Farmer Veteran Coalition

** AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** THE MISSION OF THE FARMER VETERAN COALITION (FVC) IS MOBILIZING VETERANS TO FEED AMERICA. THIS MISSION IS ROOTED IN OUR STRONG BELIEF THAT VETERANS POSSESS THE UNIQUE SKILLS AND CHARACTER NEEDED TO STRENGTHEN RURAL COMMUNITIES AND CREATE SUSTAINABLE FOOD SYSTEMS, AND THAT AGRICULTURAL PURSUITS OFFER VETERANS PURPOSE, OPPORTUNITY, AND DOCUMENTED PHYSICAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL BENEFITS.THROUGH THE WORK ON THIS PROJECT, FVC WILL SUPPORT SOCIALLY DISADVANTAGED AND UNDERSERVED AGRICULTURAL PRODUCERS AND THEIR COMMUNITIES BY INCREASING ACCESS TO USDA PROGRAMS, IMPROVING ECONOMIC VIABILITY AND MARKET CONDITIONS FOR VETERAN-OWNED FARMS AND RANCHES, ENHANCING THE KNOWLEDGE AND SKILLS OF BEGINNING FARMER VETERANS, AND OFFERING TECHNICAL ASSISTANCETO OVER 35,000 FARMER VETERANS ACROSS THE COUNTRY. FVC WILL ACCOMPLISH THIS BY HOSTING EXPERT-LED TRAINING WORKSHOPS & WEBINARS, FOLLOWED BY A VETERAN-TO-VETERAN PEER LEARNING MODEL APPROACH, AND CONCLUDING WITH INDIVIDUALIZED TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE ADMINISTERED BY FVC'S VETERAN SERVICE PROVIDERS.

VETERANS RISING: AGRICULTURAL PATHWAYS APPRENTICESHIP PROJECT", IS A PARTNERSHIP BETWEEN FARMER VETERAN COALITION (FVC) AND THE CENTER FOR LAND-BASED LEARNING (CLBL), NORTHERN CALIFORNIA'S LEADING FARM TRAINING PROGRAM. THE PARTNERSHIP BUILDS ON OUR 6-YEAR HISTORY OF WORKING TOGETHER TO GIVE SOUND AGRICULTURAL TRAINING TO VETERANS.IT COMBINES A LONG-ESTABLISHED 7-MONTH CURRICULUM BASED TRAINING PROGRAM DEVELOPED BY CLBL, WITH A 2-YEAR IMMERSIVE LEARNING EXPERIENCE THROUGH PAID APPRENTICESHIPS AT ESTABLISHED, COMMERCIALLY RUN FARMS AND RANCHES THROUGHOUT NORTHERN CALIFORNIA. THE APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM IS CERTIFIED BY THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA, ONE OF TWO CERTIFIED AGRICULTURAL APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMS IN THE STATE.PARTICIPATING VETERANS WILL GAIN EXPOSURE TO A WIDE RANGE OF CROPS AND LIVESTOCK DURING THEIR 7-MONTHS OF CLASSROOM TRAINING AND FARM VISITS. THEY WILL THEN SELECT WHERE THEY WISH TO APPRENTICE BASED ON THEIR INDIVIDUAL INTEREST AND COMPATIBILITY WITH THE FARMER OR RANCHER. THE EXPERIENCE GAINED THROUGH THIS APPRENTICESHIP MAY LEAD TO PERMANENT EMPLOYMENT ON THE HOST FARM, EMPLOYMENT ELSEWHERE, OR THE LAUNCHING OF THE VETERAN'S OWN FARM BUSINESS.FVC STAFF WILL RECRUIT FOR THE PROGRAM, INCLUDING TO SERVICEMEN AND WOMEN THROUGH THE TRANSITION ASSISTANCE PROGRAM, OFFER PEER-TO-PEER SUPPORT, FACILITATE GROUP ACTIVITIES, AND CONTINUE TO SUPPORT THE PARTICIPANTS' AGRICULTURAL CAREERS AFTER THEIR COMPLETION OF THE PROGRAM.THIS PROGRAM IS BASED ON THE BELIEF THAT THE BEST AGRICULTURAL TRAINING WILL TAKE PLACE ON COMMERCIALLY RUN OPERATIONS THAT ARE ABLE TO PAY THE TRAINEE, AND THAT COMBINING THAT IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE WITH SOLID CURRICULUM BASED EDUCATION CAN GIVE THE VETERANS A SOUND FOUNDATION FOR A LONG AND VIABLE CAREER IN AGRICULTURE.

