Engaging students in exploring a wide range of potential career opportunities and building career skills in agriculture
By partnering with farmer mentors, students will…
- Work with four local farms already engaged in our community
- Steensma Creamery, Alluvial Farms, Small Acres, Cloud Mountain Farm Center
- Farmers will have the opportunity to connect with local high school students from:
- Mt. Baker High School, Nooksack Valley High School, Ferndale High School
- Understand the diversity of work experiences in Ag
- Identify pathways to inspirational careers
- Apply their in-class learning to on-farm realities
- Build a network of trusted farm mentors for potential jobs and internships
- Leverage their CTE courses to be competitive hires for local farm businesses
Learn more about
- Equipment operation
- Facilities management
- Infrastructure building
- Animal husbandry and veterinary
- Value-added production
- General horticulture
- Marketing & Distribution
- Culinary careers and local food procurement
- Food safety compliance
- Harvesting
- Regional food systems
Partner Farms
Small Acres Farm
Diversified 5 acres: certified organic vegetables, fruit, pasture raised eggs, fermented products, pantry goods.
Renewable energy and small farm technology; compost systems and closed-loop farming.
Local food access through Twin Sisters Markets, CSA sales, direct to consumer.
On-farm education and community building
Alluvial Farms
45 acres of pastured pork; whole hog use, with on-farm production of pet treats and body care products.
Ethically raised animals, regenerative and carbon cycling farm practices.
Sustainable land use, mid-scale farming.
Direct to consumer, wholesale, online and on-farm retail.
Cloud Mountain Farm Center
Over 75 varieties of certified organic fruit in diverse orchards and vineyards across 19.5 acres. Variety trials & land use experimentation in soil health and management.
Unique retail nursery with in-house horticultural expertise; propagation and greenhouse management, grafting and field growing.
Photo credit: Connor Harron
Steensma Creamery
200 acres of regenerative dairy production, pastured beef, and land stewardship.
Rotational grazing, soil management, organic practices; land stewardship at the heart of production.
Multi-generational family business producing local skyr yogurt on-farm, selling wholesale, retail, and direct to consumers.
Cloud Mountain Farm Center recently launched Agricultural Career Exploration (ACE) - Whatcom, a program that engages students in exploring a wide range of potential career opportunities and building career skills in agriculture. Cloud Mountain Farm Center is the largest program of Sustainable Connections, a Whatcom County based nonprofit that develops environmental, economic, and educational solutions to drive meaningful, long-term change.
Agricultural Career Exploration (ACE) - Whatcom receives support and funding from a US Department of Labor Career Connect Washington grant. Read more about USDOL grant funding at esd.wa.gov/usdol.
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