We are pleased to introduce the fall’s group of interns, who’s various backgrounds, fresh perspectives, and willingness to contribute have had a meaningful impact at the Mission.
This semester, there were 5 interns at Harvest Farm and 5 interns in Denver. Specifically at Harvest Farm, intern roles included intake, case management, counseling, and mentor coordination.
Get to know some of the Harvest Farm interns below:
Jason Leavitt
Mentor and Volunteer Coordinator Intern
Jason has recently graduated from Colorado State University with a business administration degree in focus in H.R. He’s considering going back to get masters. As far as future plans, he likes the work of social services and helping those in need.
Through the internship at Harvest Farm, Jason expressed a meaningful experience at Harvest Farm. “I like the ability to connect others with mentors. And just see the growth in the fruitfulness in that.” A major highlight of the internship has been the welcoming, family-like atmosphere. From the very start, Jason felt included and supported by the staff, creating a positive, non-pressured environment that made him feel like part of the Harvest Farm community immediately. Jason said he has loved connecting with staff and participants, appreciating the chance to foster growth through mentorship. He described Harvest Farm as a “hidden gem” multiple times throughout his intern interview.
“I think the whole mission of Harvest Farm and their philosophy and it being free of charge, them offering food services, housing, and a nine-and ten-month program, there’s only so many organizations in this world that you could count that are like this.” -Jason
For Jason, the internship has offered significant personal and professional growth. From navigating responsibilities and learning through trial and error to developing skills in communication and empathy with participants, Jason has gained confidence and a deeper understanding of his role. He credits trial and error, along with having a good supervisor, as ways to learn through the internship.
For future interns, his advice is to show up fully, engaging actively, asking questions, and embracing opportunities to learn and serve. Honesty, openness, vulnerability, and listening are key to making the most of the experience.
“I would just say, come in with open arms. Don’t be afraid. Don’t be scared to ask questions. Be honest. Be open. Be vulnerable.”
Jason
Jeff Struck
Intake Intern
Jeff has a bachelor’s degree in applied psychology and a minor in biblical studies. He has begun the process of getting his CAT and CAS certifications. As far as future plans, he said he wants to keep serving others and give back. “I desire to serve others not only because it is a teaching of Jesus, but because my heart longs to give back.” -Jeff
He describes his experience at Harvest Farm as busy, meaningful, and full of growth. He’s learned a great deal and appreciated the strong guidance from his supervisor. One of the most rewarding aspects has been reconnecting with those who battle homelessness or addiction, where he’s had experience of serving in the past.
“Being able to give back is great, but I think the biggest thing is, seeing them come in and just feeling the relief that they have, that they’re here and off the streets and, and starting a new chapter in their life.”
-Jeff
Jeff’s path to Harvest Farm has been shaped by a combination of faith and service. With a background rooted in church involvement, prison ministry, and mission work, he later decided to go back to school. “During that time, going to school, I got connected with some folks that, were talking about how the addiction community is changing, different areas, how they’re really desperate for people.” When the intake internship opportunity opened, it aligned perfectly with the direction Jeff was taking. “I think the Lord kind of pulled me in that direction. So I just kind of tried to follow the Lord’s doors when he opened them. And it led me here.”
Jeff believes Harvest Farm creates a powerful impact by removing people from chaotic environments and giving them space to heal. The peaceful, wide-open setting of Harvest Farm stands in stark contrast to any other recovery place. Jeff sees the farm as a place where participants can encounter God, rediscover themselves, and begin taking steps toward independence.
Overall, Jeff’s journey at Harvest Farm has been marked by peace, purpose, and a deep appreciation for the kindness of both staff and participants.
“When I think of Harvest Farm, I think of the best opportunity for someone to encounter God and encounter themselves all over again and see that it can happen, you know, because they push on towards working towards, independency, which is great because that’s what you need.”
Jeff
Reid Fellner
Case Management Intern
This December, Reid is graduating from Colorado State University with a degree in social work. As far as future plans, he wants to “continue work in this population either in case management or different roles or pursue my passion in a career of development/fundraising for nonprofits.”
Reid describes his internship at Harvest Farm as “really good,” and filled with valuable learning experiences. Coming into the program without prior experience with this population, he was impressed by the knowledge, structure, and dedication of the case managers, as well as the extensive support systems in place for participants. During the intern interview, Reid highlighted Harvest Farm’s unique programs, partnerships, and community contributions—from dental and eye care to computer and car programs—that help participants succeed and reintegrate into society.
