State farm bureau, agencies partner for veterans effort

To address the impending shortage of farmers, the Arkansas Farm Bureau and a pair of state agencies this week will hold a second meeting to recruit military veterans to agriculture.

In former service members, state officials and agriculture leaders see a capable reservoir of workers equipped to handle the challenges and technologically advanced equipment of the $20 billion-a-year industry.

Scheduled for 9 a.m.-2 p.m. Thursday, the Veterans 4 Ag Summit at the University of Arkansas, Monticello, is the second such conference, after October’s premiere meeting in Jonesboro.

Thursday’s event will focus predominately on the forestry sector. Arkansas is home to more than 19 million acres of forestland with an economic impact of $6.3 billion and more than 28,000 jobs, according to the Arkansas Agriculture Department.

Arkansas Agriculture Secretary Wes Ward estimates that the average age of the Arkansas farmer has crept to about 60. The conferences, Ward hopes, give veterans a realistic look at what farming offers.

“Arkansas has a large and highly trained veteran population, with skills that are well-suited for careers in agriculture,” said Ward, who is a Marine veteran.

Agriculture and veteran leaders in Arkansas see retired military members as part of the solution to addressing the need for more farmers who are younger. They’ve noted similarities between military life and life on a farm — early mornings, self-discipline, adversity and public service. Additionally, some combat veterans with post-traumatic stress disorder have reported therapeutic benefits of being outside and working with their hands.

The state Agriculture Department two years ago also created the Homegrown By Heroes program to promote the goods produced by veteran farmers.

Thursday’s event will offer veterans interested in agriculture access to panel discussions, booths, financial institutions and organizations that may prove helpful for beginner farmers.

“South Arkansas has great veterans working and going to school that will do well in agriculture forestry and business,” said retired Army Col. Nate Todd, director of the Arkansas Department of Veterans Affairs.

The UA-Monticello School of Forestry and Natural Resources is nationally recognized with a hub for forest-based natural resources research and extension, according to a state Department of Veterans Affairs

In former service members, state officials and agriculture leaders see a capable reservoir of workers equipped to handle the challenges and technologically advanced equipment of the $20 billion-a-year industry.

news release.

Thursday’s meeting will be held at the John F. Gibson University Center. Randy Veach, president of the Arkansas Farm Bureau, hopes it equals the success of October’s meeting.

“We are excited to bring a Veterans 4 Ag Summit to southeast Arkansas,” Veach said. “Our first summit in Jonesboro was well-received, and we expect the focus on the forestry industry will be of great interest for this session. We are proud to be part of something that highlights opportunities in agriculture for our military veterans.”