# Grow Dat Youth Farm Core Leadership Program

Paid November-May job on a New Orleans sustainable farm for 48 crew members ages 15-21: grow and share food, plus workshops on farming, food systems, and food sovereignty. $13/hour, applications open through mid-September.

## Key facts

| Field | Value |
| --- | --- |
| Organization | Grow Dat Youth Farm |
| Category | volunteer |
| Cost | Free |
| Deadline | Rolling / check official site |
| Eligibility | Grades 9–12 |
| Format | In person |
| Location | New Orleans, LA |
| Time commitment | ~8 hours/week |
| Apply | https://growdatyouthfarm.org/leadership-programs |

## About this program

# Grow Dat Youth Farm Core Leadership Program

Grow Dat Youth Farm sits on seven acres in New Orleans City Park and runs one of the country's longest-standing paid youth food-justice programs. The Core Leadership Program is where every Grow Dat youth employee starts: 48 crew members from across New Orleans work the farm together from November through May, splitting their time between production farming and structured workshops.

## What You'll Do

- Spend about half your hours on farm work - weeding, transplanting, harvesting, and growing your own food in raised beds
- Share the harvest through Grow Dat's food distribution to historically excluded residents, plus CSA farm shares and Shared Harvest
- Work through three workshop branches: VISIONS (learning and communicating across cultural difference), Farming & Environment, and Systems & Sovereignty
- Practice giving and receiving feedback in a diverse team, and build toward Grow Dat's Advanced Leadership Program, Seed Project, and Crew Leader Fellowship

## Who Should Apply

Anyone 15 to 21 years old in the New Orleans area. Crew members work either Wednesday or Thursday afternoons from 4:30 to 6:30 plus Saturdays from 8:30 to 3:00, November through May, so applicants need a schedule that accommodates a standing weekly commitment across the school year.

## Outcomes

Crew members earn $13 an hour, gain sustainable agriculture skills and a documented work history, and become eligible for Grow Dat's alumni pathways - Assistant Crew Leader at $14-15 an hour, the Seed Project, and the Seed Fellowship - which turn a first job into a multi-year leadership track.

## Frequently asked questions

### How much does Grow Dat Youth Farm Core Leadership Program cost?

Grow Dat Youth Farm Core Leadership Program is completely free — there is no participation fee. Costs like travel or optional materials may still apply; check the official site for details.

### Who is eligible for Grow Dat Youth Farm Core Leadership Program?

Grow Dat Youth Farm Core Leadership Program is open to high school students in grades 9–12. Some programs have additional requirements (GPA, coursework, essays, or recommendations) — the full criteria are on the official site.

### Is Grow Dat Youth Farm Core Leadership Program online or in person?

Grow Dat Youth Farm Core Leadership Program is an in-person program based in New Orleans, LA. Expect a time commitment of roughly 8 hours per week.

### How do I apply to Grow Dat Youth Farm Core Leadership Program?

Apply directly through Grow Dat Youth Farm's official website. ExtracurricularHub links to the official application — we list and verify programs but don't process applications.

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Last updated: 2026-07-28.
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