NWI Food Council’s Farmer Apprenticeship

SPONSORING EMPLOYER APPLICATION

Thank you for your interest in the NWI Food Council’s Farmer Apprenticeship Program. Together in partnership, the NWI Food Council and the Center for Workforce Innovations, are excited to pilot Indiana’s first ever Farmer Apprenticeship Program approved by the Department of Labor. The term of Apprenticeship is 1.5 years and is competency-based. An apprentice can only enter the Farmer Apprenticeship Program by being hired by an accepted sponsoring employer.

Employers interested in sponsoring an individual into the Farmer Apprenticeship Program must submit an online application. The online application must include the name of the Sponsoring Employer, an authorized person's contact information, the name and contact information of the sponsored applicant and the location of the job where the apprentice will begin working.

In order for an applicant to be accepted into the Program, he or she must meet the physical, legal, communication and educational standards of the Apprentice Program and pass a substance abuse test.

The process for sponsoring an apprentice and the rules of the Program are set forth in the link below.

APPRENTICE AND INTERN APPLICATION

Thank you for your interest in the NWI Food Council’s Farmer Apprenticeship Program.
Together in partnership, the NWI Food Council and the Center for Workforce Innovations, are excited to coordinate Indiana’s first ever Farmer Apprenticeship Program approved by the Department of Labor.

The term of Apprenticeship is 1.5 years and is competency-based. Apprentices will be paid $15/hour, with pay increases to $17.12/hour by the end of the program. Apprentices will work full time hours for the majority of the year, based on the discretion of the employer. Apprentices will be paid to complete 144 hours of required coursework in addition to on-farm work.

Apprentices will receive a certificate upon completion of the program.

An apprentice can only enter the Farmer Apprenticeship Program by being hired by an accepted sponsoring employer. This application will allow the NWI Food Council to pair apprentices with sponsoring employers.

Separately from the apprenticeship, there is also an internship program. This program is part time and seasonal. There is no required coursework for the internship, only on-farm work. Interns will make $15/hour. There is no certification at the end of this program.

Completing this application does not guarantee placement. Apprentice and intern positions are few and there may be years where there are no openings.

Please contact Rebecca Koetz at beccak@nwifoodcouncil.org or 219-232-8058 with questions.