Progress 09/01/18 to 05/31/23
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this AgVets project is military veterans, transitioning military service people, including National Guard and Reserves service people, who are seeking careers in agriculture, and DGA Mentors seeking high quality, high achieving Apprentices. In the second year, our primary focus has been on recruiting military service people and veterans and providing information on the opportunities in dairy farming and the Apprenticeship. Administrative Partners, Education Coordinators, and Mentor Dairy Graziers have received updates and information on recruitment efforts. DGA's Veterans' Liaison conducted outreach to veterans interested in career opportunities in dairy farming and provided personalized follow up support to new veteran applicants. A Veterans Resources page internal to the DGA website now provides veteran and Education Coordinators with access to national and state level resources for military veterans. Changes/Problems:Dairy Grazing Apprenticeship requested and received two no-cost extensions, the first in 2020 and the second in 2022. The economic and social disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic and an industry-wide downturn in dairy farming that created unforeseen challenges to carrying out the activities and meeting related outcomes of this project. During the first 18 months of the project, interest in dairy farming and the work-based training provided by DGA was high with more than 50 veterans from 22 states applying for an Apprenticeship. In 2020, everything changed. Social distancing and travel bans meant that veterans were unable to relocate or even interview for Apprenticeships in many states where Mentors were hiring. The related economic downturn was equally impactful. Farm bankruptcies were at an eight-year high, and the financial instability caused by the pandemic not only disrupted supply chains and destabilized markets but also decreased enrollment in post-secondary education. While DGA was able to adapt programming and support for veterans by moving learning and networking opportunities to virtual platforms, the limits on outreach efforts, in-person farm events, and travel meant few new veteran Apprentices were hired in 2020 and early 2021. By the end of 2021, a new trend began to emerge as more veterans applied and were hired for an Apprenticeship. Between September 2021 and June 21, 2022, 27 veterans applied for an Apprenticeship and three new veteran Apprentices have been hired in the past 6 months. Increased levels of veteran involvement in DGA programming is expected to continue as DGA has multiple on-farm outreach and training events planned for this summer in 12 different states, including Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Vermont. At the same time, veterans who graduated or entered and Apprenticeship before the pandemic are now seeking out pathways to equity-earning partnerships, farm ownership, and business expansion. They were in need of technical support as they seek out financing, set up grazing plans, renovate pastures and infrastructure, and navigate USDA programs. In order to provide support services to two primary cohorts of veterans who are at different stages of their training/ career and have different needs, DGA requested the second extension and adjustment of the AgVets project and budget: 1) Continue outreach, veteran recruitment, and program development in target states in collaboration with project partners, Michigan Institute for Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS), Sustainable Farming Association (SFA) of Minnesota, Ohio Ecological Food and Farming Association (OEFFA), and University of Vermont Extension (UVE). 2) Support services for veterans who are in the first year of an Apprenticeship, including any hired during the extension period. One-on-one guidance and oversight of on-farm training from an Education Coordinator Guidance on navigating veterans programs and accessing GI Bill ® benefits Veteran Stipends to assist with moving costs and supplement farm wages Tuition reimbursement for required classes offered through DGA's online school, Managed Grazing Innovation Center (MGIC) 3) Support services for veterans who have graduated as certified Journey Dairy Graziers. Networking opportunities with other dairy farmers, service providers, and agency professionals On-farm technical support for veterans who are in business partnerships, leasing or transitioning into farm ownership Guidance on applying for Beginning Farmer Loans through Farm Services Agency (FSA) for which DGA is an approved vendor Guidance on applying for USDA programs most relevant to grazing, such as Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) 4) Tuition reimbursement for all veterans who are MGIC students during the 2022-2023 academic year, whether they complete just one class, including FSA approved Farm Business Management, or all six for a Managed Grazing Dairy Certificate. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?In 2019, DGA conducted its annual Education Coordinator Training at the Nature Inn at Bald Eagle State Park in Howard, Pennsylvania. The event was attended by 18 individuals, including all 11 Education Coordinators as well as other representatives from Administrative Partner organizations and DGA executive staff members. DGA graduate, Matthew Keesling joined via video conference to present on DGA's veterans programming, explain the AgVets Veterans Stipend and GI Benefits that can be used during an Apprenticeship, and facilitate a plan for partner collaboration. He also answered participant questions on other veteran issues, such as military culture, the challenges of adjusting to civilian life, and his own experiences in the Apprenticeship. The 2021 Education Coordinator was held in person at Lake Morey Inn, Fairlee, VT and was co-organized by DGA Administrative Partner, University of Vermont. In addition to key DGA staff members, ten Education Coordinators from PA, WI, MN, OH, NY, VT, and MO attended the event, which featured a visit from Vermont Secretary of Ag, Anson Tebbetts and three local Mentor-Apprentice pairs. Presentations were given on Veteran opportunities in DGA, including AgVets stipends and MGIC tuition reimbursement. In 2022 DGA held a two and a half-day, in-person Education Coordinator (EC) Retreat on the campus of Michigan State University. Seven ECs attended in-person from WI, MN, MI, PA, VT, OH, MO and five (5) attended virtually, through Zoom from WI, MN, ME, PA. Three DGA staff were also in attendance.The event focused on EC education, veteran and unserved recruitment discussion, Mentor resource offerings/discussion, technical assistance provided to each other based on how they manage their program in their states and general DGA discussion re: feedback on improvements needed and suggestions for new programming. Updates to the DGA website and internal search engine, indicates veterans status on the profiles of Apprentice/ Intern Candidates and allow Mentors to filter searches to select Veterans Only. Combined with veteran support stipends and tuition reimbursement, recruitment efforts, diverse educational opportunities, and geographic expansion, this feature will make it easier for veterans to participate in DGA programming. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Outreach to veterans. DGA has conducted significant outreach through veteran and agricultural media through advertising campaigns, virtual and in-person career fairs, and partner collaborations, including Farmer Veteran Coalitions conference, newsletter, and social media. The General DGA Program, which describes Apprenticeship and identifies veteran benefits are accepted has been translated into Spanish and is distributed at events, along with Veteran brochure. Both are available on the DGA website. The Veteran's Resources page (https://www.dga-national.org/program/resources/veteran-resources) was made available to the general public in 2022. The page houses resources and contacts on VA benefits and other materials for veterans interested in agriculture. Now veteran visitors to the DGA website can see AgVets support and other resources available before they even apply for an Apprenticeship/ Internship or enroll in MGIC classes. Combined with veteran support stipends and tuition reimbursement, recruitment efforts, diverse educational opportunities, and geographic expansion, this feature makes it easier for veterans to participate in DGA programming. Collaboration with communities of interest. DGA's Advisory Committee has created partnerships with Wisconsin veterans' agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Middleton VA Hospital, the WI Department of Workforce Development and the WI Department of Agriculture. Apprentice Liaison, Ange Sullivan, also sits on the Wisconsin Veterans Farm Advisory Council. These relationships yield additional contacts and partners, as well as connections with individual veterans. In each state in the DGA network, there is a different configuration of agencies and organizations working in the veterans' sphere. The experience in Wisconsin provides a template for assisting partner organizations establish collaborative relationships with appropriate groups in their own states. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?
