Ag Policy Intern
Scholar Program
Open to all majors
Paid Internship
Full-time
Sacramento
The Agricultural Policy Intern Scholar Program offers qualified college students the opportunity to work full-time in a state government regulatory agency, specifically focused on agriculture policy. Launched in 2024, this program allows students to actively observe the unique challenges facing California’s agriculture industry while participating in the administrative operations of the agency.
This summer internship, offered from June to August (8 weeks) in Sacramento, provides placements in various divisions within the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Maddy Interns assist with policy research, draft communications, support outreach initiatives, and contribute to programs like pesticide regulation and food safety.
Important Dates
The application period annually opens in November and closes in December.
Eligilibity
- Must have a 3.0 cumulative GPA or higher.
- Must have completed a minimum of 30 units or be enrolled in a graduate program during the semester of the internship.
- Must be able to work in Sacramento, CA full-time from June to August.
- Must act with the highest degree of professionalism and responsibility.
- Must have a connection to the San Joaquin Valley.
- Open to all majors.
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes! Interns receive $6,000 upon completion of their internship, however a portion of the scholarship will go toward the housing we provide.
Currently, we provide dorm housing for our interns at Sacramento State. This is subject to change depending on the year.
We will reimburse you for a public transit pass or a Sacramento State parking pass.
Our internships are in-person.
Yes! You can apply to any of our open programs, but please note that each program has a separate application.
In summer 2024, we launched our program in partnership with the California Department of Food and Agriculture. Placements are subject to change each summer.
After interviewing applicants, the participating office(s) will send us their top candidates for placement. If selected, we will send an internship offer to you directly.
Once accepted as an intern, we will send you onboarding paperwork and you will be required to attend an orientation at our office. Some offices will require that you complete separate onboarding paperwork in addition to ours.
For our summer internships, you can expect to start in early June and end in early August. You will work with your assigned office supervisor to determine an official start and end date.
Possible intern responsibilities include attending hearings, researching policy issues, drafting communications, supporting outreach initiatives, contributing to programs like pesticide regulation and food safety, and performing general office duties.
You may wish to work with your assigned office supervisor on determining more specialized projects and attending events that pertain to your interests.
First, our internships do not require ANY experience. For this reason, we hold an orientation at our office and provide you with a detailed handbook for extra information before your official start date. The Maddy Institute staff are also a great resource if you have questions!