Shepherd Student Farm
Shepherd Student Farm is an educational demonstration farm part of the Shepherd University Agricultural Innovation Center (SUAIC), which provides students and community members the opportunity to learn about small-scale sustainable agricultural production and agricultural business management through hands-on experiences located at the 160-acre historic Tabler Farm.
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What we do
The Shepherd Student Farm currently operates a 1-acre mixed fruit and vegetable production plot. All agricultural practices on this farm fall under organic guidelines and focus on soil regeneration. This site is the primary learning space for the various educational programs offered by the Shepherd University Agricultural Innovation Center. The farm offers employment and training opportunities to students and contributes to the local food system. Being part of a public university, we take competition with local farms very seriously and only engage in markets that are actively in need of new produce vendors. All funds and sales raised by the Shepherd Student Farm are used directly for operational costs such as supplies (seeds, soil, tools) and seasonal labor. Our current partners and selling outlets include:
- Shepherdstown Shares Food Pantry
- Shepherd University Ram Pantry
- Charles Town Farmers Market
- WVU Fam to You
- Community Garden Market of Shepherdstown
Involvement Opportunities
- Sustainable Agriculture academic program
- Bachelor of Science for Environmental Studies with a concentration in Sustainable Agriculture and Resource Management
- Register for the course ENVS 461 to receive elective credits to work on the farm
- Small Business Incubator Farm program
- If accepted, gain access to 1/4-1/2 acre of fenced in land with well access, plus so much more!
- Public workshops and events
- Visit our events page and follow our social media pages to stay up to date on current offerings.
- Work on the farm through Student Federal Work Study, seasonal farming positions, AmeriCorps service, or volunteering
- Priority for seasonal employment opportunities goes to Shepherd University students, though community members are encouraged to inquire.
