Free program designed for current, former military service members and others
A free ‘Battleground to Breaking Ground’ agriculture program for active duty and veteran military, as well for those new to agriculture, including women, will be held Jan. 24 Georgetown. (Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service photo)
GEORGETOWN — The Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, in cooperation with the Texas AgrAbility Project and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, will present an agriculture workshop for active duty and veteran military service members Jan. 24.
The free workshop, called “From Battleground to Breaking Ground: A Transformational Journey,” will be held from 8 a.m.-5 p.m. at the AgriLife Extension office for Williamson County, 3151 S.E. Inner Loop in Georgetown.
“Military families understand the importance of building plans on good information and will benefit from the array of speakers and resources that will be presented during the program,” said Fred Hall, AgriLife Extension agriculture agent for Williamson County. “Any small-landowner with a desire to be part of the local food system will benefit from this information.”
This program workshop gives current and former military with or without disabilities interested in farming or ranching the opportunity to get information on starting, developing and funding an agriculture business, according to Dr. Cheryl Grenwelge, AgriLife Extension specialist in disability transition with the Texas AgrAbility Project in College Station.
“While the program is designed for current and former military, beginning farmers and ranchers, women and small-landholder farmers and ranchers are also welcome to attend and can benefit from the workshop information,” Grenwelge said.
Presentations will address how to develop an agriculture business plan, starting an agriculture business, possibilities and options for farming or ranching with a disability, and resources available for funding an agricultural enterprise.
“Texas AgrAbility focuses on connecting, assisting and empowering agricultural producers, their family members and employees with disabilities and chronic health conditions to stay engaged in production agriculture,” said Erin Pilosi, Texas AgrAbility program coordinator, College Station.
She said the program was developed with input from AgriLife Extension, AgrAbility, the USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Service, the National Farmer Veteran Coalition, Farm Service Agency, USDA Risk Management and Texas Department of Agriculture.
To ensure adequate space, attendees should RSVP by registering online and in advance at http://txagrability.tamu.edu.
A form can also be downloaded from http://williamson.agrilife.org/program-registration/or http://bit.ly/14GGPlxand mailed to the attention of either Grenwelge or Pilosi at Texas A&M AgriLife Extension Service, 578 John Kimbrough, College Station, Texas 77843-2251 or emailed to chgrenwelge@ag.tamu.eduorempilosi@ag.tamu.edu.
More information can be found on the Texas AgrAbility website or by contacting Pilosi at 979-847-6185 or Hall at 512-943-3300.
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