RALEIGH, N.C. — The Veterans Employment Base Camp and Organic Garden (VEBCOG) along with the University of Mount Olive’s Agricultural Department, will begin the first 6-week session of the Agricultural Veterans (AGVET) training program on April 30th with a subsequent program with North Carolina State University’s Farm School Extension on June 12th. Training will be conducted virtually (due to Covid-19 restrictions) with the exception of the internship.
This program is open to ALL military members within North Carolina: active duty, reservist, retirees, veterans and spouses. The AGVET training program will consist of two independent 6-week long sessions. The AGVET training program addresses all the necessary skills and tools needed to start a successful business in agriculture. There is no cost associated with the attendance of this program, and all of the needed personal protective equipment (i.e. masks, gloves and hand sanitizer) will be provided free of charge.
- This program is DOD Skillbridge certified and for active-duty military includes an internship at VEBCOG’s urban farm located in New Bern, NC.
- The training session also includes a Meet and Greet with a variety of agricultural, small business and vocational rehabilitation agencies.
According to the Department of Labor over 667,000 veterans reside in the state of NC. In 2017, over 48,000 NC veterans had incomes below the poverty level and more than 32,000 NC veterans were unemployed. Just this month, the unemployment rate for veterans has increased by 11% from that of 3% in April 2020.
Times are uncertain, but the AGVET training program provides one guarantee: the opportunity to build a skill set that will last a lifetime, training that will help start a new agricultural business, and skills that will put food on the table. Registration is required. Please contact Lovay Wallace-Singleton lovayw@gmail.com to request an application.
Read more at: https://localfood.ces.ncsu.edu/2021/04/registration-open-for-six-week-agvets-training-program
–Hannah Dankbar, N.C. State Extension