The Student Farm at Penn State and the Penn State Center Philadelphia are offering a brand NEW academic and internship opportunity in spring 2018 for current Penn State students in any major to learn about sustainable food systems, urban agriculture, community engagement, product marketing, and more. The program includes a new 3-credit academic course in spring semester, which trains students for a potential internship at the Student Farm or at an urban farm in Philly during the summer.

Acceptance into the program is competitive, and interested students must apply to enroll in AGECO 197: Growing Food, Leaders and Community, for the spring 2018 semester. The course will cover market farm planning, leadership development, sustainable production skills and practices, team building, volunteer management, and community engagement. The course will emphasize teamwork, and leadership and management opportunities for students to prepare them for their internship experience.

AGECO 197 will meet on Wednesdays from 2:30 p.m.- 5:30 p.m. during spring semester 2018, and travel to Philadelphia as a class during spring break, March 2-6. Applications for the course are being accepted now, and on a rolling basis so candidates are encouraged to apply early. Download the application here.

“We are thrilled to offer this opportunity for students in partnership with Philly Urban Ag,” said associate director Leslie Pillen. “Students accepted into the program will have the unique opportunity to learn about the many aspects of community-based food and farming systems in a hands-on setting, and also develop their leadership and teamwork skills along the way,” said Pillen.

Upon admission into the program and completion of the course, students will have the opportunity to interview for an internship position with the Student Farm and/or the Urban Agriculture Program in Philly. Selection into both the course and internship are competitive, and completion of the course does not guarantee an internship position. Learn more about each of the internships here.

To apply, students should complete the application, and send it with a current resume to studentfarm@psu.edu. Questions regarding AGECO 197, the application process, or internship opportunities, can be directed to studentfarm@psu.edu.