Many programs, like The School Farm sponsored by the Ecology Center of San Francisco, are aimed at teaching high school students about sustainable living and the outdoors. Others, such as The Farm School in Athol, Massachusetts, have programs for both students and adults. The United Nations even operates farm training schools abroad, with 34 field schools aimed at teaching farming skills to orphans in several sub-Saharan African nations.
Each farm training school takes its own approach to teaching its students, with programs of varying duration and intensity. Michigan State University's Student Organic Farm features an in-depth, nine-month program combining classroom lessons with hands-on farming experience. Other training schools have summer programs or short, year-round stints, such as The Farm School's three-day programs, in which students are fully immersed in the day-to-day operations of a working farm.
Depending on the training school, farm programs may balance class work with tending the farm, or they may focus heavily on practical experience. For instance, at the Student Organic Farm, prospective farmers learn about all aspects of farming, including soil management and crop scheduling, as well as the proper way to harvest, market and even price the crops. The Farm School puts the emphasis on hands-on experience, with students doing real farm work and chores.
While every farm training program teaches students about growing crops and taking care of livestock, many offer experiences beyond just basic knowledge. MSU's Student Organic Farm partners with educational and research groups to provide scholarships for organic farmer training and numerous other opportunities. The Farm School sponsors its Chicken Coop School, a small, private middle school that teaches subjects from math and science to art and writing.