2026 Applications open

• 4 FELLOWSHIPS

• PART TIME (14 hours/week)

• START/END DATES: April 1 - October 29, 2026

• $17.58/HR

• PRACTICES: No-Till, Low-Till, Organic Practices (Not Certified)

• VEHICLE REQUIRED? Yes

• LANGUAGES SPOKEN: English

• Farm Location: Hanley Rd, Central Point, OR 97502 

Schedule:

• Farm Days: Tuesdays and Thursdays 

• 8am-2:30pm (Spring & Fall) / 7am - 1:30pm (Summer)

• Educational Event Days: Wednesday

•  3-5:30pm (In-person events) / 3-5pm (Online events) 

• OFF weeks additional hours on-farm will be available if desired

The Regenerative Farming Fellowship provides an entry-level work and training experience in small-scale farm production. With a focus on sustainably grown vegetables and fruits. This is a hands-on farming experience, participants work alongside staff in day-to-day operations as well as focused educational activities. On-farm time will also include building observational skills through farm walks, time for questions, discussions, and structured check-in’s. This program is run in partnership by Oregon Farm Corps and Family Nurturing Center’s (FNC) Farm and Food Program.

Farming involves working repeatedly with the physical body; participants should be prepared for full days of stooping, bending, kneeling, reaching, and lifting crates of food. Demonstrations and discussions of self-care, ergonomics, and efficiency will weave throughout the program. Participants come ready to get their hands in the dirt across all stages of plant life, from seeding, planting, harvesting, and eating.

Farm mentors will provide participants with an understanding of the context on why farm tasks are being done the way they are being done and how they relate to other farm processes and the larger picture. Programming will be somewhat flexible and responsive to participant interests and goals. Our work culture centers on good communication, efficiency, and respecting each other's time. We start each day with ten minutes of stretching and then jump right into the morning meeting. At the end of the day we have our tools cleaned up and put away in-time for clocking out.

Regenerative practices refer to agricultural practices which seek to not only maintain ecosystem health but restore and increase it. Many of what are now referred to as regenerative practices have been practiced for millenia or centuries around the world. A few examples include using cover crops, planting and weeding with minimal soil disturbance, and using mulch or adding organic material to the soil surface.

This program is a financially and logistically accessible first farming experience for people who face higher barriers to entry into agriculture in the Rogue Valley. Applicants who identify as Black, Indigenous, Latine, and/or other person of color (BIPOC), LGBTQIA2S+, female, veterans, living with a disability, formerly incarcerated, and/or low-income are highly encouraged to apply. The program seeks to create an inclusive, welcoming learning and training environment that values and honors each participant’s unique life experiences, strengths, interests, and goals.

More about Family Nurturing Center

Family Nurturing Center is a non-profit serving Southern Oregon whose mission is to strengthen families so that children can live safely and develop fully in their parents’ care. The FNC farm also hosts Harvest Meal field trips in collaboration with Rogue Valley Farm 2 School, and provides free produce and healthy staple foods to families in the Jackson County community.

COMPENSATION & SCHEDULE

Educational Events start April 1st with an online orientation to the class series, followed by an in-person event on April 8th. 

On-Farm days begin Thursday April 9th and then occur Tuesday/Thursday. 

Fellows will be paid at a rate of $17.58/hr for both on-farm training hours and time spent in educational events. On-Farm Days include a half hour unpaid lunch break. In weeks with no educational events fellows will be offered additional on-farm hours, if desired, to achieve their 14 hours. To support attendance at  the two Weekend Gatherings partial hours are also available, in addition to fuel reimbursements. 

During Summer, typically mid to late June to early September, hours start earlier and adjust with group needs and desires, a discussion will occur early June about schedule changes. Fellows have access to farm produce, as well as bi-weekly group lunches.

FAQ’s

HOW IS THE REGENERATIVE FARMING FELLOWSHIP DIFFERENT FROM An Oregon FARM CORPS’ APPRENTICESHIP?

The Fellowship is designed to serve people who are already living in the Rogue Valley. There is no fee to participate in the Fellowship and participants are compensated for their time in the Beginning Farmer Educational Event Series. This is due to special funding for this program. Apprenticeships have a fee (scholorships available) and are not paid for Educational Events.

Apprentices are required to complete 500 hours of on-farm training. Fellows are offered over 300 hours of on-farm time but less than 500. 

Apprentices are hired as waged employees at OFC’s Host Farm partners located all around the state of Oregon. Host Farmers provide on-farm training and mentorship to Apprentices. Fellows are hired as waged employees by Family Nurturing Center and are trained, mentored, and supervised by Oregon Farm Corps and FNC staff.

WHY DOES THIS PROGRAM EXIST?

Oregon Farm Corps has been facilitating on-farm internships and Apprenticeships with partner Host Farms around Oregon since 2004. It has become clear that these opportunities are not accessible to everyone who wants to try farming. 

OFC sees the need for part-time educational farm training experiences that provide both the actual hands-on experience and the educational framework necessary to jumpstart people’s path into agriculture while providing an inclusive, welcoming learning environment that is also financially and logistically accessible. The Regenerative Farming Fellowship was created to respond to this need. 

2026 will be the fourth season of the Fellowship. We hope this program will become a replicable model for similar entry-level farming programming with additional partners in other parts of the state.

When are Applications Due?

Applications open each year in January and are accepted on a rolling basis. Typically, positions fill early to mid-March. We prefer applications to come via our online form found on the Apply Page. Applications for 2026 are open through early March.

Can I visit the farm?

The farm is only open during program hours or with prior arrangements. We do not have an office at the farm.

Other Questions?

Please email the Rogue Valley Chapter Manager at avry@oregonfarmcorps.org

Big Thanks to these Program-specific funders and partners:

• Jackson Soil & Water Conservation District

• Reed & Carolee Walker Foundation

• Cow Creek Umpqua Indian Foundation

• Reser Foundation

• Talent Garden Club

• Family Nurturing Center

• Southern Oregon Research and Extension Center

• OSU Small Farms Program