Uncompahgre Farms was founded by two first-generation ranchers- we have been graced with so much help and encouragement since we started out and it’s of utmost important to us to pay it forward and provide learning opportunities for others!

We work hard, laugh often, and adapt to the needs of the landscape and the herd, and we’re looking for honest and hard-working individuals interested in learning about sustainable land management, animal husbandry, horsemanship, regenerative ranching practices, and conservation. We appreciate common sense, direct and open communication, flexibility, safety mindedness and willingness to learn. If you’re interested in spending your summer learning about regenerative ranching and exploring the beautiful Western Slope of Colorado, then this is the opportunity for you!

We are located in Montrose, Colorado, which is nestled in the Uncompahgre Valley, in between the majestic San Juan mountains, the Black Canyon of the Gunnison, and the Grand Mesa, Uncompahgre and Gunnison National Forests. We marvel at unrivaled scenic beauty from every field- sometimes it seems like cows really do get the best views!

We lease our pasture from supportive landowners who value regenerative agriculture and want to continue to see their land improved and quality food produced. We are also lucky enough to work with several ranches across the Western Slope. We value collaboration, sharing ideas and lessons learned, and pitching in on the big days- because many hands make light work! We don’t have all the answers, but we hope that by providing you with a well-rounded understanding of how many different operations are run, you’ll be able to find what works best for you and your own context!

Responsibilities 

Interns will wear many hats and be expected to help where needed. While no day will be typical, work days will be 10-14 hours in any and all weather, as the animals need tending rain or shine. Duties will vary daily, and may include moving cattle (with long hours in the saddle), animal husbandry, irrigating, harvesting hay, invasive weed control, fence work, prescribed burns, thinning, and other regenerative practices that will help improve the landscape. You will also attend occasional farmers’ markets, design and conduct a research or business project, practice recording measurements for long-term monitoring, and participate in meetings and event planning (for music and film festivals). We try to involve you as much as possible in all aspects of the ranch so that we can give you a solid foundation for starting your own enterprise. We hope these diverse responsibilities will help provide a well-rounded foundation for understanding how sustainable food is raised from field to fork.

Adaptive Management

While this is our fourth year hosting interns, every team brings different skills and interests, so we try to tailor our curriculum to both your interests as well as the needs of the land and animals- practicing adaptive management not just of the ranch, but of ourselves! We also value feedback, as that’s a great way for us to learn and grow! Please maintain open and honest communication about what’s working and what needs improvement. In return, we promise unrivaled scenery, hard work, and unique experiences, and look forward to working with you!