Your Ranching Journey Starts Here.

Apply for the V6 Ranch internship program

Approximate Dates
Spring Season: March 5-June 25, 2025 | Fall Season: September 3-November 17, 2025

Applications Deadlines
Spring Season: February 21, 2025 | Fall Season: July 15, 2025

Do you dream of working with horses, tending cattle, and welcoming guests to a true Western experience? At V6 Ranch, we offer an immersive internship where you’ll gain skills in ranching, hospitality, and agriculture while working alongside experienced ranch hands and hospitality veterans.

This isn’t just a job—it’s a chance to live the ranching lifestyle, build valuable skills, and create lifelong connections in the Western industry.

Full-time & part-time positions available | Spots are limited—apply now!

APPLY NOW!

What You’ll Experience

As a V6 Ranch intern, you won’t just watch—you’ll ride, work, and learn alongside seasoned ranchers and hospitality pros. You’ll gain practical skills that open doors in ranching, agriculture, and hospitality, all while experiencing the beauty of life on a working cattle and dude ranch.

This isn’t just an internship—it’s a stepping stone. You’ll leave with:
Real ranching experience and industry connections
Valuable skills in agriculture, hospitality, and horsemanship
A network of mentors who want to see you succeed

YOur Role

Every day on a ranch is different, but you’ll learn to be a jack-of-all-trades while tackling responsibilities like:

• Assisting on trail rides and cattle drives
• Feeding and caring for horses and cattle
• Waiting tables at the Parkfield Cafe ($16.50/hr + tips, min. 2 shifts per week—great for saving money!)
• Exercising horses & improving horsemanship

• Helping maintain ranch infrastructure
• Working in the pistachio orchards
• Assisting with guest services to create a welcoming Western experience
• Supporting ranch, lodge, & restaurant operations, adapting to whatever the day brings

You’ll develop real-world ranching experience that applies to both the agricultural and hospitality industries—preparing you for careers in ranch management, tourism, land stewardship, and more.

Jack Varian, 1971

Why V6 Ranch?

We’re passionate about helping people start their ranching journey. Our founders, Jack and Zee Varian, grew up in the city but chased their dream of ranching. Internships were key to their success—now, after 60+ years of ranching, we’re passing that knowledge on to you.

Interning here connects you to a strong network of ranchers, Western professionals, and hospitality experts—giving you a head start in the industry.

Compensation & Perks:

• Housing provided
• Most meals included (You’ll be responsible for meals when the Parkfield Cafe is closed or during non-event days.)
• Hands-on training in ranching, horsemanship, rodeo skills, hospitality, and more
• Paid work opportunities at the Parkfield Cafe ($16.50/hr + tips)
• Access to the 20,000-acre V6 Ranch, including hiking trails, lakes, and wide-open spaces to explore

Who we’re looking for

• Hardworking, adaptable individuals with a friendly disposition and strong customer service skills will thrive in this role!
• Must be 18 years or older
• Must be a U.S. Citizen or have U.S. work authorization
• Must have a valid driver’s license
• Must have health insurance
• Must be willing to work at least two shifts per week waiting tables at the Parkfield Cafe (great way to earn extra cash!)
• Some horseback riding experience preferred, but not required

Does this sound like you?

Apply now!

Spending my summer interning at the V6 Ranch was truly one of the most rewarding and unforgettable experiences of my life. The Varians didn’t just welcome me onto the ranch—they welcomed me into their family, and I will always be grateful for that.
From waiting tables and learning about restaurant management to honing my customer service and communication skills, I gained hands-on experience that will stick with me forever. Working on a cattle ranch in beautiful Parkfield was nothing short of incredible—every day was a new adventure, surrounded by stunning landscapes, amazing people, and a western way of life that I completely fell in love with.
It was, without a doubt, some of the most fun summers I’ve ever had, and if I could go back every weekend while in college, I absolutely would. The V6 Ranch will always have a special place in my heart—I LOVE it there!
- Lyndsey G.
Working at the V6 Ranch has been an unbelievable experience. The Varian’s are some of the best people in this world, and they have truly become my second family. I have learned more in the 4 years that I’ve worked at V6 than all my years of school combined, and have had a lifetimes worth of experiences and fun out on the ranch. I would not trade a second of my time at V6 for anything, and I am forever grateful to the amazing people who run this ranch.
~ Alex A.