VETERANS FARM, LLC
MIDDLEBURG, FLORIDA

Our mission is to help veterans reintegrate back into society through the use of our Our goal is to help fill this gap by partnering with organizations such as the USDA-National Institute of Food and Agriculture and the Farmers Veterans Coalition to assist returning veterans in obtaining the training and resources to start their own farm or to work with larger farming organizations. The Veterans Farms objectives to reach their long term goal of preparing veterans for a successful career in agriculture. 1) Provide a 3 month intensive training curriculum for New Beginning Veteran Farmer/Ranchers to encourage and enhance their interest and comprehension in agriculture. 2) Provide Educational scholarships for 4 week introductory training session. 4) To provide intensive case management, resources, extended outreach and post follow up. 5) To collaborate and work with local farmers, organic associations, community business leaders and the community at large to organize support around the new beginning veterans farmer/rancher. 6) To ensure that a long-term fellowship program will offer a unique tenure model to connect beginning farmers to lease and land purchase opportunities. Support for this stage will be offered through workshops, direct consultation, planning tools, and production information to support farmers as they become established 7) Provide Educational Scholarships, Farming workshops, referrals and matching veterans with experience farming mentors “This is one of the greatest projects I’ve ever been involved in; nobody else is providing this type of training and therapy on such a large scale for our disabled veterans. For the first time in 6 winters I was able to overcome my depression from PTSD while working at the Veterans Farm.” “Picking blueberries is a form of physical therapy that will help veterans suffering from traumatic brain injuries to regain hand eye coordination, as well as develop cognitive skills”. “Managing this business will enhance veterans sense of well being by improving their decision-making and problem-solving skills. Assisting other veterans should foster a sense of responsibility and improved self-esteem”. “The Veterans Farm saved my life and my home from foreclosure. Since working at the Veterans farm I have been able to do something the doctors said I’d never be able to do and that’s quit the pain medications. Because I have a place to decompress I have even since quit smoking. Today the future is bright for me and my family” and I look forward to a career in farming. On March 7th 2015 the Veterans Farm hosted their first of 5 new beginning veteran farmer/rancher workshops for 2015. In attendance were over 219 veterans from all over the southeastern region. As a leader in training veterans for a career in agriculture it’s imperative that we expand our outreach and case management so that we can continue to grow and help more veterans, active duty and military spouse. The average age of a farmer is between 60-65 years of age and for ever 5-6 retiring there is only 1 young farmer taking their place. With this shortage of able young men and women willing to go into agriculture we will soon start to see a food shortage, and outsourcing of our food production to other countries. With this critical mission at hand who better to help fill this gap than our nations veterans. As the overwhelming response continues to grow the Veterans Farm looks towards bringing on new case managers to provide the resources these veterans need to be successful. We can’t do it alone though and we need your help. Please contact the Veterans Farm at [email protected] to see how you can support our program. I just wanted to let you know that as a disabled vet you have really inspired me to start community gardens to help the elderly that love fresh veggies and can no longer garden themselves, help families on WIC, help other disabled vets by not only giving them something to do, but to have a great excuse to visit those who are depressed and really need a visit to help and help teach who-so-ever wants to learn (myself included) about gardening. I’ve begun raising my own beef and chickens. I’m learning about the chickens. They are truly a help in the garden keeping down the pests. Thank you for inspiring me.