Farmer Veteran Coalition and FVC of Kansas are excited to announce they will host the 2018 Farmer Veteran Stakeholders Conference November 14-17 at the InterContinental Hotel in Kansas City, Missouri.
For the fourth year, veterans from across the nation will come together for the largest gathering of the military and agriculture communities for three days of education, distinguished speakers, guest panels, networking, camaraderie and much more.
Held this year in America’s heartland, the conference unites farmer veterans and connects them with the agricultural, governmental and nonprofit partners that support the farmer veteran movement.
“This conference is for the entire veteran to agriculture movement,” said FVC Director Michael O’Gorman. “So many people are doing wonderful work in this space now. It’s great that we can bring everyone together, along with so many farmer veterans, to learn how to support each other.”
Though the details are still being planned, popular events such as the Successful Farmer Veterans plenary session, the Government Partners panel and the Homegrown By Heroes panel will return this year.
Stay tuned for more updates announcing keynote and other guest speakers, breakout sessions and other details.
Before the Homegrown By Heroes label was established by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture in January 2013, there wasn’t an industry recognized way for farmer veterans to differentiate themselves in the marketplace. A few short years later, with a rapidly growing farmer veteran community spanning all 50 states plus Puerto Rico, Farmer Veteran Coalition is excited to announce the Homegrown By Heroes label has surpassed 1,000 certified-producers.
Marine veteran Daniel Wavle became the 1,000th Homegrown By Heroes member on June 8 when he certified his operation, Shoshana Shalom Farms in Hondo, Texas, with the label. Wavle, who served more than 14 years in the Marines which included two deployments in support of Operation Enduring Freedom, currently raises goats and chickens and is in the process of building an aquaponics greenhouse for vegetable and tilapia production.
Women farmer veterans from around the nation came together in California’s wine country May 3-5 for the fourth annual Empowering Women Veterans: Business, Agriculture, Well-Being Conference held at the Flamingo Conference Resort and Spa in Santa Rosa, California.
The goal of the conference was to bring women farmer veterans together and equip them with the business and farming tools necessary to be successful in their agricultural endeavors. During the conference, attendees participated in educational workshops, roundtable discussions, listened to distinguished guest speakers, toured a local farm and took advantage of the resort’s impressive facilities to network with their fellow farmer veterans. Continue Reading “Women Farmer Veterans Unite at 4th Empowering Women Veterans Conference”»
Agriculturally focused veterans and more than 20 employers from the public and private sector came together April 19 at the Farmer Veteran Coalition Veteran Career Fair held at California State University, Fresno, to introduce veterans to career opportunities throughout California’s $47 billion agricultural industry.
“California produces most of our fruits and vegetables: 99 percent of artichokes, 99 percent of walnuts, 97 percent of kiwis, 97 percent of plums, 95 percent of celery, 95 percent of garlic, 89 percent of cauliflower, 71 percent of spinach, 69 percent of carrots, and the list goes on,” said FVC Program and Development Manager Randy Ryan, who coordinated the event.
Building on its mission of mobilizing veterans to feed America, Farmer Veteran Coalition, a national nonprofit organization that assists military veterans embark on careers in agriculture, will host a Veteran Career Fair April 19 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Satellite Student Union aboard California State University, Fresno.
As the national unemployment rate among veterans continues to climb, the Farmer Veteran Coalition Career Fair will bring together job-seeking veterans with representatives from agricultural-related employers and government agencies. Employers representing growers, packers, shippers, farm equipment distributors, and more, will be on-hand to accept resumes and discuss career opportunities with their organizations.
“Veterans are looking for careers that are dynamic, lucrative and meaningful. Agriculture in California offers all three,” said FVC Executive Director Michael O’Gorman. “We want veterans to see the wide range of exciting career paths throughout our industry. And we want agricultural employers to see the skills, the work ethic and the strong personal character that veterans can bring to their operations.” Continue Reading “Farmer Veteran Coalition to Host Career Fair at CSU Fresno”»
DAVIS, CA (April 4, 2017) – The Safeway Foundation announced that its Veterans campaign, an in-store fundraising effort aimed to improve the lives of Veterans and their families, awarded more than a half million dollars to fund Veterans programs in the neighborhoods throughout Northern California. The gift to Farmer Veteran Coalition will fund two Food and Farming Career Fairs as well as internships or scholarships to learn organic farming at Jacobs Farm in San Jose, California.
“We are delighted to have a partner like the Safeway Foundation and appreciate their leadership,” said FVC Executive Director Michael O’Gorman. “The Food and Farming Career Fairs will expose veterans in California to the wide range of high-paying opportunities in the state. There is a shortage at all levels and our veterans deserve a chance to continue to serve by feeding their neighbors,” O’Gorman continued. “The work we do in San Jose provides veterans with practical experience in organics. In the first year of the internship program, all seven of the interns have found full-time employment in agriculture.”
Farmer Veteran Coalition is excited to announce Karen Ross, Secretary of the California Department of Food and Agriculture, as keynote speaker of the Empowering Women Veterans: Business, Agriculture and Well-Being Conference May 3-5 at the Flamingo Conference Resort and Spa in Santa Rosa, CA.
Farmer Veteran Coalition will host the third annual Farmer Veteran Stakeholders Conference—United We Farm—November 30 to December 2, 2016 at Michigan State University in East Lansing, Michigan.
For the third consecutive year, farmer veterans from across the nation will come together for the largest gathering of the military and agricultural communities for three days of educational tracks, farm visits, guest panels, distinguished speakers, community and camaraderie building, and much more. Hosted at Michigan State University’s spacious Kellogg Hotel & Conference Center, the conference unites farmer veterans with the agricultural, governmental and nonprofit groups that support them. Continue Reading “Military, Ag Communities to Come Together at 2016 Farmer Veteran Stakeholders Conference”»
