white oaks school farm

At White Oaks School Farm, we exist to bridge the gap between learning and doing - empowering the next generation of professional farmers to gain real-world confidence, skill, and purpose. As the first training school in the United States to be backed by the Market Gardener Institute’s Masterclass, we combine this proven, world-renowned curriculum with immersive, hands-on education in the field.

2026 market garden farming training progrAM

Join the first Market Gardener Institute backed farm training cohort in USA.

Have you been dreaming of becoming a farmer? Escaping your desk job to be outside and run your own business? Or perhaps you are inheriting land, and want to explore viable agriculture strategies when the land changes hands.

Whether you are a seasoned farmer or new to growing, White Oaks School Farm is designed for those who want to learn how to build, operate, and sustain successful small-scale farms using the market gardening method.

  • Market garden methods are learned in the field, where participants gain real-world experience:

    • Building growing beds and hoop houses

    • Installing irrigation systems and greenhouses

    • Designing efficient farm layouts

    • Developing wash/pack facilities

    • Marketing and managing farm operations

  • Graduates of White Oaks School Farm are backed by Market Gardener Institute’s Masterclass Certification - a profitable and proven method of small scale, biointensive, and organic farming.

  • Graduates of White Oaks School Farmare prepared to take the next step toward independent market garden farming. With practical training, real-world experience, and ongoing support, we help farmers move from education to enterprise - offering pathways that can include land leasing at White Oaks Farms, or support for locating suitable acreage for lease or purchase.

WHAT YOU GAIN:

  • White Oaks Farms provides access to 115 acres of agricultural land, including the original dairy barn, pole barn, and other on-site infrastructure and tools.

    Uniquely accessible to Stillwater, Twin Cities metro, and surrounding towns, participants have a number of options for living accommodations throughout the program.

    Additionally, successful graduates of the program will have priority option to lease land at White Oaks Farms, and maintain access to shared resources and market.

  • As the first farm training school backed by the Market Gardener Institute, White Oaks School Farm participants are receiving education and in-the-field experience backed by a proven method and internationally-recognized organization, the Market Gardener Institute.

    As graduates of this program, you will be connected in to a network of growers and farms across the world, all committed to changing the landscape of food, farming, and stewardship.

  • As a working farm and school, White Oaks Farms pools resources for school participants and graduates, with access to tools, mentors, markets, and marketing.

    Graduates are welcome to continue on as a leader for future cohorts, seek employment in their area of expertise at White Oaks School Farm, or propose their own growing operation through leased land opportunities.

why white oaks school farm:

PROGRAM OPTIONS:

  • 9-Month Masterclass Apprenticeship

    A full-season, immersive experience covering every aspect of small-scale farming, from soil to sales.

  • 3-Month Seasonal Intensive Internships

    Focused seasonal sessions in spring, summer, or fall, ideal for those seeking specific experience or schedule flexibility.