According to a White House report, only 17% of the U.S. population lives in rural areas, but 44% of our military are rural residents. Additionally, as of February 2012, more than 47,500 wounded service members have returned from combat since 2001, according to the Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University.

The Veterans and Agriculture workshop seeks to assist veterans by providing them with such information as how to start or continue to farm, how to write a business plan to start a new agribusiness venture (if traditional farming is not what they want to do), or how to farm with a disability, if applicable. The conference will also assist professionals who work with veterans to help them understand their clients and be better able to serve them.

Workshop Overview

Day 1: Intensive instruction on such topics as funding agricultural operations, marketing and agritourism, working with the VA and state Vocational Rehabilitation, traumatic brain injury and PTSD, assistive technology for farmers with disabilities, and much more.

Day 2: Hands-on experiences at Purdue farms with sessions like livestock management, aquaculture, and agronomy basics, plus tours of local sustainable farms and livestock facilities.

Registration

Registration fees are waived for veterans not attending as representatives of organizations. Veterans may also call 800-825-4264 to inquire about the availability of travel stipends.

All others:
Full conference registration: $125
Single day registration (either day): $95

Visit www.breakingnewground.info/vets to access the registration form, directions to the Beck Center, and hotel options. Also feel free to call 800-825-4264 or email agrability@agrability.org for more information.

Planning committee organizations: Indiana AgrAbility Project, National AgrAbility Project, The Military Family Research Institute at Purdue University, U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Purdue University Student Veteran Organization, Purdue Department of Agronomy.

Supported by AgrAbility Project, USDA/NIFA Special Project 2008-41590-04796.