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Sustainable Food and Bioenergy Systems Program 400 Level Internship - Summer 2011 Informational Meeting Slide 2 Agenda for Meeting: Overview of SFBS Internship Purpose, eligibility criteria, requirements for completion, academic expectations. Internship Placement Process Prospective Internship Sites Established Q&A Students Complete SFBS Internship Preliminary Questionaire Slide 3 Overview of Internship Purpose of Internship: The 400 level internship extends the teaching and learning of the Sustainable Food and Bioenergy Program beyond the classroom, providing hands-on experiential education, and addressing real issues in practical yet innovative ways. The 400-level internship connects SFBS students to professionals working in various areas of the Montana food system, and allow for expanded networking and mentorship for students. The 400-level internship provides an avenue for SFBS students to learn from and provide service to Montana food/energy systems professionals and organizations. Slide 4 Internship Eligibility Criteria: Previously completed THG Practicum or 200 level SFBS internship Completion of junior year in SFBS curriculum Plan for enrollment in SFBS Capstone immediately following internship Good academic standing Recommendation from your advisor Completion of internship application packet with proper signatures Slide 5 400 Level Internship at a glance 3-credits - minimum of 135 hours (Note: some internship hosts may be looking for bigger commitment than this minimum). Summer is typical timing. Internship must be followed by SFBS capstone course in the fall semester following internship. Paid or unpaid??? Depends on arrangement with mentor/host site. Slide 6 At a glance (continued) Internship components include: Day to day tasks assigned by mentor Clearly defined learning outcomes for the internship experience Independent project - conducted during internship and further processed during Capstone course. Commitment to ethical behavior and solid work ethic. Slide 7 Slide 8 Vilicus Farm Location: North of Havre, Mt Overview: Organic dryland grain, oilseed production. New farm. Mentors: Doug Crabtree Anna Jones-Crabtree Slide 9 Purple Frog Gardens Location: Whitefish,MT Overview: Purple Frog Gardens is a small sustainable market farm, located in Whitefish, Montana. The garden sells at farmers markets as well as to local grocers and restaurants. Mentor: Pam Gerwe Slide 10 Slide 11 Montana Department of Agriculture Location: Helena, MT Overview: The Montana Department of Agriculture is the state agency responsible for more than 30 programs related to farming, ranching, food entrepreneurship, consumers, the environment, and agricultural business marketing and practices in Montana. Mentor: Nancy Matheson, Special Projects Coordinator Slide 12 Slide 13 Alternative Energy Resources Organization (AERO) Location: Helena, MT Overview: AERO is a grassroots nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting individual and community self reliance through programs that support sustainable agriculture, renewable energy, and environmental quality. Mentor: ?? Slide 14 Slide 15 Field Day Farms Location: Bozeman, MT Overview: Field Day Farms was founded in 2008 in Bozeman, MT by Mariann Van Den Elzen in cooperation with local landowners and community members. We grow vegetables, fruits and herbs for Bozeman and the surrounding communities while preserving viable, working, open space lands. Mentor: Mariann Van Den Elzen Slide 16 Slide 17 Quinn Farm Location: Big Sandy, Montana Overview: - Organically grown wheat, including khorasan, durum, hard red winter and soft white, and buckwheat on 4,000 acres - Barley, flax, lentils, alfalfa (for hay and green manure) and peas (for green manure) - Processing and direct-marketing of organic grain - Dryland vegetable production Mentor: Bob Quinn Slide 18 Slide 19 Farms for Families Location: Livingston, MT Overview: Farms for Families is a nonprofit organization dedicated to promoting the consumption of locally-grown food, preserving farmland in urban growth areas, and providing resources and training for farmers interested in market gardening. Mentor: Mark Rehder Slide 20 Slide 21 Timeless Seeds Location: Ulm/Conrad, Montana Overview: Timeless was created in 1987 by four organic farmers to market the production from our own farms. Now we help support dozens of organic family farmers throughout Montana and the surrounding region with soil-building crop rotation options and new markets for their quality crops. Mentor: David Oien Slide 22 Slide 23 Prairie Heritage Farm Location: Conrad, Montana Overview: Prairie Heritage Farm seeks to honor the heritage of the native prairie, Montanas agriculture, and natural diversity of both animal breeds and plant varieties. The farm (2009 stats) consists of 15 acres of field crops (wheat varieties and lentils), acre of vegetable production, 5-acre turkey pasture catering to 86 heritage turkeys. Mentors: Jacob and Courtney Cowgill Slide 24 Slide 25 Mission Mountain Market Food Enterprise Center Location: Ronan, Montana Overview: Mission Mountain Food Enterprise Center (MMFEC) is a full-scale, shared use, food processing facility that is utilized by many emerging food businesses. Mentor: Jan Tusick Slide 26 Slide 27 Montana Food Bank Network Location: Missoula, Montana Overview: The MT Food Bank Network is a nonprofit organization working to eliminate hunger in Montana through food acquisition and distribution, education, and advocacy. Mentor: Peggy Grimes, Director Slide 28 Slide 29 B-Bar Ranch Location: Big Timber, Montana Overview: B-Bar Ranch is an organic sustainable beef operation that markets primarily in the state of MT. The cattle ranch focuses on the preservation and protection of the White Park Cattle Breed. Mentor: Wes Henthorne Slide 30 Slide 31 Next Steps: Complete the SFBS Internship Interests Questionaire Really contemplate what setting you want to do your internship in ask yourself, what do you hope to learn/gain from your internship experience? Attend the Meet and Greet with mentors - February 8 th (in conjunction with MSUs local food fair) Submit your list of your top three internship sites to SFBS Program Coordinator Internship matching will occur in early spring Complete full internship agreement form Start communicating with mentor regarding logistics for summer experience. Slide 32 Questions?