Education Programs

Welcome to the Education section of the Fresh Harvest 365 website.

Here, you can explore our innovative training programs designed to

empower individuals with skills in sustainable agriculture and

hydroponic farming. Choose from the tabs below to learn more

about each program.

F.A.R.M. PreApprenticeship

Fostering Ag Resilience through Mentorship

The F.A.R.M. (Fostering Ag Resilience through Mentorship) Pre-Apprenticeship is a collaborative initiative between Fresh Harvest 365 and Bayer, designed to provide hands-on career experience in agriculture for individuals from underserved communities. This program serves as a preparatory step toward full apprenticeships in hydroponic and sustainable farming, building a talent pipeline for the agriculture industry.

Focused on diverse participants from St. Louis and regional universities, F.A.R.M. combines e-learning with practical on-the-job training to foster interest in agriculture careers. The program addresses the need for skilled talent by offering exposure to STEM-based agricultural practices, such as data collection and field assessments

Structure and Duration

Includes approximately 210 hours of e-learning courses (aligning with our Hydroponic Farmer Technician curriculum) as a foundational pre-apprenticeship phase, leading to opportunities for extended on-the-job training (up to 3,000 hours in full apprenticeship).

The pilot ran in summer 2024 with about 30 students, expanding in 2025 to include around 40 community college and university students.

Participants

Target Audience

Targeted at students from diverse backgrounds, primarily in St.

Louis and surrounding areas.

Work Locations

Participants work at Bayer Crop Science locations, such as

Jerseyville and Monmouth, Illinois; Chesterfield, Missouri;

Urbandale, Iowa; and Whitestown, Indiana.

Training Components

E-Learning (Pre-Apprenticeship

Focus)

210 hours covering agriculture

fundamentals, hydroponics, food safety,

environmental controls, and technical

skills like electrical, HVAC, and plumbing

maintenance.

Hands-On Experience

Work side-by-side with Ph.D.-level

scientists on tasks like collecting

phenotype data, performing field

assessments, planting, measuring plant

development, taking tissue samples, and

tracking data. Emphasis on Plant

Physiology and high-quality data delivery

in areas like Breeding, Biologics, and Plant

Biotechnology.

Support Services

Provided by St. Louis non-profits,

including transportation, housing,

mentoring, and workplace readiness.

Outcomes and Benefits

Participants gain practical skills and career exposure, leading to increased enrollment in ag programs (e.g., from 16 to nearly 100 students in St. Louis University City School District's Ag track for 2024/25).

F.A.R.M. Program & Bayer Crop Science Partnership

F.A.R.M. (Fostering Ag Resilience

through Mentorship)

Pre-Apprenticeship and Apprenticeship program for high school

and postsecondary students.

Structure

8-week PreApprenticeship (online/self-paced), 15-month

Apprenticeship; 95% retention rate; 98% of participants from

underserved backgrounds.

Bayer Crop Science Collaboration

Real-world job placements431 in 2024 and 45 total in 20254

mentorship, and career exposure across Midwest sites.

Student Benefits

Industry certifications, direct job placement, and long-term

career support.

Regional Expansion

IM IIN

Initiative

The program expands regionally through "IM IIN" initiative, opening opportunities in Illinois, Missouri, Indiana, Iowa, and Nebraska by end of 2025. Graduates are prepared for full apprenticeships and careers in agriculture, contributing to food security and industry innovation.