Apprenticeship
Host Farm

Young Agrarians and our network of exceptional host farms offer advanced, hands-on apprenticeships in regenerative agriculture. These farmers are foundational in the supporting the learning journey of new and aspiring farmers and offer an immersive experience for YA apprentices.

Regenerative agriculture has the ability to heal and improve our landscapes, communities, and economies. With the national average age of Canadian ranchers and farmers approaching sixty, and with less than two percent of the Canadian population currently dedicated to growing food within any type of production model, it is critical that the next generation of food producers and land stewards have sufficient training opportunities.

Apprentices have gone on to work on other farms, begin their own farming enterprise or partner with elder agrarians wanting to transition their farms.

Young Agrarians Apprenticeship Program Host Farms are full-time ranchers and farmers on regenerative agricultural operations located in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba.

Qualifications

• Have been farming for at least four years in operation and have previous experience directly supervising ranch/farm staff or trainees
• Prioritize healthy soil, food, communities, and ecosystems;
• Maintain a culture, rhythm, and agricultural practice that provides a high quality of life for both people and animals
• Want to teach and to be an apprentice’s full-time employer, mentor and guide;
• Have time and capacity to instruct an apprentice and give him or her meaningful feedback
• Have Workers Compensation Insurance

The Young Agrarians Apprenticeship Program provides host farm mentors with initial, on-site guidance and basic apprenticeship structure in order to ensure a consistent model across the program. At the same time, mentors are given plenty of room within which to customize apprenticeships.

What we provide:

• Individual host farm profile webpages featuring each mentor farm operation and apprenticeship
• Outreach and promotion, including advertising online, in print, and in communities local to each apprenticeship
• Logistical and administrative assistance with application and selection process, including provision of a standard application, application processing, and collaborative review
• Guidance for structuring an interview process
• Annual site visits
• One-on-one support as needed
• Annual mentor training
• A network of other mentors for peer-to-peer support
• Participation in educational workshops throughout the season
• Copy of Agrarian Apprenticeship Handbook – developed by the New Agrarian Program, whom we have modelled our program after and who continues to inspire this program.

Host Farm applications are accepted on a rolling basis.
Apprenticeship applications open in winter 2025/2026.

Host farms will conduct video or phone interviews with prospective apprentices following application deadline in February. Confirmation of successful applicants will be in early March.

Host farm mentor orientation dates are tentatively set for mid-to-late March.

Apprentice start dates vary by farm; however, generally begin in April or May.

The program curriculum and materials have been  inspired and adapted from the Quivira Coalition’s New Agrarian Apprenticeship program. 

Photo credits: Mich Lam