Executive Director’s Comments: July 2023

With some of our national projects, FVC has been developing new partnerships with Veteran Service organizations throughout the country. Based upon the surveys we conducted at our National Conference last year, we know that this work is important to so many of our Veterans, so I want to share three of them with you.

1. Feeding our Military Communities Texas Pilot: FVC is connecting with partners to assist us as we begin our work on food insecurity among active military personnel. To become more familiar with the 24% of food insecurity in today’s military, please read this report entitled “Strengthening Food Security in the Force” Strategy and Roadmap from the Office of the Under Secretary for Personnel & Readiness-U.S. Department of Defense”. Stay tuned for more information as we begin this important work.
2. In addition to the efforts FVC is conducting on our SAMSHA grant, the executive staff have been working with the Deloitte and the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention federal executive panel to discuss government-wide approaches to reducing Veteran suicides. The Farmer Veteran Coalition has been participating in this project since October of 2022, and this fall will host a national online seminar on “Reducing Barriers and Increasing Access to Adjunct Resources for Rural Veterans”. If you have any feedback on this subject, or resources you might like us to consider, please reach out to support@farmvetco.org and let us know!
3. Farmer Veteran Advocacy. From time to time the Farmer Veteran Coalition will support or oppose regulations or legislative actions that affect our Farmer Veterans. With the expansion of our state chapters, there is a desire to have our voice amplified. To that end, the Advisory Panel will be collaborating with me later this month on how to establish a volunteer committee to work on issues of concern. Information with be provided to State Chapter Presidents from the Advisory Panel members the first week of August. For those states that are still in formation, please check your newsletters or social media platforms. Let us see what we can do together!