AMI FARM FELLOWSHIP PROFESSIONAL REFERENCE
You have been asked to provide a professional reference for an applicant to the AMI Farm
Fellowship program. It is important that you try to describe the applicant as concretely and
objectively as possible. This information will not be shared with the applicant and no applicant will
be judged solely on the basis of a single evaluation.
AMI Farm Fellowship applications will not be reviewed until they are complete and invitations to
interview are made only after all materials are received. Due to the competitiveness of the
program, we encourage early submittal of all materials. To expedite application processing, please
submit your Letter of Reference electronically to fellowship@alleghenymountainschool.org as a
.doc or .pdf file, named Applicant’s LastNameFirstNameAMIReference. References will be kept
private (applicants will not see references). The deadline for AMI Farm Fellowship application
materials is February 15, 2015.
Thank you in advance for your time and care in thoroughly completing this form.
ABOUT THE AMI FARM FELLOWSHIP
Allegheny Mountain Institute (AMI) is seeking inspiring individuals to participate in the fifth cohort
of our AMI Farm Fellowship (formerly the AMS Fellowship). Our goal at AMI is to build skills to
help individuals and their communities create a vibrant and accessible local food economy.
AMI (as AMS) was founded in 2011 as an intensive, hands-on, cooperative, experiential learning
and training program designed to teach members of our communities to grow and prepare their
own food and to understand the nutritional benefits of eating seasonally.
The AMI 2015 Farm Fellowship begins April 19, 2015 and ends November 1, 2015. During this
period, AMI Farm Fellows work both on our farm site in Highland County, Virginia and on urban
farm projects in Staunton, Virginia. They study sustainable food production, whole foods
preparation and preservation, mindfulness, wellness and nutrition, land stewardship and
community development, as they train to become ambassadors for a healthier food culture. Upon
successful completion of the program, AMI Farm Fellows will receive a Permaculture Design
Allegheny Mountain Institute
PO Box 542
Staunton, Virginia 24402-0542
1
Certificate, as well as gain full season experience working and learning on an education-based,
diversified vegetable farm.
AMI Farm Fellows who have successfully completed this fellowship will be eligible to apply to
become AMI Senior Fellows for 2016. As AMI Senior Fellows, they will receive an $18,000 stipend
for one year to work on projects and with Partner Organizations throughout Central Virginia and
the Allegheny-Highlands. AMI Senior Fellows engage in activities such as: designing and operating
community and school gardens, training teachers in school garden-based curriculum, advocating
sustainable land use, and teaching nutrition and cooking for a healthy lifestyle. .
In 2015, the AMI Farm Fellowship will be a program of Allegheny Mountain Institute and the
Community Foundation of the Central Blue Ridge will act as our fiscal sponsor, as our application to be
an independent non-profit moves forward.
Allegheny Mountain Institute admits candidates of any race, color, gender, sexual orientation, national
and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made
available to Fellows. It does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, gender, sexual orientation,
national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies,
scholarship programs, and other school-administered programs.
Allegheny Mountain Institute
PO Box 542
Staunton, Virginia 24402-0542
2
AMI FARM FELLOWSHIP PROFESSIONAL REFERENCE FORM
Applicant’s name:
Date:
Your name:
Title:
Phone number:
Email/Address:
Signature:
(submission of this form from your email will constitute an electronic signature)
Please answer the questions below. Be sure to supplement your answers to all questions with
concrete examples and detail. You may use additional pages or a separate document if needed.
1. In what capacity and for how long have you known the applicant?
2. How well suited is this program to the interests of the applicant?
3. Have you worked with the applicant on a community project or a food program?
4. Can you talk about the applicants work on a team or with a group of people? What role
might this person play?
5. How well does the applicant adapt to challenging environments and relationships?
6. Is he/she a positive problem solver? Please provide some examples.
7. Do you feel the applicant is realistic in his/her expectations for success?
Allegheny Mountain Institute
PO Box 542
Staunton, Virginia 24402-0542
3
8. Please include any other information about the applicant that seems relevant.
Please rate the applicant with respect to the following traits:
Trait
Intellect
Maturity
Flexibility and
Resilience
Dependability
Positive Attitude
Interpersonal Skills
Independence
Exceptional
Very Good
Good
Fair
Overall Recommendation:
____Highly recommended
____Recommend
____Recommend with reservations
____Do not recommend
Allegheny Mountain Institute
PO Box 542
Staunton, Virginia 24402-0542
4