Organic Vegetable Farm Manager Apprenticeship

Hands-on, real world education on working farms

The first registered apprenticeship for organic vegetable production in the country.

This unique competency-based program provides comprehensive, hands-on training under approved Farmer Educators and paid employment for apprentices interested in taking on farm management positions.

Apprentices work side by side with experienced farmers in the field season and take structured courses through the WI Tech College System in the off-season. Farmer educators train apprentices in all aspects of organic vegetable production and provide insight and instruction on operating a farm business.

We don’t expect other skilled trades to learn their profession on their own, so it doesn’t make sense for farmers to have to do so.


Julie Dawson
Assistant Professor of Horticulture,
University of Wisconsin-Extension Horticulture Educator, and Apprenticeship Co-founder