Indiana

Indiana AgrAbility and the Indiana Chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition hosted a full-day in-person workshop for military veterans interested in farming and agriculture on January 29 at Purdue University's Beck Agricultural Center. Special guest U.S. Congressman Jim Baird joined veterans, AgrAbility staff, and speakers for the program.

The focus of the workshop was "Agricultural Options, Opportunities, and Challenges." Over 25 veterans and guests learned about honeybee production, managing small poultry flocks, outdoor recreation enterprises, small ruminant production, funding sources, and liability issues for small farms.

To highlight the day, Indiana's 4th District Congressman, U.S. Representative Jim Baird, attended the workshop, made brief remarks, and visited personally with veterans over lunch. Representative Baird serves as the Ranking Member of the House Ag Subcommittee on Biotechnology, Horticulture, and Research, and is himself a disabled veteran and farmer with an extensive agricultural background.

After a year of online workshops and zoom meetings, the chance to get together as a group was appreciated by participants, staff, and speakers alike! The January 29 workshop followed an October 2020 farmer veteran program, also held at Purdue's Beck Center. The next installment of the farmer veteran workshop series is planned for late March in southern Indiana.

Submitted by Ed Sheldon