Leaders Start Here
Farm managers are in demand across California. Our job is to equip motivated and talented farmworkers for these vital and highly paid positions. Your job – whether worker or employer – is to get connected.
The California Farm Academy’s Beginning Farm and Ranch Manager Apprenticeship is registered with the California Division of Apprenticeship Standards and combines two years of paid on-the-job training and instruction. Participants graduate at the journeyman level.
Operations seeking individuals who have identified existing stellar workers can partner with us and be confident in the knowledge, professionalism, and leadership skills our graduates obtain.
Applications for the Apprenticeship Program are currently closed. If you’re an employer interested in the program, we encourage you to complete our interest form to stay informed about program updates, future application openings, and opportunities to connect with us.
On the Job
Apprentices complete 3,000 hours of paid training on commercial production farms ranging from two to 4,000 acres. Participating farms, which may use conventional or organic practices, grow a diversity of crops, such as processing tomatoes, rice, wine grapes, tree nuts, and mixed vegetables, and sell to a variety of markets, including direct markets, distributors, brokers, processors, and community supported agriculture.
Duties vary between farms, but all participants receive a minimum number of hours of hands-on training in specific work processes, such as equipment fabrication, soil management, sales, and marketing. Work schedules are dictated by farm and by season, but apprentices can anticipate 30 to 60 of weekly work. Typically, compensation begins at minimum wage and increases by $0.50 an hour every six months. Individuals already employed by a farm can enroll if the farmer agrees to participate.
In the Classroom
Apprentices complete a minimum of 250 coursework hours and pursue basic production, leadership, and management knowhow. Opportunities are also available to test out of core modules in exchange for individualized coursework targeted to the apprentice’s needs and goals. This route could include approved short courses, industry tours, conferences, field days, workshops, or community college / trade school classes.
Strengthen your workforce
If you are a farm employer with an employee you’d like to train for a management role, submit an interest form, and our program staff will work with you and your employee to determine eligibility.
If you’re an employee interested in advancing into a management role, we encourage you to share this program with your employer and have them complete an interest form.
Applications for the Apprenticeship Program are currently closed. However, if you’re interested, we invite you to complete our interest form to receive updates on future application openings and other training opportunities.
Questions? Contact us at apprenticeship@landbasedlearning.org or (530) 795-1520.
