SWIAA/NRCS Internship Opportunity
Internship opportunities are available to Native American young adults and beginning farmers/ranchers. SWIAA will award 4 interns travel and lodging stipends to work at a farm in AZ for 1 week. This is an excellent hands-on opportunity to learn from experienced farm staff and to see how a working farm functions.
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Native American young adults who attend college/university in the field of agriculture and natural resources management OR beginning farmers and ranchers (must be farming/ranching for less than 10 years).
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Download and mail or email your application to the following:
Southwest Indian Agricultural Association, Inc. 1664 E. Florence Blvd Ste. 4-434 Casa Grande, Arizona 85122-4779
Email: swiaainc@gmail.com -
SWIAA will provide lodging and travel stipends so more participants can complete this unpaid internship. SWIAA will provide $500 in lodging stipend and $175 in mileage stipend.
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Internships will be scheduled based on participant and host farm availability within the 2023 year.
Who Are the Host Farms?
The San Xavier Cooperative Farm - Tohono O’odham Nation
The SXCF is a cooperative farm in the Tohono O’odham Nation, 30 minutes south of Tucson, AZ. They focus on healthy farming practices as well as traditional foods and crops. They grow all-natural hay, have vegetable and traditional crop production, and manage a desert harvester program for the community. More info can be found on their website.
Nalwoodi Denzhone: Strength and Beauty Community - San Carlos Apache Nation
NDC is a non-profit organization based in the San Carlos Apache Tribe outside of San Carlos, AZ. They focus on offering revitalization services to the community through holistic programs. They currently have a 1 acre regenerative farm plot, as well as 250 chickens in a mobile chicken tractor. They are developing a local food store and currently have a community center and community kitchen, and they also manage a food pantry. More information can be found on their website.
Painted Desert Demonstration Projects, Inc - Navajo Nation
The PDDP is a non-profit organization that operates just outside the Navajo Nation near Flagstaff, AZ. They manage the only off-grid charter school in the country, STAR School, as well as a community well house. They are working on developing a Food Hub with a local food store, and currently coordinate with various farms in the area to source local produce for the students. They also produce a small amount of produce in greenhouses and a small educational garden.
Colorado River Indian Tribes Farm - Colorado River Indian Tribes
The CRIT farm is located in Parker, AZ, and is operated by the Tribe. Revenues from the large commercial operation benefit the local community. They operate thousands of acres as efficiently as possible, utilizing flood and drip irrigation throughout the operation.