A highlight for Reid has been observing participants’ growth and transformation. He’s witnessed men graduate, maintain sobriety, secure jobs, and transition successfully back into society. He’s also began working with his own small caseload, building rapport and gaining hands-on experience in supporting participants.
Reid emphasized the strong support he’s received throughout the internship. Staff are welcoming, patient, and eager to teach, helping him navigate the learning curve related to systems, procedures, and participant care. Observing experienced case managers and working closely with his site supervisor has allowed Reid to learn the best practices for supporting participants while applying those skills directly in his own work.
In terms of values, Reid sees Harvest Farm as a supportive, positive, and faith-centered community. The program prioritizes helping men succeed in their sobriety and overall life skills, providing guidance, mentorship, and structure while fostering personal responsibility. Participants are encouraged to grow and leave the program in a better place than when they arrived, reflecting Harvest Farm’s mission of meaningful, life-changing impact.
“I never really have worked with this field or knew what went into it. But I think through this, I’ve been more open to continuing work in this field. Because I think it just really makes a difference. And you make a really positive impact on the guys’ lives.”
Reid
Zach Van Haselen
Case Management Intern
Zach is currently receiving his master’s in social work at Colorado State University. He will be returning to intern in the spring and long-term goals are to “work as a social worker and work obtain licensure in order to best support the people that I serve.”
As far as the case management internship, Zach described the experience as familiarizing himself with participants and the case management process, then gradually took on more responsibility, managing his own caseload and working directly with participants.
Zach said in his intern interview that he grown in understanding how to best support participants within the unique environment of the Farm. While he had prior case management experience going into this opportunity, adapting his skills to this program has strengthened their ability to meet participants’ needs effectively. As far as his own professional improvement, Zach said that learning how to best fill his role and supporting the participants has been beneficial. “I’ve done case management before, but the farm is such a, unique place that I think learning how my experience in case management fits into this environment has been a learning experience for me.” -Zach
A highlight of the internship for Zach has been attending graduations and seeing the progress of individuals as they complete the program. “I’ve gotten the opportunity to go to some of the graduations, and that kind of gives me a glimpse of where the journey ends for some of the participants, and that’s been really cool to see. Just to see them at the end of the program, has been super beneficial and like kind of gives me that purpose for where the program takes people.” -Zach
For future interns, Zach recommends fully engaging with all opportunities and exploring the variety of roles available within case management. Proactively asking supervisors for tasks and responsibilities is an important factor to learn and grow.
Finally, Zach emphasized that Harvest Farm provides a peaceful and supportive environment where participants can step away from chaos, reflect, and develop the skills and confidence needed to move forward in life. This calm, structured setting makes the program deeply transformative for those involved.
“I think try to do it as much as you can, like really try to push yourself to try to get to do all kinds of different things because there’s a lot of different roles that case managers have. So, trying to learn as much as possible. And don’t be afraid to ask your supervisor for different things that you can do, because that’s how you learn.”
Zach
Suzanne Hatton
Counseling Intern
Suzanne is currently a student at Colorado Christian University in the Clinical Mental Health Counseling Program. She will graduate with her MA at the end of 2026. As far as future plans, “I started the degree program with the long-term goal of providing counseling services within my current organization of employment (Wycliffe Bible Translators).”
As far as the fall internship as a counseling intern at Harvest Farm, Suzanne describes the journey as both challenging and rewarding, providing significant opportunities for growth and learning. She has viewed the challenges as meaningful opportunities, trusting that God is working through her experience for good.
A major area of personal growth has been learning to handle stressful situations with patience and faith, allowing her to approach challenges with resilience and trust in God’s guidance.
One of the standout highlights of the internship has been building relationships with participants and learning how to meet them where they are, supporting them on their personal journeys and helping them develop the skills needed to succeed.
Suzanne emphasized that future interns should come with an open mind and be ready to learn and grow, taking full advantage of the opportunities the program provides.
What has stood out most to Suzanne about Harvest Farm is the genuine care of the staff and their dedication to equipping participants to leave the program prepared for a new and successful path in life.
“A highlight is just getting to know some of the guys in the program and starting to really learn how to be a counselor and how to meet them where they’re at and help them in their journey.”
Suzanne