Nothing Reported
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: Outreach program Advertising DGA has pursued a two-pronged approach to recruitment of veterans throughout the project. The first emphasizes collaboration with veteran organizations and outreach/advertising outlets to raise general awareness of dairy farming as a potential next career and DGA as a pathway for retired service members. The second aims to engage veterans who are already interested in dairy farming, and perhaps have a farming background, through agricultural organizations and outreach/advertising outlets. For use in all recruitment efforts, DGA developed veteran-specific brochures, advertisements farming and veteran publications, a full-length opportunity description and veteran recruitment video, and staffing of in-person and virtual events by DGA Apprenticeship Director and Veterans' Liaison, Angie Sullivan. DGA has advertised specific as well as general opportunities for veterans through print ads in Graze Magazine and local media, a comprehensive AgHires campaign, and listings with Recruit Military, Soldier for Life, and Hiring Heroes. DGA contracted a marketing firm to bolster social media presence across various platforms and partners with Farmers Veterans Coalition to increase the visibility of DGA programming in its outreach material. Angie Sullivan is DGA Veteran's Liaison and Sebastian Walters, Veterans Program Specialist at the Wisconsin Department of Veteran's Affairs, continues to serve as a consultant and provides assistance to Veteran applicant seeking to access programs and file appropriate paperwork. Recruitment Events At recruitment events from 2028 through 2023, including virtual events as the COVID-19 pandemic required, DGA staff in Wisconsin and partnering Education Coordinators in Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Vermont, staffed exhibit booths and distributed general program information as well as veteran brochures and answered questions about DGA's Apprenticeship as a career pathway for veterans interested in dairy farming. Conferences World Dairy Expo GrassWorks Grazing Conference Marbleseed Organic Farming Conference Ohio Ecological Food & Farming Association Conference Farmer Veterans Coalition Stakeholders Conference PASA Sustainable Conference Sustainable Farming Association Conference Healing Our Waters FFA State Convention Midwest Soil Summit North Eastern Pasture Consortium Career Fairs Recruit Military Virtual Career Fair Southwest Tech Career Fair UW River Falls Career Fair UW Platteville Career Fair Local Veterans Career Fairs Professional Meetings/ Farm Tours Wisconsin Veteran FARMS Advisory Council Organic Valley Annual Meetings Organic Advisory Council Farm Tour East Coast Farm Tour Getting Serious: Apprenticeship Equity Solutions for Employers National Apprenticeship Week Recruitment Outcomes: During the funding period, 117 veterans applied for an Apprenticeship or Internship on DGA website from across the United States. Like most Apprentice Candidates, a majority of Veteran applicants found DGA themselves through unspecified online research. Recruitment has been most successful through Ag-related media and search engine optimization, which allows veterans who already have an interest in dairy farming find an opportunity. Hiring has continued to be slow despite easing of the pandemic because of economic challenges that many dairy farmers are facing. Notable success stories of veteran participants include Matthew Keesling, a Journeyworker who went on to become an approve Mentor and has since hired two veterans as Apprentices; Stephen Machamer, who graduated as a Journeyworker and went on to purchase his own dairy in Ohio; and Shaundra Shepherd who completed her Internship and is still working on the dairy farm where she interned while going to college. Since 2020, when DGA opened its online school, Managed Grazing Innovation Center (MGIC), to the public, an additional 36 veterans have enrolled in classes (without applying for an Apprenticeship or Internship). Five established dairy graziers who are military veterans themselves applied to become DGA Mentors during the funding period. Goal 2: Comprehensive training Apprentice on-farm training and peer networking The DGA on-farm training curriculum covers major work areas needed to successfully own and operate a managed-grazing dairy farm. Apprentices receive 3,700 hours of work-based training and mentoring. Apprentice discussion groups (virtual as required and in person), conferences, and pasture walks provided additional training and networking opportunities for veteran Apprentices, Apprentice Candidates, and the general public. DGA pasture walks, which generally attract between 20 and 40 people, have covered a wide range of topics, from introduction to managed grazing to hoof trimming to use of the precision technology for improved grazing management and farm profitability. General programming and veteran specific outreach materials as well as USDA program information and resources, in both Spanish and English during 2022 grazing season, were made available. Michigan - 5 Pasture Walks Minnesota - 7 Pasture Walks Missouri - 6 Pasture Walks Ohio - 3 Pasture Walks Pennsylvania - 4 Pasture Walks Vermont Pasture - 3 Pasture Walks Wisconsin - 11 Pasture Walks Expanded access to online classes Managed Grazing Innovation Center (MGIC), DGA's online school, provides customized coursework for Apprentices and opened to the public in 2020. This has broadened the educational reach on managed grazing dairy production to include veterans who are out of state, make applicants more appealing to Mentors who are seeking an Apprentice, and provide increased networking opportunities. Beginning Spring Semester of 2021 DGA began offering MGIC tuition reimbursement for veterans through the AgVets grant. Webinars Virtual webinars, once open only to approved DGA Mentors, are now open to veteran applicants and anyone who has the event Zoom link, which is circulated through the DGA website, newsletter, and partners. The webinars, organized by the Apprenticeship Director, feature guest speakers, Q & A, and peer discussion on topics of interest to managed grazing dairy farmers. These webinars generally have 15-30 current and aspiring producers in attendance. During the funding period DGA offered 38 webinars. Goal 3: Expanding availability DGA has brought on new partners to deliver the Apprenticeship program in four states: Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio, and Vermont. Although expansion has been hampered during the past year by low milk prices and economic uncertainty (38 Mentors retired from farming during the project), DGA continues to recruit and approve new Mentors. Since September of 2018, DGA has approved nearly 100 new Mentors, many in the target states. In Michigan, DGA collaborates with Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS), which has a Veterans-In-Agriculture Network, and has brought on DGA graduate Jessica Duran as a staff member. Duran serves as Director for the Managed Grazing Innovation Center as well as MI Education Coordinator. Duran also holds a DVM from the University of Mexico and is a bilingual dairy consultant. She provides support services for eight Mentors in Michigan and will work with DGA staff on veteran recruitment as well as Spanish language curriculum development. Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association is a grassroots organization working to build a healthy food system. OH Education Coordinator, John Stock, serves seven Mentors and two Mentor-Apprentice pairs. Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota is dedicated to sustainable agriculture production. MN Education Coordinator, Angie Walter, serves 35 Mentors and two Mentor-Apprentice pairs. University of Vermont Center for Sustainable Agriculture works with DGA and other Vermont partners on local and regional recruitment efforts. VT Education Coordinator, Mary Ellen Franklin, serves 22 Mentors and two Mentor-Apprentice pairs.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/21 to 08/31/22
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this AgVets project is military veterans, transitioning military service people, including National Guard and Reserves service people, who are seeking careers in agriculture, and DGA Mentors seeking high quality, high achieving Apprentices. In the second year, our primary focus has been on recruiting military service people and veterans and providing information on the opportunities in dairy farming and the Apprenticeship. Administrative Partners, Education Coordinators, and Mentor Dairy Graziers have received updates and information on recruitment efforts. DGA's Veterans' Liaison conducted outreach to veterans interested in career opportunities in dairy farming and provided personalized follow up support to new veteran applicants. A Veterans Resources page internal to the DGA website now provides veteran and Education Coordinators with access to national and state level resources for veterans. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?The 2021 Education Coordinator was held in person at Lake Morey Inn, Fairlee, VT and was co-organized by DGA Administrative Partner, University of Vermont. In addition to key DGA staff members, ten Education Coordinators from PA, WI, MN, OH, NY, VT, and MO attended the event, which featured a visit from Vermont Secretary of Ag, Anson Tebbetts and three local Mentor-Apprentice pairs. Presentations were given on Veteran opportunities in DGA, including AgVets stipends and MGIC tuition reimbursement. In 2022 DGA held a two and a half-day, in-person Education Coordinator (EC) Retreat on the campus of Michigan State University. Seven ECs attended in-person from WI, MN, MI, PA, VT, OH, MO and five (5) attended virtually, through Zoom from WI, MN, ME, PA. Three DGA staff were also in attendance.The event focused on EC education, veteran and unserved recruitment discussion, Mentor resource offerings/discussion, technical assistance provided to each other based on how they manage their program in their states and general DGA discussion re: feedback on improvements needed and suggestions for new programming. