Wallaces Farmer

Military vets can explore what it takes to become a farmer by attending a conference in Des Moines July 25-26.

Rod Swoboda 1, Editor, Wallaces Farmer

July 18, 2014

5 Min Read

If you are a military veteran interested in farming or a career in agriculture, plan to attend the Midwest Conference for Farmer Veterans July 25-26 at Drake University in Des Moines. Drake University Law School is partnering with the Iowa Farmer Veteran Coalition to host the two-day event. Sponsored by USDA and the Leopold Center for Sustainable Agriculture at Iowa State University, it's free and open to the public but you need to register. You do that at www.iowafarmerveterans.org/Midwest.

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Ed Cox, Midwest Regional Director of the Farmer Veteran Coalition, is an attorney on staff at Drake Agricultural Law Center. He's also executive director of the Iowa FVC. He says the conference will include a tour of a diversified family farming operation near Des Moines; educational presentations and workshops led by experts, agency personnel, and service providers; as well as networking opportunities for participants, exhibitors, and employers, including a social reception Friday evening.

Most of all, the conference will allow veterans to join other veterans in networking, learning about unique opportunities, and jobs available to military vets and service members who are farming, aspiring to farm, or seeking ag related careers. Iowa has nearly 234,000 veterans in the state.

This is all about helping veterans succeed in agriculture
"Veterans have a history of service and are used to working in jobs that are demanding and that require decisiveness and adaptability," says Cox. "Veterans make great farmers, and the coalition and this conference is about helping veterans succeed in agriculture. We have information and assistance for all types of farmers."

Topics for the various educational sessions include business planning, land access, financing, food safety, marketing contracts, branding and certifications, insurance and liability, recordkeeping, succession planning, new Farm Bill programs and VA benefits for farming. "Drake University Law School is excited to be co-hosting this important event designed to assist veterans interested in farming," says Professor Neil Hamilton, director of the Drake Ag Law Center. "This event continues Drake's commitment to assist a new generation of farmers find opportunities in rural America."

Vendors, employers and other service providers have exhibits
The Farmer Veteran Coalition is dedicated to helping veterans feed the country. The organization works with farmers, veterans, agri-business, educators and others to provide educational resources and programs for vets aspiring to farm. The organization gives guidance to veterans seeking employment in agriculture and rural areas.

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The farm tour shuttle will depart on Friday, July 25 at 9 a.m. from Drake University Law School. Exhibit space at the conference is available for vendors, employers and service providers. Learn more and register at the Iowa Farmer Veteran Coalition website.

"We work with a broad coalition, including such groups as the Beginning Farmer Center at ISU, and Practical Farmers of Iowa," says Cox. "They help us make connections. ISU's Beginning Farmer Center has been involved in helping folks with farm transitions and business succession for decades now. We work with them to help facilitate family transitions as well as help veterans who are wanting to begin farming or who are already running small farming operations and just beginning farming."

How did Drake Ag Law Center get involved in IFVC?
Several years ago the Drake Center hosted a "new farmer" forum. They brought in policy makers and organizations from across the country and facilitated a networking session to develop policy guidance. At one meeting they had Michael O'Gorman, founder of the national Farmer Veteran Coalition. "We learned about the FVC and it was a cause that made sense," says Cox. "So we continued to work with them and started the Iowa Farmer Veteran Coalition."

Cox, who is executive director of the Iowa FVC, says it's a diverse group. "We have members who are veterans from all branches of the military," he notes. "We're helping them, getting them back into rural communities. In Iowa, no matter what type of agriculture they're interested in, we'll help. Some vets are coming back to commodity agriculture and family farms. Others are beginning farmers just getting started in specialty crops, growing fruit and vegetables for farmers markets and local outlets."

Workshops and programs such as Homegrown by Heroes
"During the past year we've held some workshops across Iowa, and had a state conference in Des Moines last fall," says Cox. "We've helped launch several programs. One is called Homegrown by Heroes, whereby a farmer can get a label on their product if selling it locally. Then everyone who sees the product knows it was raised or grown by a military veteran. People can show their support by buying the product."

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Paul Havran is a member of the Iowa Farmer Veteran Coalition and a volunteer who helps IFVC with its events. He's employed full-time at the Iowa Air National Guard, and is a beginning farmer starting a cattle herd near Milo in Warren County. "We welcome new members to IFVC," he says. "Farmers stick together and we help each other. In the IFVC we find opportunities for beginning farmers and can help them get connected to resources that exist. For example, we can explain how to apply for a loan such as through USDA's Farm Service Agency, and tell our members about the microloan program available to military vets as well as other farmers."

Sense of service from military carries over to agriculture
The IFVC posts these stories of success and other information on its website, where the information generates interest in attending the meetings to learn more about IFVC.

"Definitely, the skills we acquire in the military can help on the farm or in jobs," says Havran. "Veterans are used to working with the team concept, such as a combat buddy or wingman. If information about beginning a career in agriculture is available to military vets, they are able to start the process. Our IFVC organization is all about educating and helping provide opportunities for people who have served in the military and who now want to enter a career in agriculture. We encourage you to get more information by visiting www.iowafarmerveteran.org/midwest."

About the Author(s)

Rod Swoboda 1

Editor, Wallaces Farmer

Rod, who has been a member of the editorial staff of Wallaces Farmer magazine since 1976, was appointed editor of the magazine in April 2003. He is widely recognized around the state, especially for his articles on crop production and soil conservation topics, and has won several writing awards, in addition to honors from farm, commodity and conservation organizations.

"As only the tenth person to hold the position of Wallaces Farmer editor in the past 100 years, I take seriously my responsibility to provide readers with timely articles useful to them in their farming operations," Rod says.

Raised on a farm that is still owned and operated by his family, Rod enjoys writing and interviewing farmers and others involved in agriculture, as well as planning and editing the magazine. You can also find Rod at other Farm Progress Company activities where he has responsibilities associated with the magazine, including hosting the Farm Progress Show, Farm Progress Hay Expo and the Iowa Master Farmer program.

A University of Illinois grad with a Bachelors of Science degree in agriculture (ag journalism major), Rod joined Wallaces Farmer after working several years in Washington D.C. as a writer for Farm Business Incorporated.

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