The American Farm Bureau annual meeting in San Diego featured a workshop for convention attendees on why creating effective mentorship relations for veteran farmers is so important. “Dedicated, Disciplined and Determined” highlighted some of the work of the Farmer Veteran Coalition.
According to Michael O’Gorman, executive director of the Farmer Veteran Coalition, a few years ago there were more than 40,000 groups in the U.S. with “veteran” in the name but not one committed to helping veterans in agriculture. O’Gorman said the coalition supports veterans’ freedom to farm in whatever manner they wish to pursue.
Jamie Critelli, a veteran and greenhouse farmer in New York, said most veterans are familiar with planning, which helps equip them for farming.
“It’s not easy farming,” acknowledged Critelli. “Being in the military, you face many challenges. The environment in agriculture can be equally challenging at times,” he said.
Listen to O’Gorman and Critelli talk about farmer vets here: AFBF Farmer Veteran Coalition Workshop