Farm Ops Veterans are Armed to Farm

Walking into classroom 167 at SUNY Adirondack on July 31, 2017, it would not have been immediately apparent that two unifying features connected the individuals gathered there. Twenty-five veterans from across New York filled the room, each with a stack of books in front of them and a cup of coffee in hand. At first glance, it might have seemed like they were attending an intensive statistics course rather than a week-long training designed to help veterans transition into farming.

As introductions unfolded, the enthusiasm for agriculture and community-building became clear. Each year, the Armed to Farm training attracts a diverse cohort, and 2017 was no exception. Participants ranged from those just exploring farming as a career to experienced farm employees looking to become owners. Their interests spanned hydroponics, aquaponics, Christmas tree production, dairy management, market gardening, agritourism, mushroom cultivation, livestock management, beekeeping, and fruit tree cultivation.

The 2017 Armed to Farm training, the third consecutive year the program was available in New York, provided an immersive experience for veterans interested in agriculture. Participants engaged with educators from the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT), staff from the Cornell Small Farms Program, regional service providers, and local farmers. Developed by NCAT and supported by the Cornell Small Farms Program, the training combined classroom instruction with farm visits, allowing participants to learn through hands-on activities and peer discussions.

Over the course of the week, attendees visited six farms, each offering insight into different aspects of agricultural production. The training began at Sunset Farm, where participants learned about vegetable crop management and roadside stand operations. At Mack Brook Farm, they explored pasture management, while Slack Hollow Farm showcased efficiency-boosting vegetable production tools, including a flame weeder, mechanized high tunnel ventilation, and various cultivating tools.

On the third day, participants toured Argyle Craft Malts and Hops for an overview of hops production, followed by a visit to Clover Bliss Farm to learn about dairy operations. Moxie Ridge Farm & Creamery demonstrated how agritourism can complement farm production, highlighting goat, sheep, and chicken farming alongside cheese-making and a bed-and-breakfast enterprise. The final farm visit took place at Pleasant Valley Farm, where Paul Arnold shared his expertise on continual improvement in diversified vegetable production.

With such a wide array of agricultural topics covered, the training allowed participants to refine their interests. “This program helps people see a variety of options and decide what fits their goals,” said Dean Koyanagi, Veterans Program Associate at the Cornell Small Farms Program. “One couple, for example, left the training realizing they wanted to focus on livestock rather than vegetable farming. Learning this early can save time and money while ensuring a strong foundation for success.”

The Armed to Farm training was just one of several opportunities available to veterans in 2017. In August, the Farmer Veteran Coalition of New York, in partnership with the Cornell Small Farms Program, hosted additional events in New York City and Long Island. On August 9, a group of veterans toured Brooklyn Grange’s rooftop farm and the Union Square farmer’s market before networking over lunch with GrowNYC. On August 12, veterans interested in oyster farming participated in a hands-on workshop aboard fishing boats.

Opportunities for veterans to gain agricultural skills continued beyond the summer. Organizations such as Cornell Cooperative Extension, the Farmer Veteran Coalition, Heroic Foods, and Equicenter offered ongoing training throughout the state. Additionally, the Cornell Small Farms Program provided online courses covering a wide range of farming topics.

These initiatives were made possible through funding from the New York State Department of Agriculture and Markets and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, U.S. Department of Agriculture, under award number 2015-70017-22882.

For more information on available programs, visit the Farm Ops webpage at https://smallfarms.cornell.edu/projects/farm-ops/. To learn more about NCAT and the Armed to Farm training, go to https://www.ncat.org/armedtofarm/. Information on the Farmer Veteran Coalition can be found at http://www.farmvetco.org/.