Posted it on the Politics Board, because it deserves a wide distribution, but it's also appropriate here.
Article from Progressive Farmer. Tells how a group is helping returning veterans get into farming. A good fit, because they understand hard work and long hours, and the current farm population is aging. Lots of farm kids aren't coming back to the family farm.
One of the stories is about "Spence" Pennington '03, of Raymonville, the 2002-2003 Corps Commander.
https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/magazine/your-farm/article/2020/06/01/cover-story-new-mission
Article from Progressive Farmer. Tells how a group is helping returning veterans get into farming. A good fit, because they understand hard work and long hours, and the current farm population is aging. Lots of farm kids aren't coming back to the family farm.
Quote:
O'Gorman explains that veterans see an undeniable similarity between military and farming -- long hours, working with their hands and managing risk while being outdoors, protecting living things and seeing "missions" through to completion. In addition, farming is particularly appealing to those with post-traumatic stress disorder, as working the land provides a holistic approach to healing from war.
"Originally, I thought I could help a dozen interested veterans learn how to grow vegetables, but the first meeting led to other meetings and phone calls, and interest just grew," he says. "No one was helping veterans on this level, and about 370,000 farmers today are also veterans," he says. "Our initial research found more than 40,000 groups serving vets, but none of them were involved in agriculture."
Since its founding in 2008, FVC boasts 18,000 members in all 50 states and U.S. territories. It has provided $2.5 million in grants to farmers since 2011. Last year, a national annual conference drew 500 attendees to Austin, Texas. Other services include a database of apprenticeship opportunities and connecting veterans to other educational resources and ag supplier discounts.
"Agriculture faces a lot of concerns today, and one of them is human capital," O'Gorman points out. "Farmers are aging, and these young veterans are the best of the best. They have put their lives on the line and love the opportunity production ag offers them. They have character and determination, and are becoming the new generation of farmers. We want them to stay with that lifelong path."
Following are stories of FVC members finding solace and success in farming.
One of the stories is about "Spence" Pennington '03, of Raymonville, the 2002-2003 Corps Commander.
Quote:
Spence Pennington is a people person but admits he enjoys farming areas where there are no people within 10 miles. The full-time Air Force Reserve lieutenant colonel is also a full-time farmer. He appreciates how the solace of the farm offsets the stress of telecommuting and managing dozens of people. And, it's certainly more appealing than the stress of being deployed.
"Farming is in my blood and has eased that stress, but considering where commodity and input prices have been, the farm brings a whole new kind of pressure," he explains.
https://www.dtnpf.com/agriculture/web/ag/magazine/your-farm/article/2020/06/01/cover-story-new-mission