Three years ago, Delaware Valley University and Rodale Institute partnered to create a program for veterans who were looking to pursue farming as a career in their lives after service. The Veteran Organic Farming Program teaches these former service members the knowledge and skills they need to be successful at organic farming and agriculture. Most veterans are used to hard work and long hours outside, so they are already have the physical preparedness to be farmers. As for mental readiness, a director of the program told Army Times that the unpredictability of nature is similar to the erratic environment of the battlefield. Farmers, like soldiers, must be prepared to change action at anytime.
The 36-hour certificate program requires participants to attend to classroom-based courses like animal science, plant and animal disease, entomology and agricultural marketing. In addition to these courses, the veterans are expected to log hours in stables, fields and greenhouses for hands-on training.
The Veteran Organic Farming Program was created to help combat veteran unemployment rates. The White House reported that in 2013, there were over 783,000 unemployed veterans in the U.S. The VOFP hopes to give veterans a chance to build their own careers. And thanks to GI Bill benefits, the program costs nothing for veterans.