Intern & Residency at Shepherd's Cross & Heart of the Shepherd

Intern & Residency - Apprentice Program at Shepherd’s Cross

The internship program began on the farm in 2009. Over 50 interns participated in this practical, educational experience.
Heart of the Shepherd, the non-profit organization that operates at the farm Shepherd's Cross, administers the internship and residency program. This
program at the farm equips participants with basic farming skills and arms them with Biblical references to farming and shepherding.

The overarching objective of the program is to teach an awareness of basic agriculture, develop basic agricultural skills, expose students to the many agricultural parables found in The Bible, and to teach an appreciation for historical agriculture, laced with a healthy appreciation for industrialized agriculture.

Participants learn in the same manner as an apprentice learns, practical experience. Generally, this entails watching the shepherd, practicing with the shepherd, and then performing the activity unassisted.

The farm is primarily a sheep farm, with several hundred sheep, however there are many other activities on the farm and through the ministry, Heart of the Shepherd. The farm also raises Dexter cattle, and is home to horses, donkeys, chickens, at least one goat, lama, alpaca, sheep dogs (LGD), and barn
cats. There are a great variety of activities on the farm that interns assist with including: hay harvest, pecan harvest, walnut harvest, walnut hulling, wool mill, shearing school, fiber arts, Farm Museum, Farm Store, retreats, classes, a Bible Garden which produces vegetables and fruit for farm use and for sale, veterinary outreach events and a Mission Shop. There is a live on site veterinarian and a veterinary care unit for the animals on the farm. Opportunities abound for learning.

Dr. Diane Dickinson, the director for the Internship Program, is an agriculturalist with a Bachelors in Agriculture, a Doctorate in Veterinary Medicine, and over six decades of farm and livestock experience. Following her footsteps each day is sure to include a bountiful harvest of learning.

The Bible Garden is resplendent in Biblical and practical historical gardening. Interns can deepen their relationship with the Lord as they dig in the soil and learn more about the treasures of The Master Gardener.

Internships & Residencies may focus on one of the following:

Sheep and Shepherding Internship: this internship has its primary interest focused on shepherding. The busiest season is the spring season, with many opportunities for learning. Learn what Psalm 23 really means while being the shepherd to the pasture raised flock on the farm. Learn how to give Shepherding Tours, and work in the Farm Animal Barn.
Bible Gardening Internship: Learn about natural gardening for sustainability, train to be a Bible Garden Tour guide, assist with Garden related educational activities in the Farm Museum.
Wool Mill Internship: Learn how to process wool "green" - including washing, carding, spinning, weaving and more. Learn how to give Wool Mill tours and assist with Wool related displays in the Farm Museum.
Farm Museum Internship: The Farm Museum & Educational Silo is an agriculturally based museum with hands on learning activities. The museum is indoors and outdoors. Learn how to manage a museum; assist with upgrading the farm museum, be a farm museum tour guide, and learn how the Bible and agriculture are related.
Heart of the Shepherd Missions and Missions Shop Internship: Emphasis is on the International Mission Shop, on location, and assist with online sale for mission fundraising. Learn how to tell the story of the nations and their needs, and how to maintain online and brick and mortar gift shops.
General Farm Internship or Residency allows for a program participant to remain flexible and learn a great deal in all of the above focus areas.

Steps of the application process:

Submit an application & a resume (if available)
Reference checks
Personal Interview - virtual or onsite
Background Check

Internships are for one semester. Generally, the times are as follows:

Spring Semester January – May
Summer Semester May – Mid-Aug or Early Sept.
Fall Semester Early September - December

Activities of farm life change with the seasons.

The spring semester is the busiest sheep season to intern, as this is lambing season and sheep shearing on the farm. This is also haying season.
The summer semester is the busiest Bible Garden season to intern, as this is the harvest season. This is weaning, season for the lambs, and summer grass range season for the ewes. There is a lot of hands-on activities with the sheep in the summer.
The fall semester is a busy evangelism outreach with the Pumpkin Festival and Living Nativity. This is also pecan and walnut harvest season and haying season.

Other Program Information

Experience is advantageous, but not required.
Internships are full or part time. Compensation for internships may include room, board and a monthly monetary stipend. The stipend is not a salary, and it is performance based.
All participants of the program will assist with maintenance of the farm, special events, mission and outreach, and learn how to lead farm tours, and experience some of every portion of farm life. We work with special focus areas of interest, and yet every program participant will receive a good overall perspective of farm life. Flexibility on the farm is essential, for every day is a new day on the farm.
College credit may be given for our internship program. We have worked with many colleges within and outside of the state.
Interns have come from New Hampshire, California, Colorado, Kansas, South Carolina, Arizona, Georgia, Kansas, Illinois, Texas, Minnesota, Michigan, New York, Kyrgyzstan and Oklahoma.
Many graduate interns have been hired to be a part of the Shepherd's Cross and Heart of the Shepherd team.

Residency Program
Following successful completion of the Internship, the student may apply for the Residency Program. The Residency Program allows the student to remain at the farm for one complete calendar year, experiencing all of the activities of a farm year. If the intern is not able to pursue the residency program immediately following the intern program, arrangements can be made for the residency at a later date. This is beneficial in terms of understanding seed time and harvest, and the Biblical Implications.
For more information drop by and talk to Dr. D., call or email.

Print Application for Interns & Residents

Apply Online Here

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By submitting this form, I certify that my answers are true and complete to the best of my knowledge. If this application leads to employment, I understand that false or misleading information in my application or interview may result in my release.

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Intern & Resident Training & Guidelines

Mission House Lodging

Intern & Resident Guidelines

God gave. . . the shepherds and teachers, to equip the saints for the work of ministry, for building up the body of Christ. Eph. 4:11

Apply Online Here