Submitted Photo Marvin Baker of North Star Farms, Carpio, looks over farm produce with assistant Abigail Kinder. He is one of nine host farmers across the state who will be hosting an intern this season.

For nearly a decade, Marvin Baker has hosted interns at North Star Farms, his sustainable vegetable farm in Carpio. The internships are facilitated by a nonprofit called FARRMS, which supports sustainable agriculture and strengthens local food systems across North Dakota. As Marvin prepares to host another intern for the 2023 season, it is worth examining the impact that FARRMS and its programs can have on the interns, the farmers, and the broader community.

For twenty-three years, FARRMS has provided educational programs, peer support networks, and small loans to help grow successful, sustainable farm enterprises. The organization aims to create more new farmers on the land, more sustainable agricultural practices, and more locally grown food available in North Dakota’s rural communities.

The FARRMS Sustainable Ag Internship Program is a paid learning experience that places interns on small-scale farms to learn from North Dakota farmers. These interns receive a hands-on experience that allows them to gain a deeper understanding of sustainable agriculture and local food systems. They engage in readings, participate in class discussions, create an independent project, and attend farm field days. FARRMS has placed over 85 interns on farms and farmers markets. After completing the program, these interns become farmers, agriculture educators, and food systems builders.

Baker is one of nine host farmers across the state who will be hosting an intern this season, and he is a great example of a successful farmer that FARRMS has supported over the years. His journey with FARRMS started with the Farm Beginnings® program. This program provides resources, connections, and education in business planning to assist new farmers in creating a farm plan that helps them sustain and grow their businesses. Marvin is among nearly 200 farmers who have received business planning education, mentorship, and networking opportunities through this program. The education helped his business grow when, in 2010, he purchased an additional 3.2 acres to keep pace with the demand. Marvin and his wife Ilene take pride in growing a wide variety of fruits and vegetables, including some of the most unusual produce items found in North Dakota.

FARRMS offers programs for everyone, wherever they are in their farming journey. The organization hosts workshops, webinars, and field days year-round, covering topics such as business planning, marketing, financing small businesses, sustainable agriculture methods, and more. These programs are always farmer-led and free or low-cost, making them accessible to all. FARRMS also develops farmer peer networks, pairs experienced and beginning farmers for mentorships and offers micro-loans to help farmers with start-up costs

Marvin’s commitment to sustainable agriculture and local food systems has been a source of inspiration for many farmers in North Dakota, and he has shown that small-scale farming can be a viable business model. He has started three farmers markets, spent 13 years on the North Dakota Farmers Market and Growers Association board of directors, including four consecutive years as president, and is now serving on the Ward County Park Board.

Luckily he is committed to sharing his knowledge. Along with serving as an internship host, he has been a featured speaker at workshops, classes, and events with FARRMS. In 2022, he mentored Jess McInnes Gee while she was taking Farm Beginnings®. Jess says “From my host family to the other interns, FARRMS staff and hosts, I have a lot of valuable people to learn from! I hope to apply all the knowledge and skills I’ve gained to all aspects of my future as I someday build my own farm business from the ground up. Hopefully, I will be able to avoid mistakes because I have heard all about the trials and errors that other farmers have made through their years!”

Sustainable agriculture and local food systems are vital for the health of our planet and our communities. Programs like the Sustainable Ag Internship Program and Farm Beginnings® offer resources, education, and mentorship to aspiring farmers, enabling them to create successful businesses that make a positive impact.

FARRMS is recruiting interns now for summer 2023. Visit farrms.org/aginterns to find and apply for an internship opportunity on a farm near you.

To learn more about how you can get involved go to farrms.org, follow us on Facebook & Instagram @farrms.nd, and sign up for our e-newsletter at bit.ly/farrms_news.