College of Agriculture & Natural Resources Department of Horticulture

Regenerative Agriculture Intern

Employment type: Full-Time
Application Due Date: January 31, 2026

The MSU Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center is seeking a Regenerative Agriculture intern through the MSU Extension internship program for summer of 2026.  This is a paid, full-time position located in Chatham, MI with on-site housing available May 11 - July 31, 2026.  Please share this opportunity with any qualified MSU undergraduate students and encourage them to apply through the Handshake link below.  The full position description is below and attached is additional information on the MSUE Internship program.  Let me know if you have any questions!

 

MSU Extension Summer 2026 Internship - UPREC Chatham, MI - Regenerative Agriculture Internship

Job #10498529 • Created on Nov 12, 2025, by Luke Reese • Closes Jan 30, 2026

https://msu.joinhandshake.com/job-search/10498529

 

Application

Application screening starts immediately and ends upon selection of suitable candidate. All selections completed by April 15, 2026. Please apply early. Refer questions to the primary educator listed below. See attachment for all internships and locations.

Internship Name: UPREC Regenerative Agriculture 
Staff Name and Institute: James DeDecker, 989-225-3221, dedecke5@msu.edu,  CFEI
Location: MSU Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center, E3774 University Drive, Chatham, MI 49816
Internship Description: The MSU Upper Peninsula Research and Extension Center is seeking an intern  to assist with regenerative agriculture research and outreach projects at our facility in Chatham, MI and at partner locations across the UP. Our intern(s) will gain experience in beef cattle, field crop, forage, vegetable and hemp production systems and applied research methodologies, while spending the summer on an idyllic farm in Michigan's beautiful Upper Peninsula.Common intern tasks include planting, irrigation, fertilization, pest management, harvest, caring for livestock, data collection, data entry, audio and video production, social media outreach, and direct interaction with researchers, farmers, Indigenous communities, and the general public. This experience will prepare interns for careers in commercial agriculture, applied field research, agriculture and natural resources education, and more. On-site dormitory style housing is available free of charge.
Ideal majors

Crop and Soil Sciences, Horticulture, Animal Science, Biosystems Engineering, Community Sustainability, Agribusiness Management and Agriculture, Food and Natural Resources Education

Expectations and Eligibility

Interns will be matched with an Extension Educator and Specialist team that will utilize the student’s academic preparations to further develop essential career skills. During the internship experience, students work full-time on a substantive faculty-guided project, demonstrations, workshops and participate in professional development activities, including attending seminars and completing periodic writing assignments. Due to the intensive nature of this program, it is expected that students will not enroll in summer coursework or accept other employment during the work week. Taking (1) online course up to 4 credits during the summer would be acceptable. Students may opt to enroll for academic credit in ANR 493 (3 credits) or an appropriate XXX 493 or XXX 293; the student is responsible for any tuition and enrollment fees. Regardless of academic enrollment, all interns will complete the same academic intern reporting including time sheets, weekly reports, mid-internship report and evaluation, final evaluation, and final internship poster. Applicants must meet all the following criteria:

• Is a current MSU or NC A&T undergraduate student thru August 2026,
• Preferably is returning for one or more semesters of undergraduate study after Summer 2026 (i.e., not graduating before December 2026),
• Is eligible for employment in the USA; international students must obtain an appropriate visa,
• Cumulative GPA of 3.00 (on a 4.0 scale),
• Able to commit to full-time employment during the 12-week summer program,
• Have access to reliable transportation, and
• Will be at least 18 years old by May 1, 2026.

Compensation, Housing, Travel, and Other Relevant Information

Students participating in the MSUE internship program are paid $15.00 per hour and typically work 40 hours per week for up to 12 weeks. Participants are employees of MSU and are responsible for applicable taxes. $1,000 will also be provided for operating expenses and business travel; many internship hosts have additional funds available to support programmatic travel. Students are responsible for their own housing unless specified otherwise. In some cases, housing at no-cost is available at MSU Research and Extension Centers. For those travelling from out of state or looking at other internship opportunities, there may be support to cover housing costs. This internship includes dorm style housing. Multiple Michigan geographic regions are available. The start/end dates of the internship are flexible depending on the need of the Extension professional and the schedule of the student. In general, internships will start approximately May 11, 2026, and end July 31, 2026.