UGA receives grant to train military veterans to start their own farms
The program has received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Just a week after we reported on the Cultivate Appalachia Bootcamp held in Knoxville, an outreach program offered by the University of Georgia (UGA) has received federal funding to train military veterans to start their own farms.
Farm Boot Camp, a specialized training program for military veterans and their spouses, offers free monthly training sessions and specialized workshops to provide essential skills and knowledge needed to start or return to farming operations. The program has received a $750,000 grant from the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture (NIFA) to continue operations through the UGA College of Agricultural and Environmental Sciences (CAES) and College of Family and Consumer Sciences (FACS).
The grant is part of a larger initiative called Farm Again, a statewide program that supports individuals in production agriculture who face challenges due to injuries, disabilities, or chronic health conditions. In Georgia, the program is managed jointly by UGA Cooperative Extension in CAES and the Institute on Human Development and Disability (IHDD) in FACS.
Kyle Haney, a Rural Health Manager and Public Service Professional in FACS, oversees much of the program’s daily coordination and works directly with veteran participants as Project Manager. He said Farm Boot Camp originated from a growing number of military veterans seeking services through AgrAbility, a Farm Again program that provides worksite accommodations and technology to farmers with disabilities or health issues.
Click here to learn more about the program.
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