EMPOWERING VETERANS FOR AGRICULTURAL SUCCESS (EVAS)

AGRICULTURE GUIDANCE AND RESOURCES FOR YOUR FINANCIAL EMPOWERMENT (AGRO BRIDGE)

**AWARDS ISSUED PRIOR TO JANUARY 20, 2025, WERE FUNDED UNDER PREVIOUS ADMINISTRATIONS AND MAY NOT REFLECT THE PRIORITIES AND POLICIES OF THE CURRENT ADMINISTRATION.** VETERANS FARMING THROUGH ADVERSITY CONNECTS VETERANS TO AN EDUCATIONAL AND TRAINING PROGRAMIN THEIR CHOSEN AGRICULTURAL FIELD THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS WITH FOUR CERTIFIED AGRICULTURAL APPRENTICESHIPPROGRAMS: (A) DAIRY GRAZING APPRENTICESHIP (DGA); (B) ARCHI'S ACRES INSTITUTE FOR SUSTAINABLEAGRICULTURE; (C) RODALE INSTITUTE VETERAN FARMER TRAINING PROGRAM; AND (D) TEXAS AGRABILITYBATTLEGROUND TO BREAKING GROUND. THE FOUR APPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES SPAN 18 STATES AND A VARIETY OFFOCUS AREAS AND COMMODITIES.FIRST,FVC WILL EMPLOY A MINIMUM OFFIVE DIVERSE COMMUNITY OUTREACH ANDMARKETING STRATEGIES TO INCREASE VETERANS' AWARENESS OF FVC'S AGVETS PROGRAM AND PARTNEREDAPPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES, INCLUDING HOSTING AND ATTENDING OUTREACH AND CAREER EVENTS,POSTINGINFORMATION TO SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS, DEVELOPING A YOUTUBE RECRUITMENT VIDEO, AND DISSEMINATING ASEMI-YEARLY ELECTRONIC NEWSLETTER. SECOND, FVC WILL PROVIDE GUIDANCE FORVETERANS WHO EXPRESS INTERESTINAN APPRENTICESHIP, FROM INITIAL INQUIRY THROUGH THE APPLICATION STAGE. STAFF WILLDEVELOP A CATALOGUE OFAPPRENTICESHIP OPPORTUNITIES, HOST QUARTERLY Q&A SESSIONS FOR PARTNERED PROGRAMS, OFFERRESUME ANDBUSINESS PLAN REVIEWS FOR VETERANS INTERESTED IN APPLYING, AND PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL CONSULTS TO INTERESTEDVETERANS TO ASSESS THEIR READINESS TO COMPLETEAN APPRENTICESHIP.FINALLY, FVC WILLPROVIDE CASEMANAGEMENTAND SUPPORTIVE SERVICES FORVETERANSTHROUGHOUT THEIR APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAMAND ASSIST THEMWITH THE SUBSEQUENTJOB SEARCH AND PLACEMENT PROCESS.STAFF WILL HOST QUARTERLY MEETINGS WITH LEADERSHIPOF EACH APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM AND QUARTERLY GROUP/COHORT CHECK-INS TO EVALUATE VETERANS' PROGRESS ANDIDENTIFY AREAS FOR ADDITIONAL SUPPORT.VETERANS WILL ALSO BE REFERRED TO USDA RESOURCES, OTHER FVCPROGRAMS,AND PARTNER SERVICES.

SUPPORTIVE, SMALL SCALE, BASIC LIVESTOCK, FINANCIAL SKILLS AND RISK MANAGEMENT TRAINING FOR BEGINNING VETERAN FARMERS PROGRAM*

GROWING FARMER VETERANS ALL OVER THE USA

THE OVERARCHING PURPOSE OF THE FARMER VETERAN COALITION’S MONTANA COMMUNITY AGRICULTURE PROGRAM FOCUSING ON CONSERVATION IS TO PROVIDE CONCRETE SOLUTIONS TO ELIMINATE THE FOOD DESERTS FOUND IN MONTANA URBANIZED AREAS.

