Current issue. Virginia's agricultural sector is facing significant labor challenges

Vet First Inc. received $616,428 in Project Grant funding from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Institute of Food and Agriculture under the Enhancing Agricultural Opportunities for Military Veterans Competitive Grants Program (CFDA 10.334) on September 30, 2025. The award supports a three-year initiative through September 29, 2028, designed to address Virginia's agricultural labor challenges by developing and delivering comprehensive agricultural education and training to military veterans. The organization will create the Veteran Farm to Table-Agricultural Education and Training Continuum (VF2T-AETC), an immersive curriculum and on-farm training program that equips veterans—particularly in rural areas—with the knowledge, skills, and abilities necessary to establish and sustain financially viable farming operations.

The program delivers hands-on agricultural training through curriculum development, on-farm immersion experiences, business planning and farm management instruction, and wraparound support services including mentoring, networking, and accessibility accommodations compliant with Section 508 standards. The initiative targets Virginia-based military veterans and is designed with potential for national expansion to help alleviate veteran poverty and homelessness while addressing critical agricultural sector labor shortages. By connecting transitioning service members and veterans with practical farming experience across diverse commodities and agricultural enterprises, the program aims to create lasting career opportunities in Virginia's food and agriculture industries.

Domestic worker recruitment often falls short, especially for seasonal and field tasks, pushing many farms to rely heavily on foreign labor under the H-2A visa program. These shortages are especially acute for hand-harvested crops, pruning, planting, and other labor-intensive, often less mechanizable tasks. VET first, INC. (VFI), 501(C)(3), a 508 compliant organization, is grounded in our sustainment of strong networks and collaborations in the commonwealth of virginia through research, education, extension, and integrated activities to address current and future agricultural (AG) educational and career challenges caused by limited or no access to farm land, farming equipment, or needed capital to establish and sustain veteran farming operations. By offering AG opportunities starting with virginian veterans and succinctly developing a sound curriculum and on farm immersion methodology, we aim to offer our course nationwide to help alleviate veteran poverty and homelessness and enrich rural communities and economies. Our vision is a nation that not only honors those who have served but also actively invests in their future – one sustainable farm at a time. Our project is dedicated to serving a specific audience: virginia-based military veterans, with a focus on accessibility through 508 compliance. Through ourveteran farm to table-AG education and training continuum (VF2T-AETC) cohort, we aim to connect interested veterans with valuable knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSAS) in the agriculture sector. This initiative is designed to create lasting, organized impact across virginia's food and agriculture industries by equipping veterans – particularly in rural areas – with financially viable agricultural skills. We achieve this through immersive educational curricula and hands-on, on-farm training experiences. By doing so, we seek to expand agricultural career opportunities for veterans, helping to reduce veteran unemployment and food insecurity, while supporting the development of successful farms and agribusinesses across the state.methods and approach. Since our VF2T-AETC program is an annual, open-enrollment course integrated with quarterly training modules, we offer a flexible capacity for veterans to complete all 100 hours of instruction coupled with on-farm experiences, and an opportunity to pursue a free voucher for up to two attempts in obtaining a certification in natural resources conservation service (NRCS) fundamentals of conservation and sustainability in AG. The data and results that we will use to inform our primary and secondary target audiences is comprehensive and includes:data collection methodspre- and post-training surveysmonthly progress reportsquarterly hands-on skills assessmentsbi-monthly instructor evaluationsexit interviewsdata production and analysismonthly data tracking dashboard (gantt chart)pre-and post-course quantified survey, results using google formsquarterly statistical summary reports reporting % of change in knowledge/skillsqualitative coding for exit interviews that provide thematic trends and success storiesinforming target audiencesveteran participants will receive monthly individual progress, tips, upcoming contentstakeholders will receive quarterly enrollment, completion %, employment ratescommunity partners will receive BI-monthly newsletters also containing success stories and outreach numbersthe general public through our social media outlets and public events will receive, as needed, course outcomes and veteran spotlightsproject goals and impact. Virginia seems to be under more pressure in some respects: its agriculture sector is large and diverse, meaning many different kinds of farms (field crops, specialty crops, livestock, etc.) all compete for a limited domestic labor pool. The timing of work (SEASONALITY) plus rural locations make recruitment harder. In the broader mid-atlantic region more generally, the magnitude of agricultural labor shortages varies by state and by agricultural sector: states with more intensive specialty crops (fruits, vegetables, nurseries) tend to feel shortages more acutely; states more dominated by mechanizable or less labor-intensive agriculture less so. The goals of our VF2T-AETC program will enable veterans to gain the associated KSAS and confidence needed to pursue sustainable careers in AG. We hope the impact of our training will empower our veteran students in achieving job placement in agriculture-related fields or independent farm start-UPS within six (6) months of course completion. As a result of our program, we believe that by introducing virginia, our region, and ultimately the nation, with a skilled and disciplined veteran workforce will contribute to and help address national/regional labor shortages in the agriculture sector.societal benefits of OURVF2T-AETC in meeting and exceeding these goals include:food security and stabilitykey result: consistent labor supply ensures that crops are harvested on time, reducing food waste and spoilage. A more reliable local food system strengthens regional food security, reducing dependence on imports and long-distance supply chains.economic growth in rural communitieskey result: ensuring adequate farm labor helps sustain the economic viability of farms, many of which are the backbone of rural communities. Supporting agricultural productivity can stimulate job creation in related sectors – transportation, processing, equipment, and retail.lower consumer priceskey result: when labor shortages lead to reduced output, prices often rise due to scarcity. Stabilizing the workforce can help keep food prices more affordable, benefiting low-income and working families in particular.innovation and modernizationkey result: persistent labor shortages often spur investment in automation, precision agriculture, and more efficient farm practices. This dual approach – labor + tech – can MOD, ernize the agricultural sector while maintaining human jobs where automation is less feasible.cultural and community contributionskey result: many foreign and seasonal workers contribute to the cultural diversity and resilience of rural communities. Over time, some may settle, open businesses, and contribute to long-term population stability in areas facing rural decline.