Midwest Organic Farming Retreat Prepares Veterans for Careers on America's Farms

April 20, 2011 - PRLog -- Davis, CA – The Farmer Veteran Coalition is accepting applications from veterans who seek a career in farming and wish to attend “Coming Home to Farm,” a two and a half day organic farming retreat in Iowa on July 14-16, 2011. The educational retreat includes farm tours of sustainable grain, vegetable, and livestock operations, as well as presentations on organic certification, production techniques, and marketing. Interested veterans can apply by contacting Michael Porter, director of career development, with the Farmer Veteran Coalition at 530-756-1395 or info@farmvetco.org.

Sponsored by Blue River Hybrids of Kelley, Iowa—the leading producer of organic field seed—and the Risk Management Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture, “Coming Home to Farm” is free to both veterans and active-duty military personnel. Due to limited spacing, preference will be given to veterans who have demonstrated a serious interest in pursuing food and farming careers and to post 9-11 veterans who are near the beginning of their career.

“We are excited to offer a farmer-veteran retreat in America’s heartland,” says Michael O’Gorman, executive director of the Farmer Veteran Coalition. “Vets are already accustomed to hard work, discipline and dedication, and are in a unique position to strengthen Midwest family farms, the sustainable farming movement, and local and regional food systems.”

More than 40 percent of America’s men and woman in uniform are from rural communities. When veterans receive training and secure agricultural employment in those communities, rural America is strengthened.

The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) in Des Moines, Iowa is coordinating the Iowa farm tours, logistics, and presentations for the “Coming Home to Farm” retreat .

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Blue River Hybrids is the leading supplier of organic lines of corn, sudangrass, and sunflower hybrids, as well as soybean, red clover, and alfalfa varieties. Organic farmers choose Blue River Hybrids for dependable performance, backed by an ongoing commitment to organic product development. Blue River Hybrids organic seed is sold by more than 100 dealers and distributors across the United States. To learn more, visit www.blueriverorgseed.com or call 800.370.7979.

The Farmer-Veteran Coalition finds returning veterans employment, training, and places to heal on America’s farms. By mobilizing farming communities to create healthy and viable futures for America’s veterans, vets are in a unique position to build our green economy, rebuild our rural communities, and secure a safe and healthy food supply. The Farmer-Veteran Coalition is a project of Community Partners. For more information or to make a donation, visit www.farmvetco.org or call 530.756.1395.

The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) is a non-profit dedicated to helping people and communities adopt technologies that save energy and resources. NCAT helps family farmers, government agencies, small businesses, other nonprofits, and low income organizations learn about sustainable energy, agriculture, and community development opportunities through training, publications, websites, technical assistance, and telephone help lines. To learn more, visit www.ncat.org.

The Risk Management Agency of the United States Department of Agriculture helps producers manage their business risks through effective, market-based risk management solutions to preserve and strengthen the economic stability of America’s agricultural producers. For more information, visit http://www.rma.usda.gov.

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Our mission is to mobilize our food and farming community to create healthy and viable futures for America’s veterans by enlisting their help to build our green economy, rebuild our rural communities, and secure a safe and healthy food supply.