Veterans with a New Mission
The state of North Carolina has the fifth highest number of military personnel in the country and Fort Bragg is home to the US Army Special Operation Command.
North Carolina is also a state with a strong agriculture industry. Annually, agriculture contributes over $90 Billion to the state’s economy. The figure continues to grow.
North Carolina is a place where veterans can enter the business of farming with support from NC State Extension, as well as the University of Mount Olive as well as public and private sponsors. Gary Bullen, NC State Farm Management Extension Associate, lead a collaborative series of virtual meetings for over 60 veteran farmers from North and South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia and Virginia. This offering is part of AGVET, a program funded through a USDA grant acquired by Veterans Employment Base Camp and Organic Garden. While the group was diverse in their military branch of service and age, when asked what they had in common, Gary explained that they were the “most engaged group of people he had ever met.”
The meetings were weekly on Tuesday and the group learned to prepare financial statements, what to consider when planning capital investments, sourcing labor and more. The group members shared resources, success stories, end engaged in as some good-natured rivalry among branches.
Along with Gary, the veterans were advised by Derek Washburn, NC Farm School Associate, as well as NC State Extension agents Shawn Banks, Mike Carroll, and Lisa Rayburn. The agents provided specific expertise on production and agribusiness practices.
So why do so many service members transition from the uniform to the field? Gary thinks that they are in a stage of life where they want to be their own boss. They want to see the direct results of their labor. The veterans may also have been deployed to places where they saw food insecurity or violence and now want to work on something more therapeutic. Being outside is a nice perk too.
Gary has a high degree of faith that these veterans can accomplish their farming goals. They are confident and have the right skill set to succeed. A military background can provide a veteran with an appreciation for ‘the process.’ The military has a strict set of rules in place for every scenario. Following directions and executing plans are important skills for building an agribusiness. These veterans have a respect for hard work and the confidence and patience to make a successful change from battle dress uniforms to blue jeans.
