The Farm Bureau Patriot Project, a mentoring program that connects military veterans interested in agricultural careers with experienced farmers and ranchers to help them develop professional networking and business planning skills, was a featured workshop during the AFBF 97th Annual Convention & IDEAg Trade Show this week in Orlando.

Military veterans in production agriculture are finding that the farming and ranching lifestyle provides therapeutic and financial support for their transition to civilian life, but many can benefit from an experienced mentor to coach them through the start-up stages of agribusiness development.

Veteran farmer Damon Helton of Arkansas has found it valuable to connect with his mentor, Jeremy Allen, through AFBF’s Patriot Project, a pilot program that will fully launch later this year. “This program has opened my eyes to the business side of agriculture,” Helton said.

American Farm Bureau is conducting a pilot of the FB Patriot Project in Texas and Arkansas in partnership with the Texas Farm Bureau and Arkansas Farm Bureau.