Caney Fork Farms Geospatial Intern, Summer 2026

Please note:  Your résumé MUST be approved by a CCI Peer Career Advisor in order to apply in Handshake. (If your résumé was approved last year and updated with new experiences, it remains valid.)

Internship Site: Work will take place at Caney Fork Farms in Carthage, TN. Caney Fork Farms is a regenerative and organic farm that integrates livestock grazing with row crop and vegetable production. This internship is fully in-person, on site.    

Description: The geospatial intern will spend 40% of their time working alongside the farm team on livestock care, crop production, and sales and marketing of farm products.   

Sixty percent of the intern’s time will be allocated towards geospatial research. This will include exploring the relationship between satellite/drone imagery, weather conditions/forecasts, and the timing of livestock grazing rotations. The goal of this work is to provide decision support tools for farm managers interested in optimizing pasture resources, increasing habitat and biodiversity, and supporting soil health. Additionally, the intern will be asked to produce ad hoc maps or spatial analysis for farm or research related activities.

 Desired qualifications/skills/coursework:

• Successful completion of coursework in GIS (including experience with ArcMap or QGIS). Experience with raster analysis techniques desirable. Experience with remote sensing also desirable.
• Prior coursework and interest in any of the following areas; regenerative agriculture, food systems, geography, and environmental sciences. Course work in soils, hydrology, botany, and/or ecology a plus.
• Position requires a self-motivated, highly organized individual with attention to detail. Flexibility is also important, with the ability to maintain focus while performing a diverse set of tasks.
• An ability to work under adverse field conditions (adverse terrain in hot, humid and/or rainy weather).  This is a boots-on-the-ground farm and field research opportunity.

Supervision: The student will work closely with and be under the direct supervision of Emily Stutzman (head of research and outreach at CFF), and Charlie Bettigole, Director of Experiential GIS at Middlebury. While assigned to work alongside the sales and marketing team, livestock team, and veggie team, the student intern will report directly to the heads of those departments. 

Dates and Duration:

The intern will be expected to work 35 hours/week for 10 weeks. Start times for work are set by the department heads and are responsive to weather conditions. Starting and ending dates are flexible but generally go from June 8th to August 14th. 

Compensation: 

A stipend of $5000 will be provided from the Churchill Fund. Housing near the farm in Carthage, TN will be arranged by Caney Fork Farms.

Deadline for Application:

Please submit a cover letter and resume via Handshake by February 19th, 2026

Questions about the internship can be directed to Emily Stutzman (emily@caneyforkfarms.com) or Charlie Bettigole (cbettigole@middlebury.edu).
 

This internship is supported by the Robert Churchill Memorial Internship Fund.  The fund was created in memory of Professor Bob Churchill, the founder and director of the GIS program at Middlebury College, who trained more than 900 students in different aspects of GIS and cartography.  Many of these students are now leaders in the field.

The CCI Select Internship Program offers Middlebury students the opportunity to take part in impactful, hands-on internships across the U.S. and around the world. Each position is chosen for its strong mentorship, meaningful learning outcomes, and potential to help students explore career interests in a real-world setting.

• Funding: Interns receive a $5,000 CCI award to support their summer experience.
• Requirements: Your résumé must be CCI-approved to apply. Selected interns must participate in all cohort meetings and complete pre-internship forms, a post-internship evaluation, and a donor thank-you letter.
• Eligibility: Open to returning Middlebury students. Seniors graduating in May 2026, students not enrolled in Spring or Fall 2026, and those planning to transfer are not eligible.

These internships are made possible through the generosity of Middlebury College donors who believe in the power of experiential learning.

Explore your interests. Gain experience. Make an impact — with CCI Select.