Programs

To help us identify the "best fit" for your farm or organization, and also to provide greater placement detail for our steward candidates, please review the three Programs offered by MESA before submitting your MESA application:

Core Training Program (CTP):

7.5 months average duration, with an option to extend up to 12 months total. On-the-farm training begins ~April 1 and runs through mid-November.

• Target participants: This is our primary Program for first time stewards, and it's the best choice for smaller-scale sustainable or organic farms and/or farm education centers. Supervised, hands-on, and varied farm activities expose aspiring farm stewards to each level of small farm production, distribution, marketing, etc.
• Program costs: In exchange for 48 hours weekly average of steward training, hosts provide free accommodations and send MESA $1085* monthly Program fees. Host Program fees enable MESA to facilitate the entire Program and provide exceptional benefits for the stewards, including: orientation and exit seminar, J-1 trainee visa documentation, $400/mo. stipends, medical insurance, domestic travel, coordinator support, site visits and career development opportunities. CTP stewards do not pay any money to MESA to participate in the core program. CTP stewards are not authorized for employment/wages. MESA works closely with its Global Partners to secure additional financial support (e.g. English immersion, international airfare, visa fees, home country grants, etc.) to ensure that the aspiring young farmers are not denied for lack of funds. MESA also fund-raises to provide seed grants for eligible stewards to launch home country projects after completing the U.S. program.

*The $1085 monthly fee is for CTP hosts providing both room and board. An additional $100-$250 per month (depending on estimated average grocery costs) will be added to the monthly for hosts that prefer to have their steward buy some or all of their own food. An additional $35 - $100 monthly will be added, depending on location, for placements that require additional domestic travel costs for MESA stewards and coordinators to/from San Francisco.

Next Level Program (NLP):

8 - 12 months duration, the NLP can begin anytime to accommodate the seasonal needs of hosts.

• Target participants: The NLP is for larger-scale sustainable or organic hosts (with equiv. of 7 or more full-time farm employees at the height of their season) wanting to offer "Next Level" management and/or advanced training for MESA stewards who a) successfully completed MESA's regular training Program in a prior year, and b) returned home to pursue an agricultural career.
• Program costs: Unlike the Core Program, NLP Stewards are authorized for temporary employment/wages to support their advanced training. Hosts process payroll and collect state and local taxes on all wages paid to NLP Stewards just as they would for other employees, however MESA Stewards & Hosts are exempt from Social Security and Medicare (FICA) taxes.
• NLP Hosts send MESA a sliding scale J1 visa sponsor fee of $175-$225/month, depending on wages paid (i.e. the higher the wage, the lower the MESA fee). 
• Most NLP Hosts provide free housing; meals are negotiable between Host and Steward.
• NLP Hosts should provide Workers Compensation insurance for NLP Stewards just as they do for other employees.
• NLP stewards pay MESA a $550 Application and Placement fee prior to their U.S. arrival. For NLP candidates who desire to return to their prior placements, we ask hosts to split the fee with them (i.e. repeat hosts are invoiced $225/steward to process MESA applications and issue J1 visa documentation). Stewards pay for their own travel and medical insurance, plus $225-275 monthly U.S. J-1 visa Sponsorship/admin. fee, depending on their hourly wage rate.
• Depending on the level of service provided by MESA's in-country representative, NLP stewards may be changed a fee for their services, not to exceed $300.

Professional Networking Program (PNP):

Anywhere between 3 to 12 months duration, the PNP requires private-public investment between companies and government agencies, or direct corporate sponsorship, for MESA to fully customize and coordinate the specialized training desired by a specific group of participants.

• Target participants: The PNP is aimed at organic corporations, cooperatives and green ag. industries, especially those that can offer management-level training in sustainable supply chains. PNP stewards tend to be further along in their career paths and/or work with NGOs from rural communities.
• Program costs: Program fees and hosting requirements vary by placement. MESA invites the collaboration of corporate sponsors and government agencies to fund the PNP.

Ready to Begin?

Step 1 - Host Application

Slightly different versions of the application are required, depending on your Program choice. Please click on one of the links below to proceed to the appropriate version of the Host Application form:

• CTP - Core Training Program
• NLP - Next Level Program
• PNP - Professional Networking Program

Step 2 - Review Available Steward Applications

Once you have completed Step 1, please email MESA at mesa [at] mesaprogram [dot] org (email MESA). We will verify your references and we'll also send you a non-publicized URL to review current steward applications.

Step 3 - Training Plan

Once you identify a steward candidate(s) you'd like to host, email MESA at mesa [at] mesaprogram [dot] org Tell us how many stewards you'd like to host, plus the names of your 1st, 2nd, and 3rd choice stewards. We will then create and email you a personalized URL to submit your online Training Plan.

Note: Your Training Plan must be submitted before MESA can notify any steward of your hosting offer.

Step 4 (last one!) - Host Agreement & Program deposit

Once MESA a) verifies your references/approves your host application b) receives your Training Plan and c) confirms your Steward(s), we will mail you the Host Agreement Contract to sign and return to MESA. Note: MESA invoices first-time hosts $500/steward as a Program deposit.

If you would like to review or sign/send MESA the Host Agreement in advance, you may Download it now.