Microgreen and Market Garden Intern

Description

West Wind Farms Indy is a small, family-run urban farm located on a half-acre in Indianapolis. The farm raises chickens, ducks, quail, rabbits, and turkeys for egg and meat production and grows microgreens and a limited amount of garden produce for direct sale at local farmers markets. West Wind Farms Indy emphasizes small-scale, sustainable food production and community connection, with a goal not only of providing healthy food but also of inspiring others to grow and produce food for themselves.

The Microgreens and Market Garden Internship is a paid, seasonal position running from May through October and is designed specifically for high school students enrolled in agriculture coursework. The internship focuses on hands-on training in specialty crop production, farmers market operations, and direct-to-consumer sales. By the end of the internship, the intern will be trained to independently operate the farm’s Saturday farmers market booth, including setup, sales, customer interaction, and breakdown.

During the week, the intern will assist with microgreens production and market garden tasks that support market sales, gaining experience in small-scale food systems from production through distribution.

The intern will be directly supervised and mentored by Mr. Pilarski, farm owner and Animal Agriscience Teacher. Supervision will primarily take place through side-by-side work, daily check-ins, and intentional coaching during both farm production and market activities.

The intern will receive hands-on training in:

• Microgreens seeding, tray preparation, and germination methods

• Harvesting, food safety, sanitation, and storage practices

• Washing, packing, and inventory management

• Farmers market setup and breakdown

• Customer service and communication

• Pricing, display, and basic sales strategies

• Handling payments and managing transactions

The primary learning goals of the internship are focused on workforce readiness and entrepreneurship. By the end of the internship, the student will:

• Develop professional workplace skills such as reliability, communication, problem-solving, and time management

• Gain confidence interacting with customers and the public in a professional setting

• Understand the fundamentals of small-scale agricultural entrepreneurship, including production planning, pricing, and direct marketing

• Learn how farm production decisions connect to sales outcomes and customer demand

• Build real-world experience managing responsibility independently in a supportive, mentored environment

This internship is intended to provide meaningful, real-world agricultural experience that complements classroom instruction and prepares students for future employment or continued education in agriculture, food systems, or small business ownership.

Responsibilities

The Microgreens and Market Garden Intern will participate in a variety of hands-on, skill-building projects designed to support learning in small-scale food production, direct marketing, and agricultural entrepreneurship. Responsibilities will be structured as training experiences with increasing independence over the course of the internship.

Key tasks and projects include:

• Participating in microgreens production cycles, including seeding, germination, harvesting, and post-harvest handling, with an emphasis on understanding food safety, quality control, and production efficiency

• Assisting with planting, harvesting, and preparing limited market garden produce for sale at farmers markets

• Learning to plan and prepare inventory for weekly farmers markets, including understanding how production timelines connect to sales needs

• Setting up and breaking down the farmers market booth, including product display and organization

• Managing customer interactions at the farmers market, including explaining products, answering questions, and practicing professional communication

• Handling point-of-sale transactions and learning basic sales and pricing strategies under supervision

• Independently operating the farmers market booth on Saturday mornings once trained, demonstrating responsibility, time management, and customer service skills

• Tracking basic production and sales information to support reflection on farm operations and decision-making

• Participating in regular check-ins and reflective conversations with the supervisor to discuss progress, challenges, and learning outcomes

The intern’s responsibilities are designed to emphasize learning, mentorship, and skill development.

Qualifications

• Current high school student (age 16 or older) enrolled in agriculture coursework or an approved Career and Technical Education (CTE) pathway

• Interest in agriculture, food systems, or small business/entrepreneurship

• Willingness to learn and take initiative in a hands-on, outdoor work environment

• Ability to communicate respectfully and professionally with customers and community members

• Dependable and able to follow instructions while working both independently and under supervision

• Ability to perform light to moderate physical work, including standing for extended periods and lifting typical market supplies

• No prior farm, market, or sales experience required; training will be provided

Contact Information