Recipient Organization
HOOSIER UPLANDS ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION
521 W MAIN ST
MITCHELL,IN 474461410
Performing Department
(N/A)
Non Technical Summary
The proposed AgVet project addresses the need for a new generation of farmers and ranchers by providing returning veterans educational opportunities that will equip them with knowledge and skills necessary for successful agricultural-related careers. Participating veterans will complete an evidence-based orientation curriculum to enhance job readiness, followed by supervised internships at collaborating farms and agribusinesses. Collaborators will provide comprehansive, hands-on training aligned with the participant's personal interests and goals. The project will be managed by Hoosier Uplands Economic Development Corporation located in rural Mitchell, IN. This organization has been one of the state's leading community action agencies for over five decades, providing social services to an exonomicdally distressed region. Hoosier Uplands will partner with the nationally-recognized AgrAbility Program at Purdue University in West Lafayette, IN to develop and deliver educational and training services, provide worksite accommodations due to disabilities, and assist with mentoring and job coaching for interns. Purdue will offer 11 regional agricultural research farms as internship sites, providing an array of agricultural enterprises including beef, dairy;sheep, swine, row crop, vegetable, fruit and timber production. Participants will be recruited primarily from over 400 veterans associated with Indiana's Farmer Veteran Coalition, along with veteran clientele of the AgrAbility project network in surrounding state. The fundamental measure of success of the project will be the number of veterans recruited for the program who become gainfully employed in the food and agriculture sector.
Animal Health Component
(N/A)
Research Effort Categories
Basic
(N/A)
Applied
(N/A)
Developmental
(N/A)
Goals / Objectives
The long-range goal of the project is to provide Veterans the eduactional opportunities and support to prepare them to successfully pursue meaningful and well-paying careers in the food and agricultural sector, including productive agriculture. This goal will be achieved by providing targeted workforce readiness education and training commplemented by up to eight weeks of paid immersive internships at agricultural operations, and slected agricultural-related businesses. Special consideration will be given to Veterans who have experienced military-related emotional or physical trauma.It is anticipated that at least 75 new Veterans (25 per year) will be served by the 2024-2027 project. In addition, the 112 AgVets currently participating will be encouraged to continue as both participants and mentors, especially peer support activities. Due to the wide range of schedules, commitments, and interests of the participants, allowing ongoving program entry, rather than classes or cohortsmakes the program more effective and accessible.As with other outreach efforts associated with the USDA AgrAbility Program, it is anticipated that project activities will generate considerable media attention, exposing Veterans nationwice to job placement and career opportunities in agriculture. An example of this impact is the productive relationship that currently exists between the National Farmer Veteran Coalition and the National AgrAbility Project in promotion of the "Homegrown By Heroes" program.There is no envisioned need fo the renting or construction of any training facilities or worksites due to the currently available, state-of-the artagricultural production facilities and on-site classrooms at Purdue facilities and host sites. The primar use of available funds will be used to support participants by covering costs of training and certification opportunities, and paying a meaninglful hourly wage during on-site internships.Specific measurable objectives identified for this project are summarized below. Modifications may be made as needed as the project continues to unfold.1. Review the participant, host site and project team evaluations from the 2019-2024 project. Special attention will be given to curriculum selection and internship opportunities. Feedback from the contracted outside evaluator will be used in this process.2. The team will review and update the desired minimum learning competencies identified for the initial project. Utilizing an evidence-based DACUM (Developing an Curriculum)process, the project team, including the Advisory team, will update and modify these learning outcomes based on the experiences gained in the current project. The primary focus will be on general workforce readiness skills and knowledge, as well as relevant certifications that will enhance employment opportunities.3. Based upon the identified core competencies, as well as practical exdperience gained during the 2019-2024 project, a suggested curriculum will be developed utilizing primarily existing educational resources complemented by expertixe available from the project partners. Core components that past interns have found valuable include Commercial Pesticide Applicator Registered Technician certification and the OSHA 10 