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INVESTIGATOR: Hale, M.

PERFORMING INSTITUTION:
NATIONAL CENTER FOR APPROPRIATE TECHNOLOGY
3040 CONTINENTAL DR., P.O. BOX 3838
BUTTE, MONTANA 59701

BUILDING FARM FOUNDATIONS AND PLANNING FOR SUCCESS: BEGINNING FARMER TRAINING FOR MILITARY VETERANS IN THE NORTHEAST U.S.

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) will partner with Sterling College, Farmer Veteran Coalitions of Vermont and Maine (FVC), University of New Hampshire (UNH) Cooperative Extension, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) and New Entry Sustainable Farming Project in Massachusetts to educate and support military veterans in the Northeast U.S. who are beginning farmers. The Northeast states have a high percentage of beginning farmers, and a rising sector of the beginning farmer population is military veterans. NCAT's experience has been that veterans are drawn to farming--especially when dealing with the effects of war--because they find satisfaction in growing and sustaining life, giving back to their communities, being their own bosses, and working hard.Our project, Building Farm Foundations and Planning for Success: Beginning Farmer Training for Military Veterans in the Northeast U.S., will work with hundreds of beginning farmers who are military veterans in Vermont, New Hampshire, Maine, Massachusetts, and other Northeastern states. We will train at least 100 military veteran beginning farmers in each year of our project. We will offer one-day workshops on various production topics in locations throughout the Northeast. We will also provide intensive training through the week-long Armed to Farm program, NCAT's sustainable agriculture training for military veterans. The project will support veterans chosen to participate in Sterling College's six-week Summer Agriculture Program and will provide registrations to MOFGA's beginning farmer trainings. The project will also offer farm business planning assistance to military veterans through workshops and one-on-one technical assistance. We will build and strengthen the network of military veteran beginning farmers through outreach and supporting existing networks. The long-term goal of this project is to assist military veterans in the Northeast U.S. as they start and manage farming operations. We will accomplish the project goal by providing training and technical assistance on sustainable agriculture production methods and farm business planning, facilitating access to USDA programs, improving the sustainability of existing farming operations, and supporting military veteran beginning farmers through networks.

OBJECTIVES: The long-term goal of this project is to assist military veterans in the Northeast U.S. as they start and manage farming operations. We will accomplish the project goal by providing training and technical assistance on sustainable agriculture production methods and farm business planning, facilitating access to USDA programs, improving the sustainability of existing farming operations, and supporting military veteran beginning farmers through networks.Objective 1): Provide beginning farmer training to military veterans in the Northeast U.S.Expected outputs and outcomes: At least 240 military veterans will receive beginning farmer training through week-long Armed to Farm trainings (one per year for three years) and one- to two-day trainings (two per year for three years). Training activities will occur in Vermont, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine, but will be open to military veterans from all Northeastern states. These 240 military veteran beginning farmers will receive between eight and 40 hours of training, depending on the training event. They will gain practical knowledge on topics such as farm start-up, financing, marketing, and a wide variety of sustainable agriculture production topics. There will also be support for three veterans chosen to participate in Sterling College's six-week Summer Agriculture Program, three veterans to participate in MOFGA's Farm Beginnings program, and 15 veterans to participate in MOFGA's Farmer to Farmer Conference. Veterans will also access land to farm through New Entry's Incubator Farms and Farm Land Matching Service.Objective 2): Provide business planning assistance to military veteran beginning farmers.Expected outputs and outcomes: Through Armed to Farm, two business planning workshops, veteran business planning sessions during Sterling College's Summer Ag program, MOFGA's Advanced Business Planning workshop, targeted research project assistance, and one-on-one technical assistance, at least 130 military veterans will receive training and assistance to complete a farm business plan. This will include assistance to beginning farmer veterans who already have business plans and need assistance to refine their plans and scale-up production.Objective 3): Expand and strengthen the military veteran beginning farmer network throughout the Northeast.Expected outputs and outcomes: Through targeted outreach efforts, training events, and other activities, at least 250 military veterans will get connected to support networks such as Farmer Veteran Coalition-Vermont and Farmer Veteran Coalition-Maine. Partners in New Hampshire and Massachusetts will work to build veteran networks, tapping into existing beginning farmer networks in the state. These networks provide ongoing resources, mentors, and assistance to military veterans as they start and operate farming ventures.