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Outreach to veterans. DGA has conducted significant outreach through veteran and agricultural media through advertising campaigns, virtual and in-person career fairs, and partner collaborations, including Farmer Veteran Coalitions conference, newsletter, and social media. The General DGA Program, which describes Apprenticeship and identifies veteran benefits are accepted has been translated into Spanish and is distributed at events, along with Veteran brochure. Both are available on the DGA website. The Veteran's Resources page (https://www.dga-national.org/program/resources/veteran-resources) was made available to the general public in 2022. The page houses resources and contacts on VA benefits and other materials for veterans interested in agriculture. Now veteran visitors to the DGA website can see AgVets support and other resources available before they even apply for an Apprenticeship/ Internship or enroll in MGIC classes. Combined with veteran support stipends and tuition reimbursement, recruitment efforts, diverse educational opportunities, and geographic expansion, this feature makes it easier for veterans to participate in DGA programming. Collaboration with communities of interest. DGA's Advisory Committee has created partnerships with Wisconsin veterans' agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Middleton VA Hospital, the WI Department of Workforce Development and the WI Department of Agriculture. Apprentice Liaison, Ange Sullivan, also sits on the Wisconsin Veterans Farm Advisory Council. These relationships yield additional contacts and partners, as well as connections with individual veterans. In each state in the DGA network, there is a different configuration of agencies and organizations working in the veterans' sphere. The experience in Wisconsin provides a template for assisting partner organizations establish collaborative relationships with appropriate groups in their own states. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?While DGA has made significant progress, developing recruitment campaigns, programming, and resources for veterans, there have been challenges to finding placement for veterans who have an interest in Apprenticeship as a career pathway into dairy farming. In order for a match to be successful, the goals and needs of Mentor Dairy Grazier and an Apprentice, including timing, geographic location, housing, previous experience, and level of compensation, must align. This is always the case. But the volatility of the dairy industry, the broad geographical dispersion of veteran Apprentice Candidates outside the DGA network, lingering impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, and an uncertain dairy economy have resulted in the project falling short of its goals. General programming Continue collaboration and information sharing with the Veteran's Hospital VA FARMS project, other AgVets grant recipients, and other new communities of interest throughout the region. Continue partnership with new chapters of the Farmer Veterans Coalition in Minnesota and Wisconsin to conduct outreach, enhance networking, and provide veteran resources. Recruitment Focus recruitment efforts in states where Mentor Dairy Graziers are hiring and make regular reports on new veteran Apprentice/ Intern Candidates to Education Coordinators. Focus on veteran and underserved beginning farmer recruitment at winter farming conferences, including Grassworks Grazing Conference, Marbleseed Organic Farming Conference, and PASA Sustainable Conference ce, as well as spring on-farm events in 2023. Continue targeted recruitment efforts with partner organizations in DGA's 15-state service area, including distributing brochures. Orientation of DGA Education Coordinators, outreach to Mentors Conduct training with DGA Education Coordinators and partners on veterans' issues and on DGA's veterans' outreach project via our in-person annual training as well as webinars and conference calls. Develop online training for DGA Mentors explaining our program and the benefits of hiring a veteran through new MGIC platform Work with partner organizations in expansion states initially (MN, MI, OH, VT) and assist in organizing activities.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: Outreach program Advertising DGA has pursued a two-pronged approach to recruitment of veterans. The first emphasizes collaboration with veteran organizations and outreach/advertising outlets to raise general awareness of dairy farming as a potential next career and DGA as a pathway for retired service members. The second aims to engage veterans who are already interested in dairy farming, and perhaps have a farming background, through agricultural organizations and outreach/advertising outlets. For use in all recruitment efforts, DGA developed veteran-specific brochures, advertisements farming and veteran publications, a full-length opportunity description and veteran recruitment video, and staffing of in-person and virtual events by DGA Apprenticeship Director and Veterans' Liaison, Angie Sullivan. In 2022, DGA advertised opportunities for veterans through Graze Magazine and also worked with designCraft to bolster outreach and recruitment efforts through social media, resulting in an increase in followers among veterans and non-veteran. Sebastian Walters, Veterans Program Specialist at the Wisconsin Department of Veteran's Affairs, continues to serve as a consultant and provides assistance to Veteran applicant seeking to access programs and file appropriate paperwork. Recruitment Events At recruitment events DGA staff distributed veteran brochures, and answered questions about the Apprenticeship program. World Dairy Expo - September27 - Oct 2, 2021 GrassWorks 2022 - January 20 - 22, 2022 Wisconsin Veteran FARMS Advisory Council, meets monthly UW River Falls Career Fair, October 12 & 13, 2022 MOSES Conference (now Marbleseed), February 24-26, 2022 UW Platteville Career Fair, February 9, 2022 Midwest Soil Summit, Elk River, MN - March 8-9, 2022 NE Pasture Consortium, Vermont (virtual) - March 24, 2022 Southwest Tech Career Fair - Fenimore, WI - March 30, 2022 Getting Serious: Apprenticeship Equity Solutions for Employers - May 4 & 5, 2022 NRCS PaddockTrac Training - Medford, WI - May 31 - June 2, 2022 Michigan Organic Valley Annual Meeting - Saginaw, MI - June 7, 2022 Michigan Organic Valley Annual Meeting - Big Rapids, MI - June 8, 2022 FFA State Convention, Madison, WI - June 15, 2022 East Coast Farm Tour - Vermont, Maine, Massachusetts, New York - July 18 - 22, 2022 Organic Advisory Council Farm Tour - Behar Farm, Gays Mills, WI - July 25, 2022 World Dairy Expo - October 2 - 7, 2022 Farmer Veteran Coalition of WI Fall Conference - October 20, 2022 UW Platteville Career Fair (2nd) - October 28, 2022 Healing Our Waters Conference - Milwaukee, WI - October 18, 2022 National Apprenticeship Week - (virtual) - November 14 - 18, 202 Recruitment Outcomes: Thirty-six (36) veterans applied for an Apprenticeship on DGA website from across the United States between September 1, 2021 and December 15, 2022. 1 - AK; 1 - CA; 2 - CO; 1 - FL; 1 - GA; 2 - IA; 1 - IL; 1 - MA; 1 - ME; 1 - MI; 1 - MN; 2 - MO; 1 - MT; 3 - NC; 2 - NJ; 4 - NY; 1 - OH; 1 - PA; 1 - RI; 1 - SC; 3 - TX; 1- WA; 3 - WI A question "How did you find DGA?" on the Apprentice Application helps track effectiveness of recruitment efforts: Google/Internet/Online search - 16; FVC - 7; Social Media - 3; Partner organizations - 1; VA - 4; NY Farm Link - 1; Extension Agent Maine - 1; University Counselor - 2. Like most Apprentice Candidates, a majority of Veteran applicants found DGA themselves through unspecified online research. Recruitment has been most successful through Ag-related media and search engine optimization, which allows veterans who already have an interest in dairy farming find an opportunity. Hiring has continued to be slow despite easing of the pandemic because of economic challenges that many dairy farmers are facing. Two notable success stories of veteran participants are Stephen Machamer, who graduated as a DGA Journeyworker 8/10/22 and went on to purchase his own dairy in Ohio; and Shaundra Shepherd who completed her Internship 8/13/22 and is still working on the dairy farm where she interned while going to college. Apprentice Candidates who do not stay active on the DGA website receive notification and have option to reactivate their profile and application. Since the beginning of this project, 78 veteran Apprentice Candidates have gone inactive but are still in the DGA website database and may re-activate their profiles at any time. They can also be notified by DGA of any new opportunities, such as the availability of online classes, webinars, and other educational events. Goal 2: Comprehensive training Apprentice on-farm training and peer networking The DGA on-farm training curriculum covers major work areas needed to successfully own and operate a managed-grazing dairy farm. Apprentices receive 3,700 hours of work-based training and mentoring. With the easing of COVID related restrictions in 2022, Apprentice discussion groups (virtual and in person), pasture walks, and conferences provided additional educational and networking opportunities for veteran Apprentices, Apprentice Candidates, and the general public. DGA Pasture Walk - Springfield, MO - April 20, 2022 DGA Pasture Walk - Dodgeville, WI - May 10, 2022 DGA Pasture Walk - Kellogg Biological Station, East Lansing, MI - May 20, 2022 DGA Pasture Walk - Mageean Farm, MI - June 3, 2022 DGA Pasture Walk - Miraposa 4 Farm - Granby, MO - June 21, 2022 DGA Pasture Walk - Canal Junction - OH - July 16, 2022 DGA Pasture Walk - Nyquist Farm, MN - July 21, 2022 DGA Pasture Walk - Bossie Cow Dairy - Baker Farm - WI - August 16, 2022 DGA Pasture Walk - Ron & Susan Rusk Farm - MI - September 9, 2022 DGA Pasture Walk - Mericka Farm - September 29, 2022 DGA Pasture Walk - Haugen Farm - Canton, MN - October 4, 2022 DGA Pasture Walk - Medford, WI - Tomandl Farm - October 18, 2022 Expanded access to online classes Managed Grazing Innovation Center (MGIC), DGA's online school, provides customized coursework for Apprentices and opened to the public in 2020. This has broadened the educational reach on managed grazing dairy production to include veterans who are out of state, make applicants more appealing to Mentors who are seeking an Apprentice, and provide increased networking opportunities. Beginning Spring Semester of 2021 DGA began offering MGIC tuition reimbursement for veterans through the AgVets grant. To date, nine veterans have taken classes and received tuition reimbursement. In the fall of 2022, DGA moved to a new platform that to provide an increased level of independence and engagement for students through Decebo as well as resources and training materials in Spanish. Monthly webinars Virtual webinars, once open only to approved DGA Mentors, are now open to veteran applicants and anyone who has the event Zoom link, which is circulated through the DGA website, newsletter, and partners. The webinars, organized by DGA Education Coordinator and former Mentor Altfrid Krusenbuam, features guest speakers, Q & A, and peer discussion on topics of interest to managed grazing dairy farmers.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/20 to 08/31/21
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this AgVets project is military veterans, transitioning military service people, including National Guard and Reserves service people, who are seeking careers in agriculture, and DGA Mentors seeking high quality, high achieving Apprentices. In the second year, our primary focus has been on recruiting military service people and veterans and providing information on the opportunities in dairy farming and the Apprenticeship. Administrative Partners, Education Coordinators, and Mentor Dairy Graziers have received updates and information on recruitment efforts. DGA's Veterans' Liaison conducted outreach to veterans interested in career opportunities in dairy farming and provided personalized follow up support to new veteran applicants. A Veterans Resources page internal to the DGA website now provides veteran and Education Coordinators with access to national and state level resources for veterans. Changes/Problems:
Nothing Reported
What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?DGA conducted its annual Education Coordinator Retreat and Training meeting virtually in September of 2020, bringing together five DGA staff members and 18 Education Coordinators and administrative staff from partner organizations for a two day event that covered management protocols, new features on the DGA website, and curriculum changes for related instruction through MGIC as well as a virtual pasture walk conducted by Apprentices and a cheese tasting that samples artisan cheese produced by Mentor Dairy Graziers from across the network. The 2021 Education Coordinator was held in person at Lake Morey Inn, Fairlee, VT and was co-organized by DGA Administrative Partner, University of Vermont. In addition to key DGA staff members, ten Education Coordinators from PA, WI, MN, OH, NY, VT, and MO attended the event, which featured a visit from Vermont Secretary of Ag, Anson Tebbetts and three local Mentor-Apprentice pairs. Presentations were given on Veteran opportunities in DGA, including AgVets stipends and MGIC tuition reimbursement, and a new AgHires recruitment campaign launched September 1st, 2021. New updates to the DGA website and internal search engine, indicates veterans status on the profiles of Apprentice/ Intern Candidates and allow Mentors to filter searches to select Veterans Only. Combined with veteran support stipends and tuition reimbursement, recruitment efforts, diverse educational opportunities, and geographic expansion, this feature will make it easier for veterans to participate in DGA programming. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Outreach to veterans. DGA has conducted significant outreach through veteran and agricultural media through advertising campaigns, virtual and in-person career fairs, and partner collaborations, including Farmer Veteran Coalitions conference, newsletter, and FaceBook page. An AgHires Veteran video that was part of comprehensive outreach campaign in 14 states is still available on DGA's YouTube Channel (https://youtu.be/cEobFGdbQQk). A DGA Veterans brochure and the GI Bill® Hotline (for specific GI Bill questions: 888-442-4551) were added to the DGA website. A Veteran's Resources page, available to veteran Apprentices and Apprentice Candidates, houses resources and contacts on VA benefits and other materials for veterans interested in agriculture and is searchable by state in DGA network. News items highlighting veteran experience in DGA. Matthew Keesling, a U.S. Army veteran who has gone through the Apprenticeship program, transitioned into ownership of the dairy farm where he completed his training. He has given interviews for print and radio as well as sharing his story at conferences, pasture walks, and other outreach events. In the fall of 2020, he was featured along with two other DGA participants in an article in Progressive Dairy. September 13, 2020. Progressive Dairy. "Dairy grazing apprenticeships take root." https://www.progressivedairy.com/topics/people/dairy-grazing-apprenticeships-take-root Collaboration with communities of interest. DGA's Advisory Committee has created partnerships with Wisconsin veterans' agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Middleton VA Hospital, the WI Department of Workforce Development and the WI Department of Agriculture. Apprentice Liaison, Ange Sullivan, also sits on the Wisconsin Veterans Farm Advisory Council. These relationships yield additional contacts and partners, as well as connections with individual veterans. In each state in the DGA network, there is a different configuration of agencies and organizations working in the veterans' sphere. The experience in Wisconsin provides a template for assisting partner organizations establish collaborative relationships with appropriate groups in their own states. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?While DGA has made significant progress, developing recruitment campaigns, programming, and resources for veterans, there have been challenges to finding placement for veterans who have an interest in Apprenticeship as a career pathway into dairy farming. In order for a match to be successful, the goals and needs of Mentor Dairy Grazier and an Apprentice, including timing, geographic location, housing, previous experience, and level of compensation, must align. This is always the case. But the volatility of the dairy industry, the broad geographical dispersion of veteran Apprentice Candidates outside the DGA network, and impacts of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in the project falling short of its goals. General programming Continue collaboration and information sharing with the Veteran's Hospital VA FARMS project, other AgVets grant recipients, and other new communities of interest throughout the region. DGA will partner with new chapters of the Farmer Veterans Coalition in Minnesota and Wisconsin to conduct outreach, enhance networking, and provide veteran resources. New administrative partner Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS) will co-organize the 2022 Education Coordinator retreat, providing information and resources from the MIFFS Veterans-In-Agriculture network. Recruitment Work with Evaluator to conduct surveys and focus groups to identify motivations of veterans interested in agricultural careers and use this information to target marketing and recruitment. Focus recruitment efforts in states where Mentor Dairy Graziers are hiring and make regular reports on new veteran Apprentice/ Intern Candidates to Education Coordinators. Continue targeted recruitment efforts with partner organizations in DGA's 15-state service area, including distributing brochures. Shift Wisconsin veterans' programming to maintenance phase and expand efforts to other states. In September of 2021, DGA restarted its AgHires campaign and as of November 17, eight additional veterans have applied on the DGA website for an Apprenticeship or Internship, and eight have gone inactive, so the total of active veteran candidates has held steady at 18 World Dairy Expo in Madison, Wisconsin, Serving as the meeting place of the global dairy industry, the event draws more than 60,000 people, from nearly 100 countries and features world's largest dairy-focused trade show as well as dairy and forage seminars. September 28 - October 2, 2021 Orientation of DGA Education Coordinators, outreach to Mentors Conduct training with DGA Education Coordinators and partners on veterans' issues and on DGA's veterans' outreach project via our in-person annual training as well as webinars and conference calls. Develop a PDF brochure for DGA Mentors explaining our program and the benefits of hiring a veteran, to be distributed by our partners in all states. Work with partner organizations in expansion states initially (MN, MI, OH, VT) and assist in organizing activities.