Arcadia's veteran farmer training and incubation launches veterans into careers in agriculture and supports them after they start farming

We help them acquire farming and business skills; provide access to incubator farm plots for low-cost, low-risk, real world operational experience; and offer ongoing technical assistance and support as they establish their businesses. The program meets participants wherever they are in their development and supports their continued growth as they begin to farm. Vfti specifically accommodates veterans' needs, experiences, and schedules, which can include ongoing military duties, retirement briefings, and medical treatment, while leveraging their culture of service, teamwork, and discipline. The goal of vfti is to increase the number of veterans operating new, successful farm operations, and to support them as they establish and operate their farm businesses. Our program focuses on veterans, current military members, and families, with a 3-year goal to train 66 potential farmers via our two farmer training tracks, help an additional 10 veteran farmers launch farm businesses on the veteran farm incubator, and increase the success rate of an additional 300 veteran farmers through workshops, technical assistance, and other support. We aim to produce 25 new farmers beginning their agriculture careers by the end of the grant period.