05/12/2026
In 2025, Apryl joined the Oregon Farm Corps Apprenticeship Program, where she worked and trained at Sweet Union Farm in Southern Oregon. Through hands-on farm experience, educational classes, and mentorship, she gained the skills and confidence to begin building a future in farming.
Before joining the program, Apryl had spent her career as a teacher and never imagined a different path was possible. Having moved from Texas in October of 2024 she was seeking something new.
“I did some research and I found Oregon Farm Corps and thought this is incredible - and that is how I discovered and joined the program. Katie Swanson is the owner of the Sweet Union Farm and she was a former teacher like myself so she understood my brain and how I operated and functioned and essentially what made me leave the classroom. The way she went about teaching was incredible. It was always a learning experience. There were a lot of challenging moments - the exhaustion and working in all types of weather, heat, cold, rain, hail… it was challenging in that aspect but also super rewarding to see. I put these things in the ground and they’ve grown! I’ve been able to harvest things and provide them to the community - that whole process was incredible.”
This season, Apryl will be helping a local farm while building plans for her own small farm stand with produce, fruit, and duck eggs grown on her land.
“I am fully in and fully invested and definitely see myself full time farming in the future. If it wasn’t for the scholarship, I would not have been able to do the program at all. It truly changed my life.”
Your support of the Future Farmers Fund helps beginning farmers like Apryl access life-changing education, mentorship, and hands-on agricultural training! Help ensure farmer training is accessible to all aspiring farmers - donate today at Oregonfarmcorps.org/donate
