National Farmer-Veteran Fellowship Program Launches

April 21, 2011 - PRLog -- Davis,CA  -- The Farmer-Veteran Coalition (FVC) www.farmvetco.org announced today it has hired US Navy veteran Tia Christopher as Director of the Farmer-Veteran Fellowship Fund. According to FVC Executive Director Michael O’Gorman, Tia was chosen for the position in part “due to her outstanding work with women veterans and veterans transitioning from the service through Swords to Plowshares and the Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans.” Before joining the FVC, she worked in communications with Concept. Inc. Tia’s interest in farming began during childhood when her grandfather taught her about beekeeping and she later learned about organic farming as a WWOOF (Willing Workers on Organic Farms) volunteer.

The fellowship program was started with funding from AT&T and the Bob Woodruff Foundation.  It provides individual grants up to $10,000 in cash and materials to help veterans and wounded warriors obtain education, training and direct assistance to launch their farming careers.

The first grant recipient is Purple Heart Iraq War veteran Ronald Vaughn from southwest Florida. A retired Sergeant in the US Marine Corps, Vaughn is passionate about organic farming and looks forward a life that will “focus on caring, nurturing, and loving living things.” He received $4500 from the fellowship program to attend the Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training (VSAT) program in San Diego. After completion he will continue working for the Farmer-Veteran Coalition through a fellowship from Mission Continues, a non-profit organization that supports community service work by disabled veterans and will be mentored by O’Gorman. Ultimately Vaughn plans to start a small-scale organic farm that will help his local community.

An advisory group of farm industry leaders are providing invaluable insight and resources to the fellowship program. The group includes Sandra Belin, pioneering organic farmer and co-owner of Jacobs Farm/Del Cabo; Maria Miller, Education Director of the National Farmers Union; Don Roberts, a Vietnam veteran and production manager with Driscoll Berries; Paul Willis, Iowa farmer and President of Niman Ranch Pork; Joe Judge, co-owner and operator of Judge Family Vineyards and President of Bennett Valley Grape Growers in Sonoma, California.

Belin noted she was drawn to the program as an advisor because, “I’ve met many of the veterans and I’ve seen the positive, even life-changing impact it has had on them.”

# # #

About the Farmer-Veteran Coalition:
The mission of the Farmer-Veteran Coalition (FVC) is to mobilize the food and farming community to create healthy and viable futures for America’s veterans by enlisting their help in building our green economy, rebuilding our rural communities, and securing a safe and healthy food supply for all. The coalition seeks to simultaneously assist the farming community by developing a new generation of farmers and connecting them with the skills and resources that will lead to viable careers and means to heal on America’s farms.
FVC was founded by farmers and food industry leaders with long histories in overcoming the agricultural, managerial, financial, and marketing obstacles to be successful in their work. Our program has the ability to help veterans reduce risk and become successful farmers by utilizing the many specific and unique resources available to help military veterans starting businesses, buying land, or overcoming disabilities.