Spending summers working on the farm is a growing trend among college students. These summer jobs take the form of apprenticeships or internships and provide challenges for both workers and farm owners. Students unfamiliar with the rigors of farm life find it challenging to adjust to early wake-up times and intensive labor.

The trend stems from an increased interest in organic farming. State organizations that oversee farm internships have seen applications double and triple over the last year. Students studying food policy and distribution use the programs to expand their knowledge of the agricultural system, from the ground up (Kim Severson, "New-Age Agrarians," The Columbus Dispatch, June 11, 2009).