Accepting Applications for Armed to Farm

The Cornell Small Farms Program in partnership with the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) are bringing the week-long Armed to Farm (ATF) training back to New York State. ATF gives veterans an opportunity to see sustainable, profitable small-scale farming enterprises and examine farming as a viable career.
ATF combines engaging classroom sessions with farm tours and hands-on activities. Participants learn about business planning, budgeting, record keeping, marketing, livestock production, vegetable production, and more. Participants gain a strong foundation in the basic principles of operating a sustainable farming enterprise. In addition, ATF attendees join a nationwide network of supportive farmer-veterans and agricultural advisors.
Instructors include NCAT sustainable agriculture specialists, staff from the Cornell Small Farms Program, Cooperative Extension, and USDA agencies, plus experienced crop and livestock producers.
Veterans are invited to complete an application by June 23, 2017. The program is available to military veterans in New York State who are interested in starting a farm or who have recently begun farming (less than 10 years). Spouses and farming partners are also invited to apply. Selected participants will be notified by June 29.

Dates, Location, and Cost

Armed to Farm is scheduled for July 31-Aug. 4, 2017 at SUNY Adirondack in Queensbury, NY. The training will be divided between classroom sessions and travel to local farms for tours and hands-on activities.
The event is free for those chosen to attend; lodging, transportation to local farms, and most meals will be provided. Participants must pay their own travel costs to and from the event.

Sponsors

NCAT and the Cornell Small Farms Program organize and host the Armed to Farm event in New York. Financial support comes from NCAT’s ATTRA program and the USDA’s National Institute of Food and Agriculture.
Questions?
Please contact Margo Hale, margoh@ncat.org, (479) 442-9824, Dean Koyanagi, drk5@cornell.edu, or Kat McCarthy, kmm485@cornell.edu.

This material is based upon work that is supported by the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2015-70017-22882