The proposed pilot program aims to help veterans bring the training and leadership skills they have developed to local communities, contributing to rural prosperity and enhancing their quality of life

Nonprofit organization HO'ola veteran services will partner with gofarm hawai'i, the beginning farmer training affiliated with university of hawai'i, to pilot a formal agricultural training and business incubation program to serve veterans in rural hawai'i county. The interdisciplinary curriculum combines immersive agricultural education and business training with holistic health and human services to support veterans in their professional and personal journeys. The project will graduate a minimum of 25 veterans over three years from the farmer training certificate program, resulting in the formation of profitable small farm businesses and job placement for veterans in agricultural sector; an additional 75 veterans will be engaged in agricultural experiences through program recruitment, non-formal education, and peer-to-peer networking activities. Recruitment will be supported by an established network of over 20 agencies and providers serving veterans in hawai'i county. If successful, results of the project and the pilot program can be used to inform implementation of this program statewide as well as efforts on the national level to support "whole health" approaches for veteran workforce development initiatives. The format consists of classroom-style lectures (in-person and via internet), hands-on practical work days at the training farm, and field trips to operational farms. Students complete theory and practical coursework related to the fundamentals of crop farming (i.e., soil fertility, irrigation, seeds, crop planning, food safety, nutrient management, taxonomy, plant anatomy, and pest management). Classroom sessions are supplemented by hands-on farm work and field demonstrations of techniques by instructors. Participants transition to applying knowledge and skills learned by growing produce for a community-based supported agriculture program organized by GFH. Participants are actively farming during this phase while also gaining technical skills related to business planning and management, marketing, product development, and portfolio development. After graduation, participants can apply for business incubation support, and utilize shared land and resources provided by gofarm hawaii to operate a commercial agribusiness. To support veterans in business incubator or operating independent businesses, GFH agbusiness services will provide business consulting and development technical assistance, including planning and analysis of financial and operational performance, processes and procedures, business and marketing plan development and execution, strategic planning and project management services to achieve client goals, and building an ongoing relationship that fosters continual improvement of operations. The proposed pilotproject targeting veterans will be used to test, improve, and replicate this program at other training sites in the future. Formative evaluation will be used by the third-party evaluator to make recommendations for best practices to prepare the program to be implemented elsewhere.