system, connect with place-based traditional practices, and participate in environmental stewardship through agriculture.

Application Deadline

Applicants must submit their online application by April 15th. After submitting the google form application, Gwendolyn Pieper will contact applicants to set up an interview. Interviews will take place on a rolling basis until May 1st. If you have any questions about the application, interview, or internship, reach out to Gwendolyn Pieper at gwendolyn.pieper@riversandbirds.org. We look forward to receiving your application!

Click here to apply!