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: Outreach program Advertising DGA has pursued a two-pronged approach to recruitment of veterans. The first emphasizes collaboration with veteran organizations and outreach/advertising outlets to raise general awareness of dairy farming as a potential next career and DGA as a pathway for retired service members. The second aims to engage veterans who are already interested in dairy farming, and perhaps have a farming background, through agricultural organizations and outreach/advertising outlets. DGA has developed veteran-specific brochures, advertisements farming and veteran publications, a full-length opportunity description and veteran recruitment video, and staffing of in-person and virtual events by DGA Apprenticeship Director and Veterans' Liaison, Angie Sullivan. Sullivan received training through the Wisconsin Veteran's Administration as a School Coordinator to assist veterans with paperwork even outside of the state of Wisconsin. She has taken the lead on recruitment efforts, both virtual and in-person. Advertising campaigns through AgHires, Graze Magazine, Farmer Veterans Coalition (FVC), and local media helped veterans already seeking opportunities in or dairy find DGA. In addition, Sebastian Walters, Veterans Program Specialist at the Wisconsin Department of Veteran's Affairs serves as a consultant and provides assistance to Veteran applicant seeking to access programs. Recruitment Events At recruitment events Sullivan presented on DGA veterans program and/or helped staff DGA booth, distributed veteran brochures, and answered questions about the Apprenticeship program. Veteran's Employment Training Service - Veteran PILOT Program February 12, 19, 26 & March 12, 19, 26 * Wisconsin Veteran FARMS Advisory Council, meets monthly UW River Falls Career Fair, February 17, 2021 Growing Stronger Together: Collaborative Conference on Organic and Sustainable Farming February 24-27, 2021** UW Platteville Career Fair, February 25, 2021 DGA Mentor Grazing Summit, Medford, WI August 24-26 Lincoln County Wisconsin Farm Bureau - Farm Tours, June 5, 2021 FFA State Convention, Madison, WI July 7, 2021 WJR Radio Program, Michigan Veteran Affairs - July 13, 2021 Sustainable Farming Association Conference, February 2, 2021 Soil Health Academy, Derek Schmitz farm (DGA Mentor) June 22 - 24, 2021 * VETS Unveils TAP Apprenticeship Pilot - FEBRUARY 12, 19, 26 2021 & March 12, 19, 26 The Veterans' Employment & Training Service (VETS) will soon be launching a Transition Assistance Program (TAP) Apprenticeship Pilot that seek to identify, track, and increase the number of service members and their spouses that are hired prior to separation from the military into apprenticeship opportunities. Apprenticeship can be an extremely valuable model for veterans making the transition back to the civilian workforce. ** Virtual conference that combined MOSES Conference/GrassWorks Grazing Conference/Midwest Organic Pork Conference/OGRAIN Organic Grain Conference/Organic Vegetable Production Conference Recruitment Outcomes: Eighteen (18) veterans applied for an Apprenticeship on DGA website from across the United States between September 1, 2020 and August 31 2021. 1 AZ; 1 CA; 1 IL; 1 KS; 1 MA; 2 MI; 1 MO; 1 NJ; 1 OR; 3 PA; 2 WA; 3 WI A question "How did you find DGA?" on the Apprentice Application helps track effectiveness of recruitment efforts: 1 FVC; 2 veteran specific outlets; 5 AgHires/ Indeed campaign; 2 DGA partners. Like most Apprentice Candidates, most Veteran applicants found DGA themselves through unspecified online research. Recruitment has been most successful through Ag-related media and search engine optimization. Hiring has continued to be slow with two new veterans hired (one of whom left during the probation period). The persistence of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions, and economic uncertainty have created additional barriers for both veterans seeking an Apprenticeship and Mentors seeking to hire an Apprentice or Intern. Apprentice Candidates who do not stay active on the DGA website receive notification and have option to reactivate their profile and application to be notified by DGA of any new opportunities, such as the availability of online classes, webinars, and other educational events. Goal 2: Comprehensive training Apprentice on-farm training and peer networking The DGA on-farm training curriculum covers major work areas needed to successfully own and operate a managed-grazing dairy farm. Apprentices receive 3,700 hours of work-based training and mentoring. Although the pandemic disrupted planned events in the fall of 2020, Apprentice discussion groups (virtual and in person), pasture walks, and conferences provided additional educational and networking opportunities for veteran Apprentices, Apprentice Candidates, and the general public during the 2021 grazing season. DGA Pasture Walk - Richmond, MN May 21, 2021 DGA Pasture Walk - St. Charles, MN May 18, 2021 DGA Pasture Walk - Whitingham, VT - May 25, 2021 DGA Pasture Walk - Edgar, WI, July 2, 2021 DGA Pasture Walk - Monette, MO July 8, 2021 DGA Pasture Walk - Groton, NY - July 8, 2021 DGA Pasture Walk - Hartland, VT July 23, 2021 DGA Pasture Walk - Rudolph, WI, July 30, 2021 DGA Pasture Walk - St. Mary's, Ohio - August 4, 2021 DGA Pasture Walk - Harwood, MO August 24, 2021 Expanded access to online classes Managed Grazing Innovation Center (MGIC), DGA's online school, provides customized coursework for Apprentices and opened to the public in 2020. This has broadened the educational reach on managed grazing dairy production to include veterans who are out of state, make applicants more appealing to Mentors who are seeking an Apprentice, and provide increased networking opportunities. Beginning Spring Semester of 2021 DGA has offered MGIC tuition reimbursement for veterans through the AgVets grant. Monthly webinars Virtual webinars, once open only to approved DGA Mentors, are now open to veteran applicants and anyone who has the event Zoom link, which is circulated through the DGA website, newsletter, and partners. The webinars, organized by DGA Education Coordinator and former Mentor Altfrid Krusenbuam, features guest speakers, Q & A, and peer discussion on topics of interest to managed grazing dairy farmers. Goal 3: Expanding availability DGA has brought on new partners to deliver the Apprenticeship program in four states: Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Vermont. Although expansion has slowed during the pandemic, DGA continues to recruit and approve new Mentors. Since the previous report, 21 new Mentors have been approved, including 15 in the target states. In Michigan DGA has a new administrative partner, Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS), which has a Veterans-In-Agriculture Network and has hired DGA graduate Jessica Duran as Education Coordinator. Duran also holds a DVM from the University of Mexico and is a bilingual dairy consultant. She provides support services for eight Mentors in Michigan and will work with DGA staff on veteran recruitment as well as Spanish language curriculum development. Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association is a grassroots organization working to build a healthy food system. New OH Education Coordinator, Robin Hackett, serves six Mentors and four Mentor-Apprentice pairs. Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota is a grassroots membership organization dedicated to sustainable agriculture production. MN Education Coordinators, Angie Walters and Bonnie Haugen, serve 34 Mentors and three Mentor-Apprentice pairs. University of Vermont Center for Sustainable Agriculture is working with DGA and other Vermont partners, including Cabot Creamery Cooperative, on local and regional recruitment efforts. VT Education Coordinator, Mary Ellen Franklin, serves 21 Mentors and three Mentor-Apprentice pairs.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/19 to 08/31/20
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this AgVets project is military veterans, transitioning military service people, including National Guard and Reserves service people, who are seeking careers in agriculture, and DGA Masters seeking high quality, high achieving Apprentices. In the second year, our primary focus has been on recruiting military service people and veterans and providing information on the opportunities in dairy farming and the Apprenticeship. Administrative Partners, Education Coordinators, and Master Dairy Graziers have received updates and information on recruitment efforts. DGA's Veterans' Liaison conducted outreach to veterans insterested in career opportunities in dairy farming and provided personalized follow support to new veteran applicants. A Veterans Resources page internal to the DGA website now provides veteran and Education Coordinators with access to national and state level resources for veterans. Changes/Problems:While DGA has made significant progress, developing recruitment campaigns, programming, and resources for veterans, there have been challenges to finding placement for veterans who have an interest in Apprenticeship as a career pathway into dairy farming. In order for a match to be successful, the goals and needs of Master Dairy Graizer and an Apprentice, including timing, geographic location, housing, previous experience, and level of compensation, must align. This is always the case. But the volatility of the dairy industry and a prolonged period of low milk prices, the broad geographical dispersion of veteran Apprentice Candidates outside the DGA network, and the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic have resulted in the project falling short of its goals. In addition, Matthew Keesling, who transitioned into ownership of the dairy farm that he trained on during his Apprenticeship and has become a full-time dairy farmer, resigned from his position as DGA Veterans' Liaison in early September of 2020. DGA will be seeking a replacement for Keesling and will also propose adjustments to timeline, activities, and goals to NIFA in order to provide more opportunities for veterans who are interest in dairy farming. