US: Farmer veteran coalition to convene at National Stakeholders Conference

The Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC), in coordination with the Drake University Agricultural Law Center (ALC), will host a first-of-its-kind national gathering for organizations that serve military veterans pursuing food, farming, and agricultural careers. The Farmer Veteran National Stakeholders Conference will empower organizations to collaborate and provide support to veterans engaged in agriculture.

As the U.S. ends its longest armed conflicts, we are seeing a groundswell of veterans finding new purpose in farming and ranching. Although they have diverse motivations and aspirations, veterans share unique opportunities and backgrounds that set them apart from other farmers. Many organizations are now serving this population creating a critical need for support, coordination, and collaboration of these efforts.

The conference will be the first to convene local, state, and national service providers to facilitate networking, partnering and educational opportunities. FVC is encouraging all stakeholders from the agricultural and veteran communities to attend: government agencies, trade associations, non-profits, philanthropists, businesses, and university and extension personnel.

The event will increase coordination and collaboration between agricultural and veteran service providers, provide educational workshops on assistance to farmer veterans, and facilitate potential policy proposals for regulatory and legislative action at the local, state, and federal levels.

The conference is supported by Farm Credit Council, American Farm Bureau Federation and the National Farmers Union. Additional supporters are welcomed.

Dates: November 14-15, 2014
Location: Drake University Olmsted Center, Des Moines, IA
Contact: events@farmvetco.org
Tel: +1 530-756-1395

For more information:
Lindsay Martin
AugustineIdeas
Tel: +1 916.960.2885
Email: lmartin@augustineideas.com
www.AugustineIdeas.com