Military service members and spouses within a half-year of transitioning to civilian life can hone their agricultural skills with a five-week program hosted by the Cumberland County’s N.C. Cooperative Extension.
The “Soldiers to Agriculture” program begins Jan. 16 and runs through Feb. 16. It is open to veterans in addition to service members and spouses within 180 days of separation or retirement from military service. It is being held at the N.C. Cooperative Extension Cumberland County Center, and classes run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. weekdays.
The program offers a hands-on learning experience, including classes, tutorials and training exercises in a vast array of agricultural pursuits, including the following subject matters:
- soils
- composting
- forestry
- livestock production
- hydroponics
- horticulture
- landscaping
- beekeeping
- food preservation
- drone capabilities
- regenerative agriculture
The program also offers participants resources on general agribusiness, agricultural law and starting a small business, as well as career assistance materials, according to Cumberland County Government.
Liz Joseph of Cumberland County N.C. Cooperative Extension, who is overseeing the program, said it aims to provide interested individuals with the tools and knowledge to start businesses in agriculture or pursue farming as a lifestyle choice.
“I think that it’s important for people transitioning out to still feel a sense of purpose and be able to continue to provide for a community, whether that’s for their family or a larger community,” Joseph said. “And then I think anytime you can be out doing stuff with your hands, doing stuff in nature, it’s very good.”
The program includes traditional classroom discussions, but also incorporates trips to relevant farms in the area, where participants can get direct experience practicing what they’ve learned. The last two weeks of the program, Joseph said, include a mini-internship where participants can go work at a local farm that specializes in their area of interest.
“Whatever we’re talking about in the classroom, we try to bring them out to a relevant farm,” Joseph said.
The program also offers opportunities to explore sustainable agricultural practices, which Joseph says are of increasing interest to participants. This includes homesteading, or household self-sufficiency, and regenerative agriculture, an alternative farming method emphasizing soil health and restoration.
Overall, Joseph said the program is a unique opportunity for those interested in learning what it takes to work the land without having to pay a lot upfront.
“It’s a really great way to learn about agriculture before you jump into it and spend a lot of money,” she said, “because it’s better to be equipped with the knowledge first and then you can decide if agriculture is the way you want to go.”
Soldiers to Agriculture will run three times in 2024, including from Jan. 16 to Feb. 16, April 1 to May 3 and July 29 to Aug. 29.
For additional information or to register, contact Joseph at 914-489-5330, 910-321-6862 or via email at liz_joseph@ncsu.edu.
Contact Evey Weisblat at eweisblat@cityviewnc.com or 216-527-3608.
