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Stakeholders conference helping veterans return to their ag roots
 
Stakeholders conference helping veterans return to their ag roots

By DOUG SCHMITZ
Iowa Correspondent

DES MOINES, Iowa — An estimated 200 people attended the first Farmer Veteran Stakeholders Conference last month in Des Moines, with local, state and national service providers facilitating networking, partnering and educational opportunities for U.S. military veterans wanting to return to their agricultural roots.
“In my 62 years, it was the most powerful congregation I have been part of,” said James Brady, Air Force veteran and board member of Louisiana Assoc. of Cooperatives.
Of the many speakers at the first-of its-kind conference was Gen. Charlie Kruse, a former president of the Missouri Farm Bureau Federation and retired Army National Guard general. “I just think that the sky’s the limit (for helping veterans return to the farm),” he said.
Hosted by Drake University’s Agricultural Law Center and the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC), headquartered in Davis, Calif., the conference drew veterans and officials representing veteran organizations and agricultural organizations from 38 states. “Many of America’s veterans come from our rural communities, and are often drawn back to the land upon returning to civilian life,” said USDA Deputy Secretary Krysta Harden, citing Karis Gutter, USDA’s first military veterans’ agricultural liaison. “Veterans are key to building our future generation of farmers, land stewards and conservationists.
“The USDA already has a number of initiatives to help veterans find meaningful work in agriculture upon returning home, but this new position will help coordinate our efforts and make programs easier to navigate. I look forward to Karis’ leadership as we continue to support America’s heroes.”
A native of Terry, Miss., Gutter began his career in public service as an enlisted Marine Corps reservist, also serving as a corporal in the Marine Corps and a communications and field radio operator participating in humanitarian relief after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks and Hurricane Katrina. “Serving as the USDA’s first military veterans agricultural liaison is a great honor,” Gutter told conference attendees of his new position, created by the 2014 farm bill, which reports directly to the Office of the Secretary. “As a Marine, I know military veterans have unique skills, training and perspective. My job is to make sure military veterans have full access to the USDA’s resources and services to help them succeed in civilian life.”
Scott Silvay, employment coordinator at the Iowa Veterans Affairs Office and a disabled Army veteran, described how he connects veterans with education, job training and apprenticeship programs. He was asked by a conference attendee why the Veterans Administration (VA) did not send anyone from Washington.
“The VA is not adept and geared toward farming from a self-owned perspective,” he admitted. “This is why we need the USDA liaison role to ensure that veterans’ needs are being met across all departments.”
Other keynote speakers included Brigadier Gen. Stanley Flemming, DO, ambassador to the U.S. Army Reserves and council member in Pierce County, Wash.; and Ben Shaffar, director of business development for the Kentucky Department of Agriculture and the developer of the Homegrown by Heroes label. Both generals sit on FVC’s board of directors.
In addition, a panel of seasoned farmer veterans shared their military experience as key to their ability to handle the rigors of a farming career – one of whom was Paul Zimmerman, an Army veteran and fifth-generation Waseca, Minn., farmer.
“In the military, you are used to dealing with large, impossible situations where you need to think quickly and be decisive,” he said – “all great things that you need in farming.”
12/17/2014