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Workshop to benefit veterans interested in agriculture

While just 17 percent of the US population resides in rural areas, a reported 44 percent of our US military come from rural backgrounds.  As veterans return to civilian lifestyles after serving our country – Paul Jones, manager of the national and Indiana AgrAbility Projects says agricultural careers are a viable option for many of them.

He says the upcoming Veterans and Agriculture workshop provides veterans with the information they need.  “We have the combined issue of know that a lot of veterans come from rural areas and knowing that a lot of veterans have disabilities of one type or another,” Jones says.  “It’s kind of a natural connection with what we do with Breaking New Ground and AgrAbility.”  He says the two programs focus on disability in agriculture and they realize that veterans can benefit from these types of services.

Jones tells Brownfield the two-day workshop is multi-faceted.  “We’re trying to help meet the needs of both the veterans that are returning and professionals that work with veterans,” he says.  “We know that people like extension educators or people who work in non-profit organizations may have the need to work with veterans, but they may not have the background they need in order to serve veterans appropriately.”

The Veterans and Agriculture workshop is November 7-8, 2012 at the Beck Agricultural Center in West Lafayette, IN.  Registration is waived for veterans who are not attending as representatives of an organization or business.

Registration information can be found HERE.

AUDIO: Paul Jones, Veterans and Agriculture Workshop (10:35mp3)