Internships at the Musk Ox Farm:
The Musk Ox Development Corporation, or MODC, is a non-profit organization dedicated to the domestication of the musk ox and to the promotion of qiviut production as a gentle and sustainable agricultural practice in the far north, with a focus on education and providing additional income opportunities to Alaskan Natives. Our internship program is one of the key aspects of our farm allowing us to further our mission.
The Program:
Our internship offers a great variety of experiences from hands on animal husbandry to business and farm management. The main focus of our program is to acquaint interns with the knowledge and skills necessary for raising musk ox. These consist largely of basic veterinarian care, handling methods for both adults and calves, equipment maintenance and repair, pasture management and qiviut harvesting. Interns shadow our herders, develop individual projects and are involved in most all key aspects of the farm’s operations. Due to the overall experimental nature of our project, we strongly encourage applicants with open minds willing to fully participate in furthering the mission of MODC. We do not require that applicants necessarily possess experience in all the above-mentioned skills; rather we seek applicants who are able demonstrate their ability in acquiring such skills.
In addition to the general experiences mentioned above, we are always happy to consider interns interested in the various aspects of MODC from tourism to research. We strongly encourage applicants looking for a facility to carry out specific projects pertaining to thesis or doctoral work. We have multiple avenues for research topics beneficial to our organization that could be spearheaded by graduate students.
Please email herd manager Gunnar Babcock at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for further information regarding these areas. We also welcome interns seeking experience in business management, tourism or education.
We collaborate with the Alaska Zoo, the University of Fairbanks LARS, Spring Creek Farm and the Portage Game Refuge and schedule visits to these institutions for our interns when possible.
Applying:
Most applicants elect to begin their internships at the end of the spring semester. The busiest time of year for the farm is between the beginning of April and the end of August and this is the best time to plan an internship, as it will yield most beneficial to the farm and applicant. However, depending on the needs of the farm and the goals of the applicant, we offer internships year round. We ask for a minimum commitment of 10 weeks, working roughly 40 hours per week for any internship. Basic housing is provided, generally on-site, and stipends are available to certain applicants.
To apply, please email a copy of your resume, a list of references and a detailed cover letter explaining your experience, why our internship appeals to you and what you have to offer the farm to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
We encourage you to research musk ox, MODC, and Alaska prior to submitting an application or query. In addition, please feel free to be creative in your cover letter. While we accept applications year round, if you are applying for a summer internship, we generally do not contact applicants until March regarding a follow-up telephone interview. If you applying for another time of year, please specify. If you have further specific questions not covered here, please feel free to contact our herd manager at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
The Farm:
The Musk Ox Farm is situated on 75 scenic acres outside Palmer, in the Matanuska Valley, Alaska’s primary agricultural region. The farm is a one-hour drive from Anchorage, AK, where our nearest airport in located. Weather varies greatly throughout the year from –30 in January to temperatures as high as 75 and low as 35 throughout the summer.
