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Current Opportunities
Armed to Urban Farm – New Orleans, Louisiana
The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) and the United States Botanic Garden (USBG) are offering their popular veterans’ urban agriculture training in New Orleans in October 2024.
Armed to Urban Farm gives military veterans an opportunity to see sustainable, profitable small-scale farming enterprises and learn about urban farming as a career. Armed to Urban Farm will include a week of engaging classroom sessions, farm tours, and hands-on activities in New Orleans.
Armed to Urban Farm participants will learn about whole-farm planning, farm financial planning, urban crop production, urban soils, marketing, and more. Participants will gain a strong foundation in the basic principles of operating a sustainable urban farming enterprise. In addition, attendees will join a nationwide network of supportive farmer-veterans and agricultural advisors.
Instructors will include NCAT sustainable agriculture specialists and U.S. Department of Agriculture agencies. Attendees will also learn from producers experienced in an urban setting.
Veterans can complete the online application HERE.
The deadline to apply is Friday, August 30, 2024.
The program is available to military veterans who are interested in starting an urban farm or who are beginning urban farmers (less than 10 years). All veterans are welcome to apply, but those from the Southeast region will receive priority. Spouses and adult farming partners are welcome as well but must submit separate applications. Selected participants will be notified by September 6.
Dates, Location, and Cost
The training will take place October 7 -11, 2024, in New Orleans, Louisiana. The event is free for those accepted to attend. Lodging, transportation to local urban farms, and most meals will be provided. Participants must pay their own travel costs to and from the event, but travel scholarships are available through a partnership with Ranchin’ Vets. Information on travel scholarships will be provided upon acceptance to the training.
Hosts
NCAT and the USBG, partners in this program, will organize and host the Armed to Urban Farm event in New Orleans.
Questions?
Please contact Andy Pressman, andyp@ncat.org or (479) 587-3475.
Armed to Farm – Iowa
NCAT is teaming up with Practical Farmers of Iowa to host an Armed to Farm training in Cedar Rapids. Veterans who want to attend the week-long training can apply online now.
Armed to Farm trainings include an engaging blend of farm tours, hands-on activities, and interactive classroom instruction. NCAT Sustainable Agriculture specialists will lead the training sessions. Additional contributors will include staff from USDA agencies plus experienced crop and livestock producers.
This training is for veterans in the Midwest region, with priority given to Iowa residents. The number of participants will be limited. One spouse or farm partner is welcome to attend with a veteran but must submit a separate application.
Dates, Location, and Cost
Armed to Farm will take place July 29-August 2 in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Participants will attend classroom sessions and travel to local farms for hands-on learning experiences.
The event is free for those chosen to attend; lodging, transportation to local farms, and most meals will be provided. Participants must pay their own travel costs to and from the event, but travel reimbursements are available through a partnership with Ranchin’ Vets. Information on travel reimbursements will be provided upon acceptance to the training.
Sponsors
NCAT and Practical Farmers of Iowa have partnered to host this Armed to Farm. This training is supported by USDA NIFA’s AgVets program.
Questions?
Please contact Margo Hale at margoh@ncat.org.
The application period for this training is now closed.
Armed to Farm – Virginia
NCAT is teaming up with the Virginia Association for Biological Farming to host an Armed to Farm training in Harrisonburg. Veterans who want to attend the week-long training can apply online now.
Armed to Farm trainings include an engaging blend of farm tours, hands-on activities, and interactive classroom instruction. NCAT Sustainable Agriculture specialists will lead the training sessions. Additional contributors will include staff from USDA agencies plus experienced crop and livestock producers.
This training is for veterans in the Mid-Atlantic region, with priority given to Virginia residents. The number of participants will be limited. One spouse or farm partner is welcome to attend with a veteran but must submit a separate application.
Dates, Location, and Cost
Armed to Farm will take place August 12-16 in Harrisonburg, Virginia. Participants will attend classroom sessions and travel to local farms for hands-on learning experiences.
The event is free for those chosen to attend; lodging at the Hotel Madison, transportation to local farms, and most meals will be provided. Participants must pay their own travel costs to and from the event, but travel reimbursements are available through a partnership with Ranchin’ Vets. Information on travel reimbursements will be provided upon acceptance to the training.
Sponsors
NCAT and Virginia Association for Biological Farming have partnered to host this Armed to Farm. This training is supported by USDA NIFA’s AgVets program.
Questions?
Please contact Eric Fuchs-Stengel at ericf@ncat.org.
The application period for this training is now closed.
Armed to Farm 2.0 – Washington
NCAT is partnering with the Washington Chapter of Farmer Veteran Coalition and the Spokane Conservation District to host a three-day Armed to Farm 2.0 training in Spokane, Washington.
About Armed to Farm 2.0
Armed to Farm 2.0 is open to Armed to Farm alumni who are looking for more in-depth and enterprise-specific education on managing a profitable small-scale farm.
Armed to Farm 2.0 will have a more comprehensive curriculum on conservation planning, business planning, financial management, marketing, and scaling-up production. The training is designed for those who are looking to take their farms to the next level. We will tailor hands-on activities at area farms to participants’ needs and will focus on more advanced production, marketing, and entrepreneurship techniques.
Armed to Farm 2.0 is limited to military veterans who have attended an in-person Armed to Farm training. One spouse or farm partner is welcome to attend with the veteran but must submit a separate application.
Applications are available here and are due by Wednesday, July 17. NCAT will notify selected participants by Monday, July 22.
Dates, Location, and Cost
Armed to Farm 2.0 will take place August 19-21, at the Centennial Hotel. Local farms will provide hands-on learning experiences.
The event is free for those chosen to attend; lodging, transportation to local farms, and most meals will be provided. Participants must pay their own travel costs to and from the event, but travel scholarships are available through a partnership with Ranchin’ Vets. Information on travel scholarships will be provided upon acceptance to the training.
Sponsors
NCAT is hosting this Armed to Farm 2.0 event in partnership with Washington Chapter of Farmer Veteran Coalition and the Spokane Conservation District. Support is provided by USDA NIFA’s AgVets program.
Questions?
Please contact Tammy Howard at tammyh@ncat.org or 406-494-4572.
Agricultural Conference Scholarships for Veterans
Limited scholarships are available for military veterans in the Southeastern U.S. who would like to attend agricultural conferences.
Appalachian State University’s Frontline to Farm program and the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) are partnering to offer the veteran scholarships. NCAT will award scholarships of up to $250 for military veterans who want to learn about sustainable livestock production and farm business at an agricultural conference.
Scholarships will cover registration costs, up to $250, for the following conferences:
- A sustainable agriculture conference identified by the applicant.
Applications will be reviewed and awarded on a rolling basis.
Please note:
Veterans in the Southeastern U.S. who are raising livestock will receive priority.
Veterans who receive a scholarship will be responsible for their own conference registration.
Recipients must submit a conference registration receipt in order to be reimbursed.
For more information on the scholarships, contact Margo Hale at margoh@ncat.org.
