Internship Opportunity Announcement
The Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture is announcing two
openings for interns at its Stewardship Ranch, near Poteau, Oklahoma,
beginning June 2008 and ending December 2008. These positions
are the first such opportunities in what is planned as a long-term
educational program to develop a School of Sustainability.
Interns will be integrated into the broad educational program of
the Kerr Center and will contribute to the development and delivery
of information services to clientele.
Position Description:
Interns will spend about 20%-30% of their time reading, studying,
and discussing assigned literature, as well as researching and
writing on topics relevant to sustainable agriculture and supportive
of Kerr Center’s work. The remainder of the time
will be spent on a diversity of hand-on activities, most of which
will involve management intensive grazing, management of
Kerr Center’s Pineywoods cattle—a heritage breed—and
care of meat goats involved in a cooperative study underway with
Oklahoma State University. Interns will spend somewhat
less time on horticultural projects also being developed as part
of the School of Sustainability. These projects include
organic soil building, sorghum syrup making, and working with
heritage plant varieties, including seed-saving.
Interns are expected to work and study a minimum of 40 hours each
week. The standard work week at the Kerr Center is 8:00 am–5:00
pm, Monday—Friday. However, the needs of livestock
and crop management, plus the scheduling of educational events
will require some evening and weekend time. Flexibility of
scheduling should be expected. Supervision will be provided
by the Kerr Center’s internship coordinator and the staff
managing livestock and other project areas.
Qualifications: Applicants:
- Must be U.S. citizens, at least 18 years of age, interested
in sustainable agriculture.
- Must have a valid U.S. driver’s license and provide their
own transportation to and from Kerr Center headquarters.
- Must be in good physical health and able to do moderate physical
labor (e.g. lift 50 lbs)
- Must have basic computer and communication skills
Preference will be given to permanent or temporary residents of
Oklahoma or Arkansas, who are enrolled in graduate or undergraduate
degree programs in agriculture and seek credit for their experience
at the Kerr Center.
Compensation:
Interns will be provided with a stipend of $600/month plus an allowance
for housing and utilities. Assistance in locating housing
in one of the nearby communities will be provided.
For Further Information, contact either:
George Kuepper
Internship Coordinator
Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture
P.O. Box 588
Poteau, OK 74953
918-647-9123
gkuepper@kerrcenter.com
Mary
Penick
Pineywoods Cattle Manager
Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture
P.O. Box 588
Poteau, OK 74953
918-647-9123
mpenick@kerrcenter.com
Background:
The Kerr Center is a 501 (c)(3) non-profit educational foundation
established in 1985. The home office, farm, and ranch are located
near Poteau in southeastern Oklahoma. The Kerr Center also operates
a historical farm and museum near Sallisaw, Oklahoma.
The Kerr Foundation was established in 1965 from the estate of
Senator Robert S. Kerr. The agricultural division of that entity
served farmers and ranchers until 1985. In that year, the Kerr
Foundation was separated into four new foundations. The "ag
division" became the Kerr Center for Sustainable Agriculture,
continuing and expanding upon its primary work of educational outreach
to Oklahoma farmers and ranchers.
Current programs of the Kerr Center include: Oklahoma Producer
Grants, Public Policy Institute, Stewardship Farm, Education/Communications,
and the Overstreet-Kerr Historical Farm. The Oklahoma Food Policy
Council is a joint project of the Kerr Center and the Oklahoma
Department of Agriculture, Food, and Forestry.
The Kerr Center believes that sustainable agriculture must be
socially equitable, profitable for producers and ecologically sound.
The Kerr Center values and supports the family farm structure of
agriculture, a fair playing field for independent farmers and ranchers,
public research for the public domain, the enhancement and protection
of natural resources, respect for nature, local food systems and
better communities.
For general information on the Kerr Center, write us at P.O. Box
588, Highway 271 South, Poteau, OK 74953. Our phone number is 918.647.9123;
fax is 918.647.8712; e-mail is mailbox@kerrcenter.com. You
can also visit our Web site: www.kerrcenter.com/
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