Source: HO'OLA VETERAN SERVICES submitted to NRP
GROUNDWORK TO GROW: AGRIBUSINESS
Sponsoring Institution
National Institute of Food and Agriculture
Project Status
ACTIVE
Funding Source
OTHER GRANTS
Reporting Frequency
Annual
Accession No.
1029312
Grant No.
2022-77028-38429
Cumulative Award Amt.
$750,000.00
Proposal No.
2022-06272
Multistate No.
(N/A)
Project Start Date
Sep 1, 2022
Project End Date
Aug 31, 2025
Grant Year
2022
Program Code
[AGVET]- Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans (Ag-Vets) Competitive Grants Program
Recipient Organization
HO'OLA VETERAN SERVICES
37 KAIKUONO ST
HILO,HI 967201729
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Like many rural regions in the U.S, Hawaii struggles with an aging farmer population, poor farm labor availability, and declining numbers of farmers. Hawaii County is a geographically disadvantaged and rural region as defined by USDA Farm Service Agency and Economic Research Service. Farmers and ranchers in Hawaii are extremely challenged by the high costs of land, labor, inputs, and energy. Additionally, Hawaii currently imports 85%-90% of its food which makes it particularly vulnerable to natural disasters and global events that might disrupt shipping and the food supply. The economic impact of food import replacement is significant. In order for local farmers to meet the Hawaii Governor's demand to double local food production by 2030, we need to not only teach people how to farm but also provide the skills and proper facilities to turn their produce into value-added products that can be sold both locally and imported to the mainland and internationally.This program will expose Veterans to didactic and hands-on skill-based training and will also provide a network of stakeholders with a common mission and vision. The goal is to help Veterans transition the training and leadership skills they developed in the military to their local communities. This pilot agricultural training program will be conducted in the region of Hawaii County (Hawaii Island), designated as a rural community, an island and home to over 15,000 Veterans and more than half of the state's agricultural lands and agribusinesses (1). This pilot program is in alignment with USDA Strategic Plan 2022-2026, goal #5 (2) to reduce barriers to access for underserved communities, specifically communities of color; farmworkers; immigrants; refugees; Veterans; people with disabilities; LGBTQ+ individuals; and young, small-scale, and beginning farmers.Grundwork to Grow: Agribusiness format consists of one weekly in-person field day, and one weekly online Zoom meeting over four weeks, for a total of eight meetings. Field days take place at different local agriculture businesses, farms and organizations, and include hands-on immersive experiences. Online meetings will feature guest speakers from farms and also experts from agencies such as CTAHR, UH Hilo, Forestry Services and USDA. This format creates opportunities for Veterans to meet and network with local successful agribusiness operators, and connect to additional resources to support their ongoing agriculture goals.Curriculum is delivered online through the HVS website www.hoolafarms.org, and remains available to participants after the workshop is over. Agribusiness Development Series curriculum includes agribusiness formation & development, financial literacy: accounting & taxes, and agriculture sales & marketing. These topics were chosen in order to focus on training farmers not just how to grow crops, but also how to turn their farm operation into a successful and sustainable business.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Classification

Knowledge Area (KA)Subject of Investigation (SOI)Field of Science (FOS)Percent
90360303020100%
Knowledge Area
903 - Communication, Education, and Information Delivery;

Subject Of Investigation
6030 - The farm as an enterprise;

