Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
Veterans Employment Base Camp and Organic Garden has achieved the ability to increase educational and marketing opportunities for beginning farmers and ranchers by partnering with Farmer Veterans Coalition of North Carolina and collaborating with the University of Mount Olive in Mount Olive NC, in addition to requesting the services of NC Agritourism and NC Cooperative extension.The strength of our VEBCOG BFRDP TASK FORCE proposal is buoyed by the current partnerships between VEBCOG and the Farmer Veteran Coalition of NC which allows our representative who is a board member, a monthly forum. We have taken the responses from the surveys from the previous AGVET program, FVC-NC conference questionnaires, and NRCS surveys which developed into this proposal that weaves their desires with the education and they will need to thrive as farmers and ranchers.VEBCOG BFRDP Task Force program is keying in on the USDA 2024 goal of Climate Smart improvements in agriculture. Our training programs incorporate climate-smart agriculture and forestry as an integrated approach to enables farmers, ranchers, and forest landowners to respond to climate change by reducing or removing greenhouse gas emissions (mitigation) and adapting and building resilience (adaptation), along with sustainably increasing agricultural productivity.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
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Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
Goal 1: Provide 2 annuals statewide VEBCOG/FVC NC conferences to expand the understanding of agricultural activities that have the ability to move products from the farm/ranch producer to the supply markets throughout the state.Objective 1: Organize conference for 100 new and beginning farmers to provide them with a day-long program that increases awareness of animal and plant innovations, climate smart agriculture, food and forestry solutions, regenerative pasturing and ways to improve nutritional security.Goal 2: Conduct a 3-day annual Boots on the Ground program for 10 veteran farmers in partnership with University of Mount Olive Incubator Farm and FVC NC.Objective 2: Increased opportunities for 10 military farmers and ranchers to expand their entrepreneurship and business knowledge by providing an opportunity reminiscent to the boot camp attended by many of the participants on entry to the military.Goal 3: Development of the FVC NC Homegrown by Heroes farm tour for 10 FVC farmers and ranchers annually to deliver a statewide marketing, education, and outreach campaign. Launch an annual series of agritourism events geared towards veteran farmers in NC using the Homegrown by Heroes logo as a patchwork across the state of NC.Objective 3: Veteran farmers and ranchers across the region will scale up their agricultural businesses by gaining reliable pathways to new and wider markets through diversification, targeted marketing strategies and advertising initiatives.
Project Methods
Objective 1 activities: Organize 300 new and beginning farmers from active-duty military, veterans and their families, to provide them with a hands-on and classroom agricultural experience through 2 annual VEBCOG/FVC NC statewide conferences.• Meet with coordinators and staff.• Market and advertise conference.• Schedule admission through Eventbrite• Reserve East and West location rooms and farms for tour.• Set agenda/speakers• Cater food and acquire raffle baskets• Hold conferences and event surveyObjective 2 activities: Increase opportunities for 30 military farmers and ranchers by providing Boots on the Ground learning reminiscent to the boot camp attended by many of the participantsto include information from USDA and NC agriculture agencies on combatting climate change,climate smart solutions and innovative technologies.• Meet with coordinators and VEBCOG and UMO staff.• Market and advertise program• Set up applications through Survey Monkey, pre-survey and request Business plans• Reserve hotel• Make contract payment with UMO• Review schedule for teachers and staff• Conference call w/attendee and UMO staff for final questions• Hold internship training• Survey post eventObjective 3 activities: Organizing a statewide tour which will develop and improve 30 current farm/ranch operations. This will result in an increased sale of veteran produced local farm and ranch products that will use the Farmer Veteran Coalition "Homegrown by Heroes" logo.Agritourism helps U.S. farmers generate revenue from recreational or educational activities, such as tours of a working farm or "pick-your-own fruits and vegetables" programs.• Meet with VEBCOG staff and farms/ranches.• Market and advertise the tours through NC Agritourism and Got to be NC• Request application using Survey Monkey application.• Review applications and select 10 farms and ranches.• Staff and/or FVC NC board member travel to farm for onsite visit.• Set tour agenda.• Market tours using a map and tour dates.• Request post tour surveys from participants and farm/ranch tour guides.