Military Veterans & AgrAbility
North Carolina alone is home to eight military installations and over 80,000 veterans. As of 2020, 45% of all veterans in North Carolina live in rural areas. This guide will connect you with some of the many resources available to military veterans and ability-challenged individuals.
N.C. A&T Office of Veteran & Military Affairs
The Office of Veteran and Military Affairs (OVMA) is here to meet the needs of our students who are veterans, service members, dependents of service members, and veterans. We certify your educational benefits throughout each academic year. The OVMA is also prepared to advise and counsel you regarding any veteran or education-related concerns.
USDA Veteran employment resources
USDA is looking for smart, experienced people to work at one of the more than 2,100 county offices across the country, or at the headquarters offices in Washington, D.C. USDA prioritizes hiring veterans because we know that you bring a wide range of experiences and strong work ethic that USDA wants and needs across the Department.
USDA Education for Veterans
According to a recent Purdue University study, there are thousands of jobs in agriculture and agribusiness that remain unfilled because there aren’t enough graduates with expertise in food, agriculture, renewable natural resources, or the environment. Job opportunities in these areas are expected to grow.
USDA Entrepreneurship Programs for Veterans
Veterans, may find it challenging to determine what to do after military service and to figure out how their experience can transfer to other career fields. USDA wants you to know that your experience and skillset can immediately and directly move to the area of agriculture. Veterans who are part of the community of beginning farmers and ranchers are eligible for programs to help start – and continue – a career in farming.
Sustainable Agriculture Training for Military Veterans
Armed to Farm has supported over 800 veterans with hands-on and classroom learning opportunities for sustainable agriculture since launching in 2013. Farmer veterans learn how to run a successful business and market their products, access USDA resources, set business goals, and develop meaningful mentorships with seasoned farmers.
CEFS Boots on the Ground Farmer Apprenticeship
North Carolina is home to the 7th highest population of military veterans in the nation. Agricultural jobs offer a viable path for returning service members to transition into society and capitalize on skills that made them successful in the military. North Carolina’s first registered agricultural apprenticeship program for military veterans, Boots on the Ground: NC Veteran Farmer Apprenticeship aims to increase the pool of trained agricultural workers for management and entrepreneurial positions at farming operations in North Carolina.
North Carolina AgrAbility
The North Carolina AgrAbility Partnership (NC AgrAbility) is committed to assisting and educating farmers, ranchers, farmworkers, and their families engaged in production agriculture living with disabilities. The vision of NC AgrAbility is to improve the quality of life for these individuals by helping to eliminate or minimize obstacles that limit independence and productivity in their agribusiness, agriculture-related occupations, and daily life.
Farmer Veteran Coalition
We cultivate a new generation of farmers and food leaders and develop viable employment and meaningful careers through the collaboration of the farming and military communities. We believe that veterans possess the unique skills and character needed to strengthen rural communities and create sustainable food systems. We believe that agriculture offers purpose, opportunity, and physical and psychological benefits.