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Reports to: Goat Dairy Herd Manager  

Job Status: Seasonal Intern, 15 hours per week  

Compensation: $400 upon completion of internship, plus a weekly share of veggies from the farm, as well as raw goats milk and cheese as supply allows. Qualifies for credit at the university level. ***If you are interested in working multiple consecutive dairy internships (e.g. Summer + Fall), we may be able to provide a higher stipend for the extended commitment.  

Location: Boulder, CO  

Check out our Internship Digital Booklet!  

 

Growing Gardens’ mission is to cultivate community through regenerative urban agriculture. Our programs empower people of all ages, income levels, and abilities by connecting them with their local food system, each other, and the environment.  

Our organization values the diverse skills and individuals that come together to create a thriving community and workplace. We are committed to the work we do, and bring our best selves each day, but we don’t take ourselves too seriously, have fun, and enjoy the process of doing good in our community. We take care of each other and put people at the center of everything we do.  

Goat Dairy Interns gain incredible hands-on experience working with our animals and land through a regenerative lens. We emphasize humane animal husbandry, raw milk production, rotational grazing, and community education. Goat Dairy Interns improve their skills with farming through training, practice, reflection, and feedback. Goat Dairy Interns spend most of their time directly involved with our animals, volunteers, and program participants learning and teaching about the goats and their role within our organization.  

Fall Goat Dairy Internship Duties  

The Dairy Intern will support the daily functions of the Growing Gardens’ Goat Dairy with an emphasis on animal husbandry, raw milk production, and rotational grazing. This internship is fast paced and requires hard work, focus, and care. The Dairy Intern will assist the Herd Manager with all aspects of dairy operations including but not limited to:  

 

  • Participate in a combination of morning and evening farm chores. This will include, but is not limited to: setting up electric fencing, moving livestock to and from different grazing locations on the property, ensuring all animals have adequate food and water, cleaning and preparation of barn/yard, restocking hay, trimming hooves  
  • Perform basic veterinary care including administration of vaccines and medicines 
  • Assist with fall breeding program  
  • Track daily herd health and rotational grazing  
  • Assist with various farm infrastructure projects  
  • Work closely with volunteers leading chore shifts  
  • Assist in various educational programs including, field trips, workshops, on-site and off-site events  
  • Learn about the milking process start to finish  
    • *Note: We will train anyone willing to participate in two or more of our seasonal dairy internships on milking the animals. For interns just at the dairy for a single season there will be a milking demonstration and lots of other great hands-on experience with the animals. If an intern is interested in participating for two seasons we can adjust the stipend amount to reflect a longer-term commitment.  
  • Intern will have the opportunity to work with our Growing team at least once a month, assisting with a variety of tasks such as weeding, planting, harvesting, and washing produce for the weekly farm stand  

Knowledge and Skills the Intern Will Develop:  

  • Basic herd health management and tracking  
  • Raw milk distribution using a herdshare program  
  • Food safety protocols and procedures pertaining to raw milk production  
  • Procedures and benefits of rotational grazing  
  • Conflict resolution, volunteer coordination, and communication skills  
  • The opportunity to work in a dynamic team environment with a passionate, committed team  
  • Hands-on experience making a positive impact in the lives of children, teens, and adults 
  • Networking and community connections within the burgeoning local food movement  
  • Development of marketable leadership and management skills  

Structure of Internship:  

  • Internship duration is 11.5 weeks, running August 10th, 2026 - October 30th, 2026 
  • Intern works an average of 15 hrs/wk, including regular weekend shifts  
  • $400 paid upon completion of the internship and qualifies for credit at the university level. 

Intern will be required to attend a mandatory internship orientation on Monday, August 10th from 8:30am - 1:00pm  

  • Intern will be working closely with a mentor from GG staff who will oversee all daily activities; an intern supervisor is available upon request for meetings and provides general oversight of Growing Gardens’ internship program. 
  • Learning Objectives Contract – Developed within the first month of internship. This includes: position description, educational objectives, learning activities, and skill development. 
  • Evaluation – A midpoint evaluation and end of internship evaluation will include intern self-evaluation, supervisor, and mentor evaluation. 
  • This internship qualifies for credit at the university level  

Benefits of Interning with Growing Gardens:  

  • 50% off all GG-grown organic produce at our weekly farmstand June-Oct  
  • Weekly organic veggie share Aug-Oct (valued at $20-$25/wk)  
  • Access to fresh raw goats milk/cheese as season/availability allows  
  • Property is centrally located and easily accessed via public transportation  

Qualifications:  

  • Responsible, dedicated, and organized individual  
  • Able to work effectively, efficiently, and independently  
  • Strong work ethic and passion for animals, agriculture, and developing community  
  • Must be comfortable working with large animals and be able to move the herd to and from grazing areas on a daily basis  
  • Ability to work early morning, evening, or weekend hours and under adverse weather conditions  
  • Physically capable of regular manual tasks, including lifting up to 50 pounds  
  • Some animal husbandry experience is desired, but it is not required for this position  

Growing Gardens prohibits and will not tolerate discrimination or harassment and will take affirmative measures to ensure against them, especially if they are carried out on the basis of race, color, religion, sex, age, marital status, national origin, disability, status as a veteran or disabled veteran, neurodiversity, personal appearance, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, family responsibilities, genetic information, matriculation or political affiliation. This policy applies to all employees or potential employees, volunteers, participants, members of the Growing Gardens Board of Directors, people who serve on Growing Gardens’ committees, and anyone attending Growing Gardens’ events. This policy extends to all aspects of employment at Growing Gardens, including hiring, transfer, promotion, training, working conditions, policies, compensation, evaluation, discipline and termination.  

To apply:  

Applications due by July 15th, 2026, but the position will remain open until filled. Please send a cover letter, a copy of your resume, and two professional references to David@growinggardens.org with your name and “Fall 2026 Goat Dairy Internship” in the subject line. In your cover letter, please share a bit about what interests you about the position, what days/times you are available for this 15 hr/wk internship, and any relevant experience you have with livestock/animal care, farming, or sustainability.  

 

Please contact David Trevino at David@growinggardens.org with any questions.