hour online agricultural safety course provided through Good Days Work, Inc. It was shown during the 2019-2024 AgVet project that the varied interests, needs, and schedules of the participants make a defined group curriculum inappropriate.4. Identify up to 45 potential internship sites (15 per year) and conduct the needed training for employers and/or managers regarding program outcomes, their role as supervisors, the role of project job coaches, and the contricutions AgVets will make to ensure success. Sites will include Purdue University operated research farms, commercial farms, greenhouse and nursery; facilities, feed, seed and chemical sales, and agricultural equipment sales and service. Also, collaborations with ag-related governmental units will be explored, as these agencies often seek staff with ag experience. Formal agreements will be completed with each site describing expectations for each party.5. Conduct preliminary internship worksite assessments to identify expected assigned tasks, possible knowledge and training gaps, and any physical barriers to successful completion of internships. In some cases, worksite assessments to identify expected assigned tasks, possible knowledge and training gaps, and any physical barriers to successful completion of internships. In some cases, worksite modifications may need to be made to accommodate Veterans with physical disabilities (www.agribility.org). This may involve on-site services from AgrAbility or Vocational Rehabilitation.6. Continue the ongoing recruiting process that has been in place since inception of the 2019-2024 project, allwoing for a seamless transition into the new project cycle. AgVets will be incorporated into the program upon addeptance of their application, and may begin educational programs immediately.7. Monitor the educational progress of each AgVet through the use of experiences joy coaches and regular electronic communications. Internshops will be monitored through onsite observations and consultations with the intern's supervisor. The format will provide flexibility to allow for career exploration and shifts in interests.8. Conduct and external evaluation of the curriculum and training experiences by an external evaluatorexperienced in development and assessment of certification-based training. Modifications to program contents and structure will be based on feedback from the evaluation process.9. Conduct ongoing follow-up of past participants, both active and inactive. Promote opportunities for networking with other veterans interested in agriculture through events sponsored by AgrAbility, VeteransINFarming, and the National Farmer Veteran Coalition. For exapmple, no fewer than six AgVet participants attended the National AgrAbility Training Workshop in 2024.10. Increase public awareness of the valuable role that AgVets are playing in sustainable agricultural outpub at both the production and service levels through outlets including AgrAbility newsletters and the Purdue Agricultural Communitions Service.11. Complete all required reporting to USDA/NIFA and attend all requied Project Director and Evaluator meetings,
Project Methods
The long range goal of the proposed project will be to enhance the potential for successful placement of Veterans in agricultural-related careers through intense, hands-on immersion learning experiences. This effort will combine an orientation experience to assess skill sets and interests, completion of core skills training, obtaining beneficial certifications and knowledge acquisition such as job readiness, safety and compliance training, and hands-on work experience at selected farms and related worksites. If the interest exists, participants will also be encouraged to consider post-secondary education in agricultural-related fields. Both the primary partners of the proposed project are committed to being able to document outcomes. This includes not only meeting the proposed objectives, butensuring that outcomes reflect long-term sustainability of project efforts. To ensure an objective assessment of project activities, an external evaluator has agreed to conduct required third-party evaluations. He has successfully served as the external evaluator for the current USDA/NIFA funded National AgrAbility Project.To guide the evaluation process, a comprehensive logic model has been developed. It illustrates the linkages between each of the ten core objectives and the desijred outcomes. As noted in the previous section,each objective identifies specific activities along with desired outcomes. For example, each intern will be required to complete the agricultural safety and health workplace safety and health compliance. The desired otcome would be that every intern successfully completes the training and achieve a passing score of at least 80% on the standardized test.An individualized record of each intern will be maintained that documents completion of training, receipt of any training certifications, hours of work at the internship, skills acquired, and other information that would aid in career pursuits. Each intern will be assisted in developing a resume that incorporates a clear summary of past military services and responsibilities, education and new skills developed.