The Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship is the only accredited apprenticeship for farming in the country. Its mission is to provide a guided pathway to independent farm ownership, to develop grazing careers, and to strengthen the economic and environmental well- being of rural communities and the dairy industry.

Led by Willie Gibson, a native Vermonter and UVM graduate with a lifetime of farming and farm consultation work in his background, the Vermont Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program is an “earn while you learn” opportunity. It is composed of 4,000 hours of paid employment and training over two years. Of those hours 3,712 are on the farm under the guidance of an approved Master Grazer. The 288 balance of hours is comprised of courses in farm and pasture management, herd health, milk quality, soils, holistic management, and peer discussion groups, pasture walks, and farming conferences and networking opportunities.

Contact Willie Gibson, Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program coordinator, at (802) 473-2650 or william.gibson@uvm.edu for more information.

Learn more about the national Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship program