Progress 08/01/23 to 07/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:The current issue that this research continues to address is the unemployment/underemployment of Veterans who desire to enter into an agricultural career and the high level of underrepresented Veterans being served in this agricultural rural region. The body of work created during this reseach project will create viable career pathways for Veterans to enter into a myriad of agricultural careers in partnership with institutions of higher learning in Central Minnesota. These efforts will have an impact in the larger community by creating jobs, strengthening the agricultural community while contributing to a stronger economy and enviroment through agriculture. The basic methods and approach will be high touch, hands-on learning with participant input on wraparound individual support and access to local, regional, state and federal programs to allow Veterans the opportunity to transition into agricultural careers. This program is specifically designed to assist Veterans within the State of Minnesota. This year's monthly workshops, a cornerstone to this program, including a collaboration with the local Small Business Development Center on Starting a Business, learning about the LEAN startup model and social media marketing/branding through various business-related workshops. Participants also delved into a comprehensive session on grant writing which covered grant seeking, the context of writing proposals, required registrations, securing funding and evaluation and reporting. Participants also learned about farm tax reporting, both benefits and liabilities from a local tax firm. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Apprentices are required to attend training and professional development opportunities and these are approved and discussed with PI and CoPI in advance. Year 1 apprentice is now on the Board of Directors for the MN State Farmer Veteran Coalition. Year 2 apprentice continues to seek independent learning opportunities to advance objectives related to an ongoing project with respect to access to capital and resources in order to achieve independence in his own farm operations. Year 3 apprentice will focus on meat production and meat processing in a continued environment of lack of markets. Fellows continue to advance operations with enrollment in Farm Business Management courses in partnership with local community college, and two Fellows have completed a year long meat cutting program in partnership with the local community college. Year 3 fellow will focus on developing a nonprofit farm operation with a mission to provide housing for Veterans in transition from inpatient substance abuse treatment to independent living. PI and CoPI continue to provide mentoring on structure of program, access to programming, access to programs for Veterans and grantwriting resources. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?PI and CoPI continue to meet with a five county consortium of County Veteran Service Officers to share information on the program, participate in recruitment of participants, and access to resources. Program workshops are widely publicized and participants work diligently to recruit additional Veterans to the program. PI meets quarterly with Veteran programs supported by local community college. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We feel we are on track to complete the goals as outlined.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? GOAL 1- Deliver a comprehensive, immersive in-person, on-farm and online learning experiences that become a model for Veterans pursuing opportunities in agriculture and agribusiness. This goal continues to be achieved through a guiding and mentoring program for apprentices and fellows through hands-on learning during in classroom workshops related to topics that are Veteran centered and driven by participants, on-site farm tours on topics relative to participants enrolled in the program, one-to-one mentoring by PI and CoPI, and Veteran peer-to-peer monthly meetings. Apprentice and fellows also engage in significant independent learning with Statements of Learning shared between peers. GOAL 2- Connect Veterans with mentoring, resources, and assistance throughout the program. This goal was achieved through 8 workshops per year of the program, both in classroom and on-farm learning, peer-to-peer mentoring, access to resources (through personal referrals and training on access to programs), and face-to-face meetings with PI and CoPI. GOAL 3- SHARE rural regional systems change and ongoing sustainability of AgVet program post the 3-year funded term. This goal continues to be achieved by sharing success of the program, media coverage and workshops, monthly newsletters, Veteran peer-to-peer learning, and social media promotion.

Publications

Progress 08/01/22 to 07/31/23

Outputs
Target Audience:This program is specifically designed to assist Veterans within the State of Minnesota. In year oneof this program, we served a one year apprentice and five fellows within the program. Two fellows were not able to complete the program due to health issues and a disinterest in the program. We hosted 8 workshops, eachwith an average of 20 Veterans or Veteran family members in attendance and included topics relevant to access to USDA programs, markt channels, licensing/risk management, taxes and financial implications, cover crops, animal husbandry, regenerative soil practices and soil health, and high tunnel growing. Veteran apprentice and fellows have developed monthly statements of learning, personal career and/or farm business plans, and program improvement suggestions. Fellows have participated in farm business management and graphic design courses and have received educational stipends. Changes/Problems:There are no major changes. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Year 1 apprentice attended the Farmer Veteran Coalition Annual Conference in Oklahoma in 2022. He has been engaged in the upcoming Minnesota Chapter and is now an at large board member for the MN FVC. Fellow #1 has entered into agricultural production (high tunnels and row crops) and is enrolled in the Farm Business Management program at the local community college. Fellow #2 is enrolled in vocational rehabiliation education program and is studying graphic design and videography with a goal of entering into producing videos related to agriculture and foods. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?PI and Co-PI meet bimonthly with five county Veteran Service Officers to share information. Program workshops are widely publicized and participants have recruited fellow Veterans to participate. PI meets quarterly with Veteran programs supported by the local community college. The program was covered by AgNews, a Forum Communications publication and has been picked up by numerous local newspapers.https://www.agweek.com/lifestyle/education/central-minnesotas-agvet-program-offers-veterans-a-life-in-agriculture?utm_medium=newsletter&utm_source=email&utm_campaign=agweekdaily&utm_market=agweek What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?We feel we are on track to complete the goals as outlined.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? GOAL 1- Deliver a comprehensive, immersive in-person, on-farm and online learning experiences that become a model for Veterans pursuing opportunities in agriculture and agribusiness. --This goal was achieved through guiding and mentoring program apprentice and fellows in hands-on learning through site visits, interviews, farm tours and independent learning. GOAL 2- Connect Veterans with mentoring, resources, and assistance throughout the program. -- This goal was achieved through 8 workshops, both in classroom and on farm by peer to peer mentoring, access to resources (both personal referrals and training on access to programs) and face to face meetings with PI and Co-PI. GOAL 3- SHARE rural regional systems change and ongoing sustainability of AgVet program post the 3-year funded term. -- This goal is being achieved by sharing success of the program, media coverage of workshops, Veteran peer to peer learning, and social media promotion.

Publications