FARMER VETERAN COALITION MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING PROJECT - THE PROPOSED MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS TRAINING (MHAT) GRANT PROJECT WILL ENABLE FARMER VETERAN COALITION (FVC) TO LEVERAGE ITS ROBUST MULTI-STATE CHAPTER NETWORK AND ESTABLISHED PARTNERSHIPS TO DELIVER INTEGRATED MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING, INCREASE AWARENESS OF MENTAL HEALTH ISSUES, AND ESTABLISH LINKAGES TO TREATMENT AND SUPPORTING SERVICES FOR FARMER-VETERANS IN UNDERSERVED RURAL COMMUNITIES WHO ARE EXPERIENCING PTSD AND RELATED MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES. FVC IS REQUESTING $125,000 IN ANNUAL MHAT GRANT FUNDING FOR A FIVE-YEAR PROJECT PERIOD, WHICH WILL SUPPORT THE SEQUENTIAL ROLL-OUT OF A NEW MENTAL HEALTH TRAINING INITIATIVE, INCREASING THE NUMBER OF CHAPTER PERSONNEL, ALLIED VETERAN ORGANIZATION STAFFS, AND MEMBERS REACHED EACH YEAR. USING A TRAIN-THE-TRAINER MODEL, AND IN CONSULTATION WITH AN EXPERIENCED MENTAL HEALTH CLINICIAN, FVC WILL TRAIN INSTRUCTORS ON IMPLEMENTATION OF THE EVIDENCE-BASED INTERVENTION, SAFETALK, INCLUDING THE BEST WAYS TO DELIVER DIDACTIC TRAININGS FOR TRAINER-TRAINEES THAT WILL INCLUDE VOLUNTEER CHAPTER DIRECTORS, VOLUNTEER CHAPTER MEMBERS, AND PARTNER ORGANIZATION STAFFS AND VOLUNTEERS. PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL ALSO INCLUDE EDUCATION REGARDING THE AVAILABILITY AND UTILIZATION OF COMMUNITY RESOURCES, AND DISTRIBUTION OF PRINT AND ELECTRONIC SUPPORT MATERIALS. THE POPULATION OF FOCUS WILL COMPRISE VETERANS REPRESENTING EACH MILITARY BRANCH AND SERVICE ERA WHO ARE ENGAGED IN OR BEGINNING CAREERS IN AGRICULTURE, INCLUDING MORE THAN 20,000 FVC MEMBERS WHO LIVE AND WORK IN MOSTLY RURAL, UNDERSERVED AREAS. IRAQ AND AFGHANISTAN WAR VETERANS, WHOSE JOBLESS RATES ARE HIGHER THAN THE NATIONAL AVERAGE, ARE ALSO THE FIRST SINCE WORLD WAR II TO HAVE UNDERGONE MULTIPLE DEPLOYMENTS, WHICH HAS INCREASED THE RISK OF PTSD BY 50% AND HAS CONTRIBUTED TO 45,000 VETERANS AND ACTIVE-DUTY PERSONNEL COMMITTING SUICIDE OVER THE PAST SIX YEARS. WHILE FARMING IS A POSSIBLE THERAPEUTIC SOLUTION, TRAUMATIC EVENTS, SUCH AS MILITARY COMBAT, CAN HAVE LONG-LASTING NEGATIVE EFFECTS, OFTEN LEADING TO ALCOHOL AND DRUG ABUSE. THE PROJECT GOAL IS TO INCREASE THE CAPACITY OF RURAL COMMUNITIES WHERE FARMER-VETERANS PRIMARILY LIVE AND WORK TO IDENTIFY THOSE EXPERIENCING SYMPTOMS OF PTSD AND OTHER MENTAL HEALTH CHALLENGES, AND TO ENGAGE AND REFER THEM FOR SERVICES AS NEEDED. PROJECT OBJECTIVES WILL INCLUDE: 1) TRAINING FIVE TRAINERS - VOLUNTEER CHAPTER DIRECTORS, VOLUNTEER MEMBERS, AND PARTNER ORGANIZATION STAFFS AND VOLUNTEERS - IN THE SAFETALK MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTION MODEL WITHIN EACH OF FIVE FVC STATE CHAPTERS FOR A TOTAL OF 25 NEW TRAINERS EACH YEAR; 2) TRAINING 250 FVC VOLUNTEER CHAPTER DIRECTORS, VOLUNTEER MEMBERS, AND PARTNER STAFFS AND VOLUNTEERS IN THE SAFETALK MENTAL HEALTH INTERVENTION MODEL; 3) REACHING A MINIMUM OF 2,500 FARMER-VETERANS EACH YEAR THAT ARE AT-RISK OR DISPLAY SYMPTOMS OF PTSD OR OTHER MENTAL HEALTH CONDITIONS; 4) ALIGNING MENTAL HEALTH TREATMENT RESOURCES WITH PARTICIPATING FVC STATE CHAPTERS TO ENSURE THAT EVERY VETERAN ENCOUNTER WHERE MENTAL HEALTH SERVICE IS NEEDED IS LINKED TO TREATMENT; AND 5) CREATING A LEARNING COMMUNITY THAT EDUCATES TRAINERS AND TRAINEES ABOUT MILITARY-CONNECTED CULTURE, MENTAL HEALTH, AND SUICIDE PREVENTION, ENROLLING A MINIMUM OF 50 PARTICIPANTS EACH YEAR.

PLAN AND DELIVER EFFECTIVE OUTREACH TO VETERAN FARMERS AND RANCHERS RESULTING IN INCREASED ADOPTION OF SUSTAINABLE AGRICULTURE AND CLIMATE SMART PRACTICES IN LA

2501 FARMER VETERAN PROJECT

CONGRESSIONAL EARMARK FARMER VETERAN COALITION FY 22 CONGRESSIONAL COMMUNITY PROJECT FUNDING

THE NATIONAL FARMER VETERAN PROJECT: UTILIZING EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS AND NETWORKS TO EXPAND IMPACT AND REACH AMONG VETERAN FARMERS

2018RRMEPP

2015 EDUCATION AWARD

2014 EDUCATION AWARD

2014 EDUCATION AWARD

TO IMPROVE OUTREACH, COORDINATION EFFORTS, AND RELATIONSHIPS AMONG NRCS AND VETERAN FARMERS.