Raleigh City Farm, a nonprofit urban farm in Raleigh, North Carolina, envisions a healthy community supporting the next generation of farmers. In service to this vision, our internship program launched in 2020 to provide training opportunities to aspiring farmers. It has graduated more than fifty interns since its inception.

Our partnership with The North Carolina State Grange began in 2023 and includes membership engagement, volunteering, and financial contributions to ensure our sustainability. Capitol Grange has pledged to underwrite a portion of our internship program in 2026. This allows us to increase participant stipends and broaden the program’s accessibility.

To get a better understanding of the impact of this program on its participants, Summer 2025 intern Rachel Johnson shares her experience below. We are deeply grateful for this partnership that advances our mission to connect and nourish our community through regenerative agriculture.

“In my time at Raleigh City Farm, during their Fall 2025 internship program, I gained ~2,000 hours of hands-on experience at a growing, community driven, regenerative nonprofit urban farm. This experience developed my understanding of what it truly means to be a farmer. It wasn’t long after I started when I realized how vital interns are to advancing Raleigh City Farm’s mission and strategy through the work we do. From maintaining soil health to assisting volunteers, and everything in between, it all directly contributed to the farm’s efforts to strengthen the community, address food insecurity, and provide accessible agricultural education. At the same time, I was developing practical skills in sustainable farming. This experience not only deepened my understanding of sustainable agriculture but also highlighted the ongoing need for education and outreach to promote sustainable practices in urban and suburban settings.

Raleigh City Farm’s work aligns with the evolving vision of the NC Grange. Both the farm and the Grange recognize that agriculture today doesn’t only belong in the rural setting, but, if not more so, in our growing urban and suburban spaces. To make space for a community with diverse backgrounds to contribute to and benefit from the land, however big or small. Through education, volunteering, and community engagement, both organizations create ways for individuals to become active participants in agriculture while fostering stewardship, responsibility, and connection to the land. I am grateful for my time interning at Raleigh City Farm, their program has grown my passion for agriculture, paired with education, hands-on experience, and guidance, transforming my skills into tangible, meaningful work, and a lasting dedication to caring for both land and community.

As we continue to move toward sustainable change, programs like this internship are essential for preparing the next generation of farmers and land stewards. My experience at the farm has given me a strong foundation in sustainable agriculture, as well as insight into the systems, values, and teamwork needed to grow food responsibly and ethically. With NC Grange’s support, more interns like me will have the opportunity and access to this style of training, helping cultivate skilled, values-driven growers who can carry these lessons forward. Through this partnership, the farm continues to grow both crops and leaders, building strong food systems and cultivating a love for the land that will benefit communities across the greater Raleigh city area.

I believe that together, we are rediscovering our connection to the food we eat, gaining a deeper appreciation for its origins, and working to heal our environment.” ~ Rachel Johnson, Summer Intern 2025

How Raleigh City Farm and NC Grange Are Growing Future Farmers

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