This program is designed for the beginning agrarian who is seeking real-world experience in regenerative agriculture, and is willing to commit to the hard work and long days it takes to gain that experience. Applicants must be authorized to work in the U.S. in order to apply.
Apprentices work full-time from March/April until November, and take part in many of the activities necessary for the daily operation of the ranch or farm. Ideally, basic, repetitive tasks are balanced with new and increasingly challenging work to enable the development of higher-level skills and to further apprentice learning. Mentor sites in the program range from small, family-run ranches to larger, corporate-owned ranches. All mentors in the program have completed Quivira Coalition’s mentor training program.
Applications are open for the 2026 season
Everything you need to know
About Your Apprenticeship
Orientation
Apprentices attend an in-person group orientation in late March or early April to spend time with fellow apprentices and participate in activities to prepare them for the season. Attendance at this event is mandatory.
Reflections
Each apprentice submits two reports to the New Agrarian Program that are published in the New Agrarian Voices blog. The first is a one-page personal introduction, due in May, and the second is a three-page final report, due at the end of the season.
In-person workshops
Each season, the New Agrarian Program organizes at least one in-person educational opportunity in each region (Southwest or Northern Plains) to gather the cohort and learn about topics like low-stress stockmanship, soil and plant monitoring, meat processing, etc.
Site visits
Apprentices are encouraged to visit other ranches and farms near their mentor site for the opportunity to see different models and management styles. Apprentices may identify operations they are interested in visiting (typically New Agrarian Program host operations, but not necessarily) and schedule one to two day visits.
1:1 coordinator check-ins
Each apprentice has a regional coordinator who performs monthly check-in calls and one site visit to ensure the apprentice is supported during their season.
Skills checklists
The New Agrarian Program requires each apprentice to complete a provided skills checklist with their mentor three times during the season: at the beginning, middle, and end. This checklist is designed to start conversations between mentors and apprentices about learning goals for the season, and helps track progress.
Supplemental education
The New Agrarian Program partners with topical experts to offer a series of monthly video calls designed to expose apprentices to topics ranging from soil health and land management to biological monitoring, financial management and business planning. Upon completion of the New Agrarian Program apprenticeship, graduates will be given scholarships to continue their education through programs such as Holistic Management International’s online training courses.
The REGENERATE Conference
In November, apprentices attend the REGENERATE Conference with free registration and lodging provided. Apprentices will be celebrated during a graduation ceremony at the conference, and they will also have opportunities to attend a wide variety of workshops and plenary presentations addressing land health, regenerative agriculture, food systems and other relevant topics. The conference also offers apprentices an opportunity to network and seek out their next career steps.
An apprenticeship is designed to be a hands-on, working, and learning experience. The greatest benefit to apprentices is the opportunity to become fully immersed in the daily labor and operation of their host operation. Other compensation includes:
Contact hours
Apprentices can expect approximately 350 direct contact hours over an eight month period (or approximately 8 – 10 hours a week) with a person in a designated mentorship role. Some operations have multiple people offering mentorship.
Housing
Mentors provide apprentice housing on or near the ranch or farm, separate from mentor housing. Housing is private and includes adequate heating and other utilities, as well as cooking and bathing facilities. While there will usually be internet access on host operations, it may or may not be directly accessible in the apprentice housing. Apprentices are expected to provide their own telephones and telephone service.
Pay
Each apprentice is paid directly as a W-2 employee of their mentor site. Some sites pay hourly, while others offer a monthly stipend, and amounts vary due to different state labor law requirements and other details of each mentor site’s compensation package.
Food
While some mentor sites provide food and/or meals, others do not. Check each site description for more details.
Workers’ compensation
Apprentices are covered by workers’ compensation through their mentor/employer during the periods of their apprenticeships spent on the host operation. While most work-related injuries are covered, those that occur during off hours are not. Mentors will discuss details with apprentices as soon as possible after they arrive at the host operation.
PLEASE NOTE: The New Agrarian Program only accepts applicants who already have legal authorization to work in the United States and can not help with the visa process.
Where Quivira Works
Locations
Mentor sites are located in Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Texas, and Wyoming. No two mentor sites are the same and each offer different opportunities to learn about various operations, livestock, and methods. Click through to see the full list of sites and explore what they have to offer.