They Help Veterans Start Farming

They Help Veterans Start Farming SPECIALTY/SERVICES For the past 12 years the Farmer Veteran Coalition has been providing a way for America’s returning veterans to get into agriculture     “When our founder Michael O’Gorman began the Farmer Veteran Coalition in 2008 no one was doing what we set out to do ” says Natalie Moore Communications Director for the Farmer Veteran Coalition “He started the military–to–agriculture movement across the country ”     O’Gorman started the group after reading a 2007 survey that caught him by surprise     “The study documented the zip codes of those killed in Iraq and Afghanistan ” Moore says “It showed that a disproportionate number of our volunteer military was coming from rural America     “That’s what lit the lightbulb for Michael ” she says “and he thought maybe these men and women coming home from war could benefit from careers in farming ”     The FVC services are free and available for any veteran of any era including active military members getting ready to transition out of the service     The organization has built a network of about 200 partners across the country that help the FVC accomplish its mission     Moore describes the coalition as a “pool of services” whether it be for land acquisition soils water and many other areas because of their connections     “The help we provide is especially important to beginning farmers who are looking to establish themselves on the land ” she says     In addition to their multiple available resources FVC can also put new members in touch with other farmer-veterans for help in getting their operation off the ground     “We can put them in touch with people on the other side of the country that they otherwise wouldn’t get to know and learn from ” Moore says “They can exchange ideas and challenges share success stories and just learn to run better operations ”     The Farmer Veteran Coalition also sponsors other programs to help accomplish that task     The Farmer Veteran Fellowship Program is a small grant program that helps aspiring farmers get a crucial piece of equipment for their operation     “Our other program is called the ‘Homegrown by Heroes’ label ” Moore says “It identifies their product in the marketplace as produced by a veteran and it lets consumers support our veterans while they’re out shopping ”     Moore says veterans often return from combat zones with challenges such as PTSD Agriculture is one occupation that can offer some healing     “It’s so therapeutic to work with the land and grow life ” she says “Many veteran farmers have told us that being in agriculture likely saved their life and gave it meaning again ”     Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Natalie Moore Farmer Veteran Coalition 4614 Second Street Suite 4 Davis Calif 95618 ph 530-756-1395; Natalie@farmervetco org; www farmvetco org

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