Take Root – Farmer Training for Veterans

Posted on September 22, 2017 by Taylor in Farming Resources, Training Programs, Veterans // 0 Comments

Take Root Farmer Training for Veterