Full Time, March - November
Part Time, December - February

The Teen Farm Fellowship at Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center (CCFEC) is a 9-week program, from June to August, providing place-based, hands-on experiences for participants to learn how to manage a small, organic vegetable farm while developing essential job, team building, and leadership skills.

ABOUT THE POSITION

The Teen Farm Fellowship Lead (TFF Lead) is a year-round role that combines agricultural production work with youth mentorship and farm-based education. This position supports Cedar Circle's mission by contributing to vegetable production throughout the year and by leading a cohort of Teen Farm Fellows in hands-on learning during the summer.

For 9 weeks in the summer, the TFF Lead works with both the Vegetable Production and Education Departments to coordinate the Teen Farm Fellowship program. They are responsible for supervising the Fellows, setting daily and weekly priorities, guiding them in harvest and cultivation tasks, and facilitating experiential learning in the field.

From October to May, the TFF Lead works as part of the vegetable production team, contributing to all aspects of growing and farm operations. This time is intended to deepen their understanding of CCFEC's production systems and ensure they can support and inform best practices on the farm.
 

RESPONSIBILITIES

Crew Coordination (Teen Farm Fellows)

• Coordinate and supervise the daily tasks of the Teen Farm Fellows.
• Establish a positive, nurturing, educational, and motivating work environment.
• Set a productive pace to ensure completion of daily and weekly priorities.
• Mentor, supervise, and support Fellows to ensure smooth program operations.
• Provide a positive and welcoming experience for parents or guardians of the Fellows. 

Farming Duties - During the growing season, outside of the fellowship tenure, this position participates in all production tasks. With experience, responsibilities may expand to include tractor work, crew organization and management, and ownership over certain facets of the farm. 

General Production Work

• Participate in all production tasks to support farm operations throughout the growing season.
• Build knowledge and skills in production farming with increasing responsibility over time.

Core tasks include, but are not limited to:

• Propagation: vegetable propagation; seeding, thinning, watering, grafting, tagging, and organizing retail starts.
• Plant Care: hand weeding, hoeing, manual pest management, pruning, pinching, irrigation support.
• Planting: transplanting (water wheel, bare-root, manual) and direct seeding.
• Harvest: conducting morning and afternoon harvests as required by crop needs.
• Wash/Pack: washing and packing produce, quality control, cooler upkeep.
• General Farm Upkeep: support with farm and facility maintenance.
• Winter Work: contribute to winter farm planning, equipment maintenance, and preparation for the growing season.

Educational Responsibilities

• Plan and facilitate farm-based learning experiences for Teen Farm Fellows, under the supervision of the Education Programs Manager.
• Coordinate and participate in service-learning projects both on-farm and with partner farms, businesses, and organizations.
• Collaborate with other CCFEC departments to deliver skill-building and educational opportunities.
• Mentor fellows ages 15-18 in experiential learning, leadership development, team building, and agricultural literacy.
• Represent Cedar Circle at recruitment events, community programs, and visits to partner organizations.
• Be available for occasional weekend or evening programs and for overtime during the summer season.

Working Conditions & Physical Demands

Work is primarily outdoors in all-weather conditions, including hot sun, wind, rain, and cold, as well as in greenhouses and barns. Physical strength and endurance are required, including the ability to lift 40 pounds regularly. Awareness, respect, and care are necessary when working around equipment and agricultural machinery (tractors and implements).

QUALIFICATIONS

Required

• Experience as an educator or mentor working with teenagers in a classroom, farm, outdoor education, or similar setting.
• Direct experience in agriculture or a closely related field, ideally in production, with familiarity in fast-paced, methodical work environments.
• Positive, energetic interpersonal skills and a passion for mentoring young people and emerging farmers.
• Commitment to creating an inclusive environment and supporting learners with diverse backgrounds and experiences.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills in both professional and educational settings.
• Strong organizational and time-management skills, including clear recordkeeping and note-taking.
• Detail-oriented, with the ability to balance multiple projects and deadlines.
• Ability to take direction, ask for clarification as needed, and give/receive constructive feedback.
• Comfortable working outdoors in all weather conditions.
• Proactive, self-motivated, and able to work independently as well as part of a team.

Preferred

• Experience developing curriculum, lesson plans, or educational programming focused on agriculture, ecology, environmental studies, or related subjects.
• Previous experience in experiential or farm-based education.

Job Requirements

• Must be 21 years of age (required by CCFEC's vehicle insurance policy).
• Valid driver's license.

ABOUT CEDAR CIRCLE FARM & EDUCATION CENTER

Cedar Circle Farm & Education Center is a nonprofit, certified organic farm located on conserved land along the Connecticut River in East Thetford, Vermont. Our organization has a deep commitment to developing regenerative agriculture systems for our fruit, vegetable, and flower production and to offering educational programming that builds connections between our food, ecosystems, and community. On-farm research is ongoing here at Cedar Circle, always informing and guiding our soil health and production practices.