Friday, November 21, the application deadline for Public Policy Internships with the Michael Fields Agricultural Institute (MFAI), a non-profit agricultural institute in East Troy. The internships run from January through June. Interns will be based in Madison, the location of MFAI’s Policy Program and be responsible for arranging their own housing, food, computer access and other needs. MFAI expects no less than a 50% time commitment from the policy interns; the weekly schedule of internship hours worked is flexible. The internship pays a $450/month stipend plus certain expenses. For details, download the internship announcement.

Policy interns will assist in coordinating the Fiscal Year 2009 grassroots agricultural appropriations campaign; help assure optimal implementation by USDA of sustainable agriculture programs and provisions in the Farm Bill; work on Farm-to-School provisions in the 2009 Child Nutrition Reauthorizaion; develop new grassroots contacts in key congressional and senate districts nationally and develop similar strategies for Wisconsin grassroots network development; participate in state sustainable agricultural policy development; join policy conference calls of groups such as the National Sustainable Agriculture Coalition; and work as NSAC interns for two weeks in Washington, D.C. Interns will be able to attend a NSAC membership meeting in Washington, D.C. as well as at least one other major movement-related conference. Interns will be able to conduct background research on an agricultural policy topic that both benefits the movement and is of personal interest to them; MFAI will assist them in publicizing and distributing their findings. Interns will have an opportunity to write an opinion editorial and write press releases and/or newsletter articles on policy issues. MFAI’s policy interns will be able to participate to the degree they wish to in MFAI’s other education and training workshops.

Interested applicants should submit a letter expressing reasons for interest in this position, relevant background, a writing sample, names/contact information for three references, and confirmation of housing and other arrangements by Friday, November 21, 2008. (Applicants from out of town may simply note that they understand that they need to make these arrangements and are prepared to do so.) Send applications to Margaret Krome, MFAI Policy Program Director, 2524 Chamberlain Ave., Madison, WI 53705. For more information, contact Margaret at mkrome@sbcglobal.net or (608) 238-1440.