Tennessee Department of Agriculture Horticultural Internship

The Tennessee Department of Agriculture is seeking two horticultural interns for the summer of 2027, from May 17 through Aug. 13, 2027. The chosen candidates will work alongside the Ornamental Horticulturist at the Ellington Agricultural Center to complete projects that benefit the grounds. This internship provides hands-on experience in public garden maintenance, greenhouse operations and landscape development.

Major Duties

Grounds Management

• Assist with the standard duties of working in a public garden, including garden maintenance and development, greenhouse work, nursery management, propagation, tilling, planting, watering, mulching, weeding and pest management.
• Assist with day-to-day office operations, including scheduling and correspondence.

Other duties may be assigned as needed.

Education Requirements

• Applicants must possess a high school diploma and be currently pursuing a degree in horticulture, landscape horticulture, plant science, agriculture or another related field.
• Recent college graduates, master's students, and doctoral students may apply.
• Students enrolled in coursework that cannot work full time may apply.
• Applicants must be in good academic standing with a GPA of 2.5 or higher.

Essential Knowledge and Required Skills

• Strong interpersonal, communication, and organizational skills
• Ability to plan and execute projects with limited supervision or instruction
• Familiarity with Microsoft Office
• General knowledge and understanding of horticulture, botany or agriculture systems is preferred.

Comments

• This is a paid internship.
• Some travel may be required.
• This internship is part of the TDA's central internship program. Interns may participate in program activities and must complete an improvement project within their assigned division, followed by a presentation to Executive Leadership at the end of the internship term.
• For more information on the Tennessee Department of Agriculture, please visit the TDA website.

Working Conditions

• This position involves work in a public garden and greenhouse environment. The normal work week is Monday through Friday, with hours ranging from 7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Some weekend hours may be required for greenhouse watering. Work involves heavy lifting and exposure to heat, humidity and potential allergens. The intern will interact directly with the public in a professional manner.

How to Apply

Applications will be accepted from Friday, Oct. 9, 2026, through Thursday, Oct. 29, 2026. Applications must be submitted through the Formstack application available on the Tennessee Department of Agriculture's careers page. To be considered for this internship opportunity, you must have the following documents prepared:

• Resume
• Letter of intent
• Most recent transcript
• Two professional letters of recommendation
• DD214 (veteran candidates only)

Questions about this application or any internship opportunity may be directed to Jamye Freeman at Jamye.Freeman@tn.gov.

ALL APPLICATIONS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY THURSDAY, OCT. 29, 2026.