So you’ve been marching to a military beat and now it’s time for a change. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has some suggestions you may want to consider. There are jobs in ag that could use the disciplines you’ve learned, your love of country and your eagerness to serve others. But how do you get started?
Cassondra Searight, Alabama FSA Outreach Coordinator
Some folks in Alabama, led by a U.S. Navy veteran working now for USDA’s Farm Service Agency, have a plan to introduce you to a diverse selection of careers in agriculture through three days of seminar training. In partnership with the National Center of Appropriated Technology (NCAT), Navy veteran Cassondra Searight, an FSA state outreach coordinator, has arranged the seminar to introduce ways for veterans to enter farming. The discussions will instruct on such things as how to qualify for government programs that reward land stewardship and conservation efforts, how to pursue profitable niche markets, and how to develop business plans and organic certifications. Other topics will include livestock production, pest management, estate planning and risk management.
“This seminar is an excellent way for active duty members to begin farming on a small scale before they leave the military and acquire the prerequisite experience needed to scale up their operation when they are ready to start their next career as producers,” said Searight.
Searight is one of 13,000 military veterans working among 100,000 USDA employees. Her declared mission is to introduce soon-to-be fellow veterans to new opportunities by coordinating the Farm Foundation for Veterans seminar series.
The location and dates of the seminars are:
- Montgomery, Alabama: April 5-7, 2016
- Huntsville, Alabama: May 24-26, 2016
- Dothan/Enterprise, Alabama: June 7-9, 2016
- Tuscaloosa, Alabama: (Still to be determined)
The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) proudly supports the men and women of the Armed Forces by encouraging active duty military, veterans and their families to seek farming, ranching and other agriculture-related jobs. Supporting Searight and FSA in the effort are USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) and Rural Development (RD). Each will present program information. A full day will be devoted to visiting livestock and fruit/vegetable farms for hands-on experience.
Active duty military members, veterans and their spouses interested in registering for the seminar should email Cassondra Searight at cassondra.searight@al.usda.gov or call 334-279-3502.