2025 Fall Farm Crew Openings!

The Dr. Keiko Miwa Ross Student Farm at Penn State, University Park, is offering paid opportunities for current Penn State students interested in working with the Student Farm for the Fall 2025 Semester! Student farmers participating in farm crew positions assist in diversified vegetable, greenhouse, herb and cut flower production, harvesting, and marketing. Previous experience in relevant fields is welcome but not required. We do ask students to be motivated to learn and contribute to a positive work environment.

Students participating in seasonal farm crew positions will gain a variety of entry-level farming skills, and we welcome farm crew members hoping to gain more in-depth farm experiences and leadership skills to apply to the year-long Student Farm Internship Cohort Program, which will start in Spring 2026.

Responsibilities

Student Farm crew members will assist with many operations on the farm. Essential roles include ensuring that safety, produce quality, and a fun work environment are maintained among co-workers, volunteers, Student Farm Club members, and courses that may visit and work on the farm. Farm activities that farm crew members participate in may include:

• Harvest, wash, and pack produce for distribution to campus dining and our CSA direct-to-consumer sales program. Examples of summer & fall crops that we will be harvesting include tomatoes, zucchini, peppers, herbs, and fresh greens
• Transplanting crops into fields, cultivation, weeding, and general farm clean-up and maintenance
• Assist with volunteer days, events, and other visits at the farm as needed

Schedule & Compensation

• Pay is $11/hour
• This is a seasonal position for the Fall Semester 2025: August 25-November 21, with possibility for earlier start date
• 8-15 hours/week, Monday-Friday. We will work with you to schedule your farm work shifts around your fall semester class schedule

Qualifications

• Able to prioritize and learn new tasks quickly, meet deadlines, and enjoy a fast-paced work environment
• Must be self-motivated and be able to work independently, while also having the willingness to seek guidance and ask questions as needed from farm staff and other student farmers
• Able to work outdoors in varied weather conditions including hot, cold, wind, rain, and snow
• Able to lift 50 pounds
• Own transportation between the farm and campus is required (bus and Spin bikes available!)

We encourage applicants to apply by July 1st when interviews begin. Applications will continue to be reviewed on an ongoing basis until positions are filled.