Returning veterans and rural America can keep each other strong.

The Veteran Farmers Project offers:

• Workshops conducted by expert speakers on topics in agriculture and finance
• Farm Tours from experienced farmers demonstrating production, marketing, and decisionmaking
• Individual Consultations with professionals for financial and production advice
• HelpLine for phone and email inquiries, resources, and support

In the last 10 years, almost a million of our military’s servicemen and servicewomen have come from rural communities. As these veterans return home, they bring with them an opportunity to employ their passion, discipline, and sense of service to revitalize America’s small farms and rural communities.

America’s farmers and rural communities are aging, and few new farmers are getting started. By returning to their farming roots, veterans can carry on the proud tradition of small American family farms.

The Veteran Farmers Project provides veterans with the business and agriculture education that can help them become successful farmers. By creating sound farm businesses that tap into high value markets, returning veterans can reintegrate gracefully and fruitfully into America’s rural communities.

Workshops

Learn from experts about topics in agriculture and business:

• Specialty crops and livestock
• Land access, financing, crop insurance, high value crop production and marketing
• State-level and USDA programs and organizations for beginning farmers
• Resources for disabled veteran-farmers

Workshops are free of charge, and lunch will be provided at no cost.

Kansas

March 19, 9:00-5:00
Pottorff Hall, Cico Park
1710 Avery Avenue
Manhattan, KS 66503

March 20, 9:00-5:00
Johnson County Community College
Capitol Federal Conference Center
12345 College Boulevard
Overland Park, KS 66210

Nebraska

March 22, 9:00-5:00
University of Nebraska-Lincoln
Agricultural Research and Development Center
1071 County Road G
Ithaca, NE 68033

March 23, 9:00-5:00
NE College of Technical Agriculture
Industry Education Center
404 East 7th St
Curtis, NE 69025

For additional details on workshop times and locations, contact Kathie Starkweather (Nebraska) at the Center for Rural Affairs, 402-617-7946 or Nick Levendosky (Kansas) at the Kansas Farmers Union, 785 527-0941.

Farm Tours

Tour the farms of successful farmers in Kansas and Nebraska to learn about specific production and marketing systems. Observe and question farmers and ranchers about their experiences, techniques, and approaches.

All tours will be handicap accessible.

Farm tour schedule is pending. For more information, contact Kathie Starkweather (Nebraska) at the Center for Rural Affairs, 402-617-7946 or Nick Levendofsky (Kansas) at the Kansas Farmers Union, 785 527-0941.

Consultation

Get personalized professional assistance and counseling on farm production, business, financing, and more:

• Production and marketing
• Farm business development
• Loan applications
• Farm financial advising
• State and federal financing and loan options
• Land access strategies
• Linking programs
• Programs for disabled farmers

Contact the Veteran Farmers Project phone and email HelpLine (contact information below) for guidance in finding the programs, information, and organizations that can help new veteran farmers succeed.