For the fifth year in a row, Caney Fork Farms is proud to welcome student interns from Skidmore College to join us for a 10-week summer of learning, soil science, and hands-on farm work in the hills of Middle Tennessee.
This year, we’re thrilled to have two outstanding students: returning intern Evan Robertson and first-time visitor Eleanor Herbert. Both bring fresh energy, curiosity, and commitment to regenerative agriculture.
Meet the Interns: Evan & Eleanor
Evan Robertson, a senior studying environmental science and French, is back for his second summer at the farm. “I was so excited to come back. I love being outside and playing in the dirt, so I feel lucky to get paid for it! Contributing to soil research and participating in organic farming is exactly what I want to be doing,” he shared.
Eleanor Herbert is a junior at Skidmore majoring in environmental science with a minor in biology. She’s especially excited to dive deeper into regenerative agriculture and explore how farmers can remain creative and adaptable in a changing climate. “I am thrilled to be outside and continue the research I do during the year,” she says.
Digging into Soil Health and Nutrient Research
Throughout the summer, Evan and Eleanor will be leading important soil health research as part of our ongoing partnership with SPUN (The Society for the Protection of Underground Networks). Each year, interns collect meter-deep core samples from our fields, which are sent to a lab for analysis. These samples help map and measure the presence of mycorrhizal fungi—tiny underground networks critical to healthy soil, plant resilience, and long-term farm productivity. After the internship, Evan and Eleanor will continue working with the data at Skidmore to further our shared understanding of these vital systems.
New this summer, we’re also collaborating with Ecdysis Foundation to conduct nutrient density testing on our crops. Their team will join us for one of our upcoming Town Halls to help train our staff and interns on how they assess food quality and soil health. These insights will help us better understand how our farming practices affect the nutrient content of the food we grow—and how we can keep improving.
Hands-On Work in Every Department
Beyond the research, Evan and Eleanor will gain experience across our entire farm operation. In the Livestock Department, they’ll help with setting up paddocks, moving animals, and assisting in herd work now that lambing, calving, and farrowing season has wrapped. Along the way, they’ll learn about our Katahdin sheep, Red and Black Angus cattle, and heritage Mulefoot hogs—all raised on pasture as part of our regenerative livestock systems.
They’ll also be a major asset to our hardworking Veggie Team during the busy peak of the growing season. With crops like summer squash, cucumbers, peppers, cabbage, and eggplant ready to harvest, there’s never a dull moment..
Last year, our interns joined the Sales & Marketing Team for a special event with Vine Branch Fellowship's summer camp in Lebanon, TN, helping teach kids about composting and regenerative agriculture. We hope to continue that partnership again this year—with Evan and Eleanor helping lead the next generation in sorting compostable materials and learning simple ways to “farm” at home.
A Summer of Growth—On and Off the Farm
Internships at Caney Fork Farms are more than a learning experience—they’re a chance to build lasting relationships, experience the beauty of a Tennessee summer, and contribute meaningfully to a working regenerative farm.
Please join us in welcoming Evan and Eleanor to the team. We’re grateful to continue our relationship with Skidmore College and are excited to see the impact these two will make in the weeks ahead.