The goal of bridging the GAP: growing veterans pilot program is to support the sustainability of military veteran beginning farmers, ranchers and their families on hawai'i island by providing…

The goal of bridging the GAP: growing veterans pilot program is to support the sustainability of military veteran beginning farmers, ranchers and their families on hawai'i island by providing exposure, skill-based training and a network aimed to help veterans transition the training and leadership skills they developed in the military to their local communities. This pilot agricultural training program's main focus is the region of hawai'i county (hawai'i island), which is a rural island and home to over 15,000 veterans and more than half of the state's agricultural lands and agribusinesses.interested beginning farmers and ranchers can participate in a variety of one-day intro to grow workshops held at two HVS training locations; 1) greenhouse garden, and 2) market garden training plot where participants work on specific projects, complete skilled-based tasks and grow in our operational market gardens, which grows 350 LBS of produce each week.interested participants can enroll in groundwork to grow, a more comprehensive four-week program that focuses on specific agriculture topics relevant to the pacific region (orchard, agroforestry, livestock, forestry, etc). The format consists of weekly classroom-style lectures (via internet), field trips to operational farms and ranches, and hands-on practical work days at the training farm sites. Guest speakers from agencies such as ctahr, UH hilo, forestry services, USDA, and local experts will provide additional resources to support participants' agriculture goals. The development of a hawaii farmer veteran network of stakeholders in the public/private (i.e. government, academia, nonprofit organizations, business) sector will provide a framework to engage and support beginning farmer ranchers with a collaborative effort. HVS will establish the network, create a digital story map and monitor a private facebook group to provide space for peer-to-peer communication, learning opportunities and support among veterans. HVS is committed to providing continuity of services to participants to ensure a greater chance of success as they pursue careers in agriculture.additional resources, support and consultation are provided by lcsw to help navigate challenges throughout the program, communication and time management skills, and wellness practices. Incorporating these components will increase the likelihood of success for veteran beginner farmers and ranchers on hawai?I island and throughout the state.HVS has the ability to serve the needs of its beneficiaries, including military veterans and their families based on prior experience and by involving qualified partners with a strong track record. This project will ensure that existing gaps in beginning farmer rancher programs are bridged with skills-based training and operational farm experiences, and empower the next generations of farmers and ranchers in hawaii.