Field Of Science
3020 - Education;
Goals / Objectives
The goal of the proposed pilot program Groundwork to Grow: Agribusiness is to support the sustainability of military Veteran farmers, ranchers and their families on Hawaii Island by providing an evidence-informed program to meet their needs and promote business success. This program will expose Veterans to didactic and hands-onskill-based training and will also provide a network of stakeholders with a common mission and vision. The goal is to help Veterans transition the training and leadership skills they developed in the military to their local communities. This pilot agricultural training program will be conducted in the region of Hawaii County (Hawaii Island), designated as a rural community, an island and home to over 15,000 Veterans and more than half of the state's agricultural lands and agribusinesses (1). This pilot program is in alignment with USDA Strategic Plan 2022-2026, goal #5 (2) to reduce barriers to access for underserved communities, specifically communities of color; farmworkers; immigrants; refugees; Veterans; people with disabilities; LGBTQ+ individuals; and young, small-scale, and beginning farmers. Groundwork to Grow: Agribusiness Development Series workshops are 4 weeks long, and will be delivered approximately quarterly over the grant period. Workshop topics include agribusiness formation & development, financial literacy: accounting & taxes, and agriculture sales & marketing. The format consists of one weekly in-person field day, and one weekly online Zoom meeting over four weeks, for a total of eight meetings. Field days take place at different local agriculture businesses, farms and organizations, and include hands-on immersive experiences. Online meetings will feature guest speakers from farms and also experts from agencies such as CTAHR, UH Hilo, Forestry Services and USDA. This format creates opportunities for Veterans to meet and network with local successful agribusiness operators, and connect to additional resources to support their ongoing agriculture goals.Objective 1: Provide access and opportunities in the area of agriculture to the Veteran community through Groundwork to Grow: Agribusiness Development Series, a collection of 4-week business development workshops specifically designed to support Veterans who are developing an agriculture business.Objective 2: Develop and deliver agricultural education and skills specifically in the area of food preservation and value-added production through Groundwork to Grow: Master Food Preservers Certification courses. Each course consists of eight days of full immersion didactic education and hands-on training by subject matter experts. Each Veteran will receive a certificate of completion that will advance entrepreneurial skills and workforce development.Objective 3: Connect Veterans to a network of stakeholders and other Veteran farmers and agricultural resources, including local agriculture programs, extension offices and academic institutions.?Objective 4: Utilize data-driven analytics to assess the Veteran population and their agriculture/agribusiness needs in Hawaii.
Project Methods
The format consists of one weekly in-person field day, and one weekly online Zoom meeting over four weeks, for a total of eight meetings. Field days take place at different local agriculture businesses, farms and organizations, and include hands-on immersive experiences. Online meetings will feature guest speakers from farms and also experts from agencies such as CTAHR, UH Hilo, Forestry Services and USDA. This format creates opportunities for Veterans to meet and network with local successful agribusiness operators, and connect to additional resources to support their ongoing agriculture goals.Program evaluation and quality imporvement activities include Individual self-administere health-related assessmentsEntry/baseline assessment completed by all participants; Intensive classroom and field trainingFinal program assessments completed by all participantsProgram evaluation and reporting will be avilable for replication and/or duplication upon request.

Progress 09/01/23 to 08/31/24

Outputs
Target Audience:This year's Agribusiness Development program successfully reached veterans and their families through an evidence-informed approach designed to meet their unique needs. The program recruited veterans from all eras of service--both pre- and post-9/11for broad community impact. Recognizing the crucial role of family in a veteran's support system, we also engaged family members, fostering stronger partnerships. By learning and working together, veterans and their families became better equipped to navigate agribusiness opportunities while strengthening their overall resilience. To support participants, we continued the implementation of our comprehensive learning framework that included four-week Groundwork to Grow courses tailored to key aspects of agricultural entrepreneurship. The Groundwork to Grow:Agribusiness workshop guided participants through essential topics such as business planning, market analysis, branding, and sustainable farm operations. The Financials for Farmers course provided hands-on training in budgeting, securing funding, managing farm finances, and understanding grants and loans. The Master Food Preserver training introduced food safety, value-added production, and preservation techniques to enhance food security and diversify farm income. Additionally, we hosted virtual webinars featuring local and national experts, offering real-world insights and mentorship to help veterans and their families develop the skills necessary for success in agribusiness. Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Groundwork to Grow: Agribusiness program has provided numerous training and professional development opportunities for veterans and their families, equipping them with the knowledge, skills, and resources needed to thrive in agribusiness. These opportunities include: 1. Structured Training Programs Four-Week Groundwork to Grow Courses Agribusiness Development - Business planning, market research, branding, and sustainable farm operations. Financials for Farmers - Budgeting, grant writing, securing funding, and investment strategies. Master Food Preserver Training - Safe food preservation, value-added product development, and regulatory compliance. Hands-on experience in food processing, packaging, and direct-to-consumer sales. 2. Professional Certifications & Career Pathways Master Food Preserver Certification - Participants gained recognized credentials for food preservation and value-added product development. USDA Microloan & Grant Application Training - Support in applying for USDA grants, state-funded programs, and agricultural business loans. Food Safety & Cottage Industry Compliance - Education on state and federal food laws, allowing participants to legally sell their homemade goods. 3. Mentorship & Networking Opportunities Virtual Webinars & Industry Expert Panels Hosted local and national experts covering topics such as agribusiness finance, farm management, and agricultural policy. Provided direct mentorship and Q&A sessions with successful veteran farmers, agricultural entrepreneurs, and financial advisors. One-on-One Business Mentorship Individualized coaching on developing business plans, financial projections, and market entry strategies. Access to experienced agribusiness professionals who provided tailored guidance and feedback. 4. Career Advancement & Employment Pathways Connections to USDA, VA, and Private-Sector Ag Programs Participants gained access to employment, internship, and farm apprenticeship programs. Small Business & Entrepreneurship Support Assistance with launching small farm businesses, value-added product lines, and farm-to-market operations. 5. Expanding Industry Knowledge & Leadership Development Conferences & Continuing Education Participants were encouraged to attend regional and national agricultural conferences. Some graduates were selected to represent veteran farmers at policy discussions and industry events. Leadership & Advocacy Training How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?Yr3 plans include hosting four (4) Intro to Grow one-day workshops, three (3) Groundwork to Grow: Agribusiness 4-week workshops, connect four (4) veterans to local, state and federal programs.

Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals? Objective 1: Hosted four (4) Intro to Grow workshops, and three (2) Groundwork to Grow workshops with 49 unique participants Objective 2: Hosted one (1) Master Food Preserver (40 hour training) cohort with 16veteran participants Objective 3: One - to- One connections made with local, state and federal programs - 5Veterans Objective 4: Islandwide data driven map with farmers/producers locations and products/services available.

Publications


    Progress 09/01/22 to 08/31/23

    Outputs
    Target Audience:Military Veterans, Native Hawaiian, African American, Asian and Pacific Islander, limited resource producers, organic producers, small farmers, women farmers Changes/Problems: Nothing Reported What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?Total Meetings: 27 Total Meeting Participants: 310 Total Webinars: 6 Total Webinar Participants: 52 Total Website Visits: 13,780 In-Person Meetings: 5/13/23 - Hilo, HI -- Number of Attendees 22 1/12/23 - Hilo, HI -- Number of Attendees 11 1/13/23 - Hilo, HI -- Number of Attendees 11 1/19/23 - Hilo, HI -- Number of Attendees 11 1/20/23 - Hilo, HI -- Number of Attendees 11 1/26/23 - Hilo, HI -- Number of Attendees 11 1/27/23 - Hilo, HI -- Number of Attendees 11 2/2/23 - Hilo, HI -- Number of Attendees 11 2/3/23 - Hilo, HI -- Number of Attendees 11 3/11/23- Mountain View, HI -- Number of Attendees 8 3/18/23- Pahoa, HI -- Number of Attendees 8 3/25/23- Hilo, HI -- Number of Attendees 8 4/1/23- Hilo, HI -- Number of Attendees 8 6/1/23- Hilo, HI -- Number of Attendees 13 6/2/23- Hilo, HI -- Number of Attendees 13 6/8/23- Hilo, HI -- Number of Attendees 13 6/9/23- Hilo, HI -- Number of Attendees 13 6/15/23- Hilo, HI -- Number of Attendees 13 6/16/23- Hilo, HI -- Number of Attendees 13 6/22/23- Hilo, HI -- Number of Attendees 13 6/23/23- Hilo, HI -- Number of Attendees 13 8/5/23- Hilo, HI -- Number of Attendees 12 8/12/23- Keaau, HI -- Number of Attendees 12 8/19/23- Mountain View, HI -- Number of Attendees 12 8/26/23- Hilo, HI -- Number of Attendees 12 Webinars: 3/7/23 - Number of Attendees 8 3/14/23 - Number of Attendees 8 3/21/23 - Number of Attendees 8 3/28/23 - Number of Attendees 8 8/1/23 - Number of Attendees 12 8/8/23 - Number of Attendees 12 8/15/23 - Number of Attendees 12 8/22/23 - Number of Attendees 12 How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest? Nothing Reported What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?YR2 plans include hosting three (3) Intro to Grow 1-day Workshops and two (2) Groundwork to Grow 4-week Workshops, and one (1) Master Food Preserver Class, survey current program participants, connect three (3) Veterans to local, state and federal programs

    Impacts
    What was accomplished under these goals? YR1 Accomplishments include: Objective 1: Hosted one (1) Intro to Grow Workshop, and four (4) 4-week Groundwork to Grow workshops with 310 unique participants Objective 2: Hosted two (2) Master Food Preserver (4-week ) cohorts with 24unique participants Objective 3: One-on-One consultations and connections to local state and federal programs - 6 unique participants Objective 4: Established GIS data-base and base line surveys

    Publications