Join Us as a Wilder Farm Volunteer

    The Almanzo Wilder Homestead is seeking volunteers to help support our daily operations. Wider Homestead volunteers assist with greeting, maintenance, grounds keeping, tours, and organizing and carrying out community events hosted by the Homestead, throughout the tourist season.

    Volunteers have always been essential to the Wilder organization. It was a team of enthusiastic volunteers that helped to establish the Homestead as a historic site in 1987. And the support and assistance of dedicated teams of volunteers has remained vital to the upkeep, improvement, and preservation of the Homestead’s grounds, buildings, and artifacts, as well as the general operation of the Homestead as a museum and historic place of interest, to this day.

    People of all ages and backgrounds come to see the Wilder Farm, view its attractions, and enjoy our special events. Volunteers greet, assist, and generally facilitate positive experiences for them, while they’re here. Volunteers also provide craft and program activities at special events and help with behind-the-scenes tasks such as grounds keeping and building maintenance.

A A volunteer guide tells visitors how Mrs. Wilder worked in her kitchen.

    While some volunteers come to the Homestead with distinct talents and skills, previous specialized experience is not a requirement. Staff members will work with volunteers to ensure that they have the information, direction, and support needed to enable them to succeed.

    And volunteering at the Wilder Homestead is a great way to contribute to the local community. We receive no external funding, so all of the support given to us by volunteers remains essential to our success.

    You’ll find a real sense of community and camaraderie here. We value each other’s support and appreciate each other’s feedback. We’re committed to preserving our cultural heritage for future generations to enjoy. And to contributing to a greater understanding of the region’s history, as well. Volunteers are essential in helping us accomplish those objectives.

    Prospective guides should be familiar with or have an interest in learning about Almanzo Wilder, his family, the history of the Homestead, and the collected works of teacher, journalist, writer, and author of children’s literature, Laura Ingalls Wilder. Training and support will be provided.

    Our volunteers are our lifeblood; we simply couldn’t run the Homestead without them. 

    To express interest or learn more about volunteering opportunities, please email us at farm@almanzowilderfarm.com or visit us when we're open. We would be grateful to have you on board!