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?DGA conducted its annual Education Coordinator Training October 9-11, 2019 at the Nature Inn at Bald Eagle State Park in Howard, Pennsylvania. The event was attended by 18 individuals, including all 11 Education Coordinators as well as other representatives from Administrative Partner organizations and DGA executive staff members. Matthew Keesling, DGA's Veteran Liaison, joined via video conference to present on the status of DGA's veterans programming, explain the AgVets Veterans Stipend and GI Benefits that can be used during an Apprenticeship, and facilitate a plan for partner collaboration. He also answered participant questions on other veteran issues, such as military culture, the challenges of adjusting to civilian life, and his own experience in the Apprenticeship. A post event evaluation revealed a substantial increase in knowledge of DGA's veterans programming following Keesling's presentation. On a scale of 1 (low) to 7 (high) participants were asked to rate their level of knowledge, before and after the retreat, and indicate in comments how they planned to engage. Average before retreat: 3.25 Average after retreat: 5.9 Comments: For veterans, I would like to work more closely with Adam Ingrao at MSU Extension, and also through MIFFS. Also, looking to facilitate specific master's that would be good hosts for a veteran apprentice. I will reach out to several veteran groups in my area and co-workers who work with veterans Email and Facebook posts I plan to visit my local vet service office and a healing vets home. I need to get more printed brochures in hand to give out. We are interested in engaging directly with Matt on veteran recruitment We are working on our subcontract workplan to bring in new staff! I have already talked to our state Veteran's assoc about engaging with us. First of all I think all masters need to be aware of the possibilities with veterans and the benefits that can be derived by both veterans and masters. I think it is my job to help them understand the veteran program. I am struggling with how to locate and engage potentially interested veterans. To find out which Masters would be willing to hire a veteran and to find out, which candidates are Veterans The role of Veterans' Liaison will continue to be important for assisting Education Coordinators and Master Dairy Graziers find veteran applicants who might be a good fit for an Apprenticeship position. While the DGA website allows searches based on keywords and allows searchers to seek out veterans, specific demographic information is visible to DGA staff but not available on the Apprentice Candidate profile. Keesling is able to provide updates by during scheduled bi-weekly video conference calls with Apprenticeship Director, Angie Sullivan, and Education Coordinators. How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Outreach to veterans. DGA has conducted significant outreach through veteran and agricultural media through advertising campaigns, virtual and in-person career fairs, and partner collaborations, including Farmer Veteran Coalitions conference, newsletter, and FaceBook page. An AgHires Veteran video that was part of comprehensive outreach campaign in 12 states is still available on DGA's YouTube Channel (https://youtu.be/cEobFGdbQQk). A DGA Veterans brochure and Veteran Liaison Matthew Keesling's contact information were added to the DGA website. A Veteran's Resources page, available to veteran Apprentices and Apprentice Candidates, houses resources and contacts on VA benefits and other materials for veterans interested in agriculture and is searchable by state in DGA network. News items highlighting veteran experience in DGA. Matthew Keesling is himself a U.S. Army veteran who has gone through the Apprenticeship program and has transitioned into ownership of the dairy farm where he completed his training. He has given interviews for print and radio as well as sharing his story at conferences, pasture walks, and other outreach events. March 26, 2019. Agri-View. "Veterans, dairy work for dreams." https://www.agupdate.com/agriview/news/business/veterans-dairy-work-for-dreams/article_4599793c-0785-569d-b5d2-298af7d8672a.html February 20, 2020. Midwest Farm Report. "Army to Dairy: Veteran Chooses Agriculture for Post-Military Career" https://omny.fm/shows/mid-west-farm-report-madison/army-vet-chooses-dairy-farming-for-post-military-c#sharing September 13, 2020. Progressive Dairy. "Dairy grazing apprenticeships take root." https://www.progressivedairy.com/topics/people/dairy-grazing-apprenticeships-take-root Collaboration with communities of interest. DGA's Advisory Committee has created partnerships with Wisconsin veterans' agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Middleton VA Hospital, the WI Department of Workforce Development and the WI Department of Agriculture. Keesling has built relationships with the Wisconsin Technical College System and county Veteran Services Offices. Those contacts yield additional contacts and partners, as well as connections with individual veterans. In each state in the DGA network, there is a different configuration of agencies and organizations working in the veterans' sphere. The experience in Wisconsin provides a template for assisting partner organizations establish collaborative relationships with appropriate groups in their own states. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?General programming Request a one-year extension from USDA-NIFA for 2018 AgVets grant with end date of August 31, 2022. Request that veterans stipend supported by AgVets grant may also to be used to reimburse tuition for veterans who take classes through Managed Grazing Innovation Center. The tuition reimbursement would be available to any veteran (Apprentice, Intern, Apprentice Candidate or MGIC student) and would significantly increase access to DGA programming. Hire a replacement Veterans' Liaison to provide personalized support to veterans and work with Education Coordinators and Master Dairy Graziers to facilitate matches. Convene AgVets advisory committee twice during the next year of the project in addition to one-on-one contacts with individuals on the committee as needed. Continue collaboration and information sharing with the Veteran's Hospital VA FARMS project, other AgVets grant recipients, and other new communities of interest throughout the region. Recruitment Work with Evaluator to conduct surveys and focus groups to identify motivations of veterans interested in agricultural careers and use this information to target marketing and recruitment. Focus recruitment efforts in states where Master Dairy Graziers are hiring and make regular reports on new veteran Apprentice/ Intern Candidates to Education Coordinators. Conduct outreach to transitioning service members at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri in partnership with our Missouri partner (University of Missouri Extension Dairy program). Begin broadening recruitment efforts with partner organizations in DGA's 15-state service area, including distributing brochures. Shift Wisconsin veterans' programming to maintenance phase and expand efforts to other states. Orientation of DGA Education Coordinators, outreach to Masters Conduct training with DGA Education Coordinators and partners on veterans' issues and on DGA's veterans' outreach project via our in-person annual training as well as webinars and conference calls. Develop a PDF brochure for DGA Masters explaining our program and the benefits of hiring a veteran, to be distributed by our partners in all states. Work with partner organizations in our expansion states initially (MN, MI, OH, VT) to plan and organize their activities.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: Outreach program Advertising DGA has pursued a two-pronged approach to recruitment of veterans. The first emphasizes collaboration with veteran organizations and outreach/advertising outlets to raise general awareness of dairy farming as a potential next career and DGA as a pathway for retired service members. The second aims to engage veterans who are already interested in dairy farming, and perhaps have a farming background, through agricultural organizations and outreach/advertising outlets. For use in all recruitment efforts, DGA developed veteran-specific brochures, advertisements farming and veteran publications, a full-length opportunity description and veteran recruitment video, and staffing of in-person and virtual events by DGA Veterans' Liaison, Matthew Keesling. Keelsing has taken the lead on recruitment efforts through Recruit Military, Soldier for Life, and Hiring Heroes, which have allowed DGA to reach a general population interested in post military service careers. Advertising campaigns through Aghires for 12 states in the DGA network, Graze Magazine, Farmer Veterans Coalition (FVC), and local media helped veterans who were already seeking opportunities in farming or dairy find DGA. Recruitment Events At recruitment events Keesling presented on DGA veterans program and/or helped staff DGA booth, distributed veteran brochures, and answered questions about the Apprenticeship program. Oct 1-5, 2019 World Dairy Expo, Madison, WI Oct 9-11, 2019 DGA Education Coordinator Training, Bald Eagle State Park, Howard, PA Oct 22-24, 2019 Farm Viability Conference, Red Wing, MN Nov 4, 2019 Free U.S. Veteran Farm Info Session U of M Extension, St. Cloud, MN Nov 17-19, 2019 Farmer Veteran Coalition Stakeholders Conference, Austin, TX Dec 10, 2019 Recruit Military Virtual Career Fair Jan 23-25, 2020 GrassWorks Grazing Conference, Wisconsin Dells, WI Feb 27-29 MOSES Organic Farming Conference, La Crosse, WI Spring and summer outreach events cancelled or postponed because of COVID-19 pandemic. Recruitment Outcomes: Fifty (50) veterans applied for an Apprenticeship on DGA website from across the United States. 1 AR; 1 CA; 1 CT; 1 IN; 1 IL; 1 KS; 2 ME; 3 MI; 1 MN; 3 MO; 3 NC; 1 NH; 2 NJ; 7 NY; 5 OH; 5 PA; 2 SC; 1 TN; 2 TX; 2 VA; 1 WA; 3 WI A question "How did you find DGA?" on the Apprentice Application helps track effectiveness of recruitment efforts: 7 FVC; 6 veteran specific outlets (includes Recruit Military); 5 AgHires campaign; 5 DGA partners; 3 other DGA advertising; 3 personal recommendation. A majority of applicants (27) found DGA themselves through unspecified online research. An emphasis virtual outreach broadened the scope of recruitment, drawing veteran applicants from 22 different states, including 11 states that are outside of the DGA network. Recruitment has been most successful through Ag-related media and search engine optimization, which allows veterans who already have an interest in dairy farming find an opportunity. Even with a substantial number of veteran applicants, however, hiring has been slow with only one new veteran hired (and two veterans graduating). Keesling provided personal consultation by phone to veteran applicants to assess goals and assist in finding placement. Barriers to hiring include geography, as many applicants were not located in states where Masters were hiring, and compensation levels which, in agriculture, are often not comparable to other careers. In addition, many veterans have families and make decisions based on a broad array of factors, which may include housing, school district, etc. These findings were corroborated by interviews conducted by the Evaluator. The onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, travel restrictions, and economic uncertainty have created additional barriers for both veterans seeking an Apprenticeship and Masters seeking to hire an Apprentice or Intern. Apprentice Candidates who do not stay active on the DGA website receive notification and have option to reactivate their profile and application. Since the beginning of this project, 32 veteran Apprentice Candidates have gone inactive but are still in the DGA website database and may re-activate their profiles at any time. They can also be notified by DGA of any new opportunities, such as the availability of online classes, webinars, and other educational events. Goal 2: Comprehensive training Apprentice on-farm training and peer networking The DGA on-farm training curriculum covers major work areas needed to successfully own and operate a managed-grazing dairy farm. Apprentices receive 3,700 hours of work-based training and mentoring. The two Apprentices who graduated exceeded the number of required hours and the new Apprentice has so farm completed 655.75 hours for a combined total of 8,431 on-farm hours. Although the pandemic disrupted planned events in spring and early summer of 2020, Apprentice discussion groups (virtual and in person), pasture walks, and conferences provided additional educational and networking opportunities for veteran Apprentices in Wisconsin and Pennsylvania. Sep 5, 2019. Pasture Walk, Stratford, WI Oct 23, 2019. Pasture Walk, Brandt farm, Mosinee, WI Jan 1, 2020. Pasture Walk, Quarryville PA Feb 26, 2020. PASA Conference Workshop, Lancaster, PA May 28, 2020. Webinar on Grass-fed Genetics, PA Aug 14, 2020. FSA Discussion Group, Tomandl Farm, Medford, WI Expanded access to online classes Managed Grazing Innovation Center (MGIC), DGA's online school, provides customized coursework for Apprentices. Fall Semester 2019 MGIC was opened to all Apprentice Candidates and Spring Semester 2020 the school opened to the general public. This has broadened the educational reach on managed grazing dairy production to include veterans who are out of state, make applicants more appealing to Masters who are seeking an Apprentice, and provide increased networking opportunities. Three veterans have enrolled in classes as Apprentice Candidates during the reporting period. The two veteran Apprentices who graduated completed all related instruction requirements, including the "Farm Business Management" course, which is approved by Farm Service Agency for its borrower training program required for FSA beginning farmer loan agreements. A new veteran Apprentice who was hired in June 2020 in Pennsylvania took "Milk Quality" during Summer Session and is now enrolled in "Soil and Water Resources Management." Goal 3: Expanding availability DGA has brought on brought on new partners to deliver the Apprenticeship program in four states: Michigan, Minnesota, Ohio and Vermont. Although expansion has slowed during the pandemic, DGA continues to recruit and approve new Masters. Since the previous report, 40 new Masters have been approved, including 15 in the target states. Kellogg Farm is Michigan State University's largest off campus research farm. DGA has also begun to work with Michigan is Michigan Food and Farming Systems and their Veterans-In-Agriculture Network. MI Education Coordinator, Misty Klotz, serves 7 Masters and 2 Master-Apprentice pairs. Ohio Ecological Food and Farm Association is a grassroots organization working to build a healthy food system. A Kick-Off Meeting was held December 17, 2019 to provide information on the Apprenticeship program to potential Masters and Apprentices, including veterans. OH Education Coordinator, Rachel Tayse, serves 4 Masters and three Master-Apprentice pairs. Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota is a grassroots membership organization dedicated to sustainable agriculture production. MN Education Coordinators, Angie Walters and Bonnie Haugen, serve 31 Masters and 3 Master-Apprentice pairs. University of Vermont Center for Sustainable Agriculture is working with DGA and other Vermont partners, including Cabot Creamery Cooperative, on local and regional recruitment efforts. VT Education Coordinator, Mary Ellen Franklin, serves 22 Masters and 4 Master-Apprentice pairs.
Publications
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Progress 09/01/18 to 08/31/19
Outputs
Target Audience:The target audience for this AgVets project is military veterans, transitioning military service people, including National Guard and Reserves service people, who are seeking careers in agriculture, and DGA Masters seeking high quality, high achieving Apprentices. In the first year, our primary focus has been on developing a recruitment strategy for military service people and veterans. An introduction to the project for DGA Education Coordinators and very preliminary work on outreach to DGA Masters were also conducted. Changes/Problems:Two major challenges have influenced this project to date. The first is the ongoing economic downturn in the dairy industry. Now in its fifth year of low milk prices, the industry has lost 19% of its farms since 2012 and few milk processors are taking on new farms. This situation has reduced the attractiveness of dairy farming as a career path and we have seen an overall decline in candidates applying to our website (although we've seen an increase in veteran applicants due to our recruitment efforts). It has also made it difficult for some of our Masters to commit to hiring for a two-year Apprenticeship, and Apprentice hiring has leveled off to 12-15 Apprentices a year for the last three years. However, grazing-based dairies continue to perform better than average economically and the organic and grass-fed sectors of the dairy industry continue to grow. Experienced dairy graziers are continuing to apply to become Masters, demonstrating optimism about the long-term health of their industry and an interest in being part of the community DGA has created. DGA is doing what we can to support our farmer-trainers through this challenging economic period, but we are limited in what we can do to influence the broader forces at work in the agriculture and food system economy. The second challenge that we are addressing with this project is related to our program's multi-state footprint. Unlike projects that have a specific location for their training program and a limited geographic area where they are recruiting veterans, DGA is looking very broadly at the entire population of veterans and transitioning military service people--a very large pool of potential participants! We have found that many of the job recruitment websites and services that veterans use are not set up to accommodate a program like ours. As an Apprenticeship, we are both an educational program and an employer, but most of these sites require selection of one or the other to post an opportunity. In reality, we need our applicants to be interested in both. Also, agriculture is poorly represented on many of these sites, both in terms of how we describe the opportunity as an employer as well as how the applicant is able to express their interests and background (sometimes "agriculture" is not even on the list of career categories they can choose from). This is why we have moved toward identifying characteristics of farming that appeal to some veterans who may be looking for outdoor work, roles that blend physical labor with intellectual challenges, work with animals, roles that include management level skills, or opportunities to start one's own business. We are working with our evaluator to investigate what veterans who are looking for these kinds of opportunities want and how best to shape our outreach messaging to attract them to our program. What opportunities for training and professional development has the project provided?
Nothing Reported
How have the results been disseminated to communities of interest?Developing an outreach strategy Since coming onboard in February, DGA's Veteran Liaison Matt Keesling has focused on gathering resources, building a network of collaborators, and doing research on effective outreach strategies to veterans. Unlike many of the other AgVets projects, DGA is a multi-state program that is not place-based and we have thus focused our veteran outreach nationally. One of our initial conclusions has been that among the very large pool of veterans and transitioning service people nationwide, there are relatively few who are thinking about careers in agriculture. It may not even occur to them to think about agriculture as an option. In response, we have determined that our outreach may need to go a level deeper. We have started work on identifying features that some veterans may be looking for in a job (such as physical work, working outdoors, or managing your own business) and developing outreach strategies that demonstrate how agriculture in general, and dairy farming in particular, may meet their employment needs and provide them with opportunities for a satisfying career. Outreach to Veterans. DGA has done some preliminary outreach through Farmer Veteran Coalition newsletter and other mainstream media. We have created a brochure and have added Matt's contact information to our website (https://www.dga-national.org/participate-apprentices see lower right side). Matt is working on a "veterans' portal" on the website that will house resources and contacts on VA benefits and other materials for veterans interested in agriculture. DGA currently has 27 Apprentice candidates who are veterans and Matt has reached out to each of them to help connect them with DGA Masters who are hiring. Collaboration with communities of interest. Another strategy that has been our focus in the first year is building collaborative partnerships with others working in the veterans in agriculture arena. We have an existing relationship with Farmer Veteran Coalition and have promoted DGA through their conference (see events) and their electronic newsletter and facebook page. Our advisory committee has created other valuable partnerships with Wisconsin veterans' agencies including the Department of Veterans Affairs, the Middleton VA Hospital, the WI Department of Workforce Development and the WI Department of Agriculture. We have also built relationships with the Wisconsin Technical College System and county Veteran Services Offices. Those contacts yield additional contacts and partners, as well as connections with individual veterans interested in or currently farming. Our experience building partnerships in Wisconsin will serve as a template as we expand into other states in our service area. In each state, we expect to find a different configuration of agencies and organizations working in the veterans' sphere and our experience in Wisconsin is providing Matt with the tools he needs to assist our partner organizations establish collaborative relationships with appropriate groups in their own states. What do you plan to do during the next reporting period to accomplish the goals?General programming Convene AgVets advisory committee twice during the next year of the project in addition to one-on-one contacts with individuals on the committee as needed. Continue collaboration and information sharing with the Veteran's Hospital VA FARMS project, other AgVets grant recipients, and other new communities of interest throughout the region. Recruitment Work with Evaluator to conduct surveys and focus groups to identify motivations of veterans interested in agricultural careers and use this information to target marketing and recruitment. We plan to conduct separate focus groups with veterans currently farming and those interested in getting into farming. Continue promoting DGA at veterans' career fairs, including virtual career fairs through RecruitMilitary and other veteran hiring companies and organizations. Conduct outreach to transitioning service members at Fort Leonard Wood in Missouri in partnership with our Missouri partner (University of Missouri Extension Dairy program). Begin broadening recruitment efforts with partner organizations in DGA's 12-state service area, including distributing brochures. Shift Wisconsin veterans' programming to maintenance phase and expand efforts to other states. Launch Veteran's portal on DGA website. Orientation of DGA Education Coordinators, outreach to Masters Our initial survey of DGA Masters indicated that hiring a veteran was not something that most Masters had thought much about. The survey indicated a general lack of knowledge of the benefits of hiring a veteran and perhaps even some reluctance, possibly due to news media attention to PTSD and other concerns. For this reason, we have proceeded slowly on outreach to Masters until we can gather needed resources and craft appropriate messaging for the project. In year two, we plan to: Conduct training with DGA Education Coordinators and partners on veterans' issues and on DGA's veterans' outreach project via our in-person annual training as well as webinars and conference calls. Develop a PDF brochure for DGA Masters explaining our program and the benefits of hiring a veteran, to be distributed by our partners in all states. Work with partner organizations in our expansion states initially (MN, MI, VT) to plan and organize their activities.
Impacts
What was accomplished under these goals?
Goal 1: Recruitment of Veteran Apprentice Candidates For goal 1, creating a veteran outreach program including streamlined, veteran specific system of access to DGA program information, DGA focused in the first year on bringing together subject matter experts and assembling resources and information. This effort included creating an advisory committee, hiring a Veterans Liaison, and gathering information on effective outreach strategies and resources for veterans in agriculture. The advisory committee is comprised of DGA Masters and Apprentices who are veterans, and representatives of the following agencies: the WI Department of Veterans Affairs, the Wisconsin Department of Workforce Development, the WI Department of Agriculture Veterans Outreach program, the William S. Middleton Memorial Veterans Hospital, and the University of Wisconsin Natural Resources Institute (DGA's external evaluator). The committee met twice in the first year and is scheduled to meet semi-annually throughout the project. With involvement of advisory committee members, DGA conducted a national search and a hiring process for the Veteran Liaison position. We received over 130 applications, but few had the key experiences we were seeking: experience with both agriculture and the military. We interviewed five candidates, three of whom had experience participating in DGA programs. We selected Matt Keesling, a retired Army veteran with 24 years of military experience and a current DGA Apprentice, who started as Liaison in February. Matt is finishing up his Apprenticeship as he transitions into his role with this project. He has focused his initial work on reaching out to other veterans already involved in DGA (both Masters and Apprentices), reaching out to DGA applicants who are veterans, gathering resources for a webpage for veteran participants, and trialing several outreach strategies for both Apprentices and Masters. Goal 2: Comprehensive training in dairy farming For goal 2, providing comprehensive training supported by a peer-network and individualized coaching for veterans engaged with DGA, we worked with two current Veteran Apprentices and provided comprehensive training on DGA farms in Wisconsin. During the course of the first year of this grant, each Veteran Apprentice completed an average of 1968 hours of paid, on-the-job training, took one or more of the seven required online classes, and participated in an average of 30 hours of informal group education on farms in their region. They also each received 12 hours of individualized advising with their local DGA Education Coordinator. Both Apprentices have completed their training this year. One of the veteran Apprentices completed his two-year program and graduated in July. The other is scheduled to graduate to Journeyworker status in September. The graduation process involves compiling each Apprentice's work (3700 hours) and group education (300 hours) records from the DGA cloud-based database into a Personal Program Record and presenting their information to DGA's National Apprenticeship Training Committee, which reviews and approves the graduation. This result is then submitted to the federal Department of Labor, which issues their certificate. Goal 3: Expanding availability of DGA programming to new states For goal 3, expanding availability of DGA training to veterans and other candidates in 2 to 4 new states, DGA brought on new partners in the three target states (Minnesota, Michigan, and Vermont) and started discussions with a potential partner in Ohio. Our programs in Minnesota and Vermont had been in place, but with oversight from outside those states. DGA has had Masters in Minnesota for five years, but the program had been managed by DGA National in Wisconsin with one Education Coordinator. This grant has allowed us to bring on a second Education Coordinator and build a partnership with the Sustainable Farming Association of Minnesota (SFA). SFA brings to DGA an in-state network of farmers, and contacts with other organizations and resources to support DGA's 27 approved Masters in Minnesota. SFA is a membership organization with local chapters throughout the state, which will allow us to conduct more effective outreach. They also have relationships with in-state organizations and agencies such as the Minnesota Dairy Initiative and the University of Minnesota, which will provide more comprehensive support for Masters and Apprentices in the state. SFA has begun exploring relationships with existing Veterans in agriculture groups to build a veteran recruitment program with support from our new Veteran's Liaison, Matt Keesling. Vermont also had existing DGA Masters and one Apprentice, overseen by an out-of-state partner (Wolfe's Neck Center in Maine). Our new partnership with the University of Vermont Center for Sustainable Agriculture has allowed us to bring on an Education Coordinator located in close proximity to Vermont Masters. We have also built a partnership with Cabot Creamery Cooperative, a dairy company with over 1000 farmer members, and between the two organizations, we have been able to increase the visibility of the program within the state. In 2019, we brought on eight new Masters in Vermont, graduated one Apprentice and brought on four new Apprentices. As we move into year two of the grant, we will begin working with our Vermont partners on outreach to veterans. Cabot Creamery is especially interested in working with us on this project and has a strong relationship with the American Legion in the state. Expansion into Michigan was begun with two new partners. Michigan State University's Kellogg Biological Station (KBS) has a grazing based dairy research farm near Kalamazoo. Farm Director Brook Wilke is leading the project with Education Coordinator Misty Klotz. DGA and KBS held a kick off meeting at the farm on February 26th. Six interested Masters attended and signed up at the meeting, along with three potential Apprentices and several agency staff. To date, three Masters have been approved by DGA's National Apprenticeship Training Committee and one has taken on an Apprentice. Another key partner organization in Michigan is Michigan Food and Farming Systems (MIFFS). In year two of the grant, we look forward to working more closely with MIFFS and their Veterans-In-Agriculture Network. The network connects veterans interested in agriculture together and provides peer-to-peer demonstration farm visits, workshops and an annual conference, and USDA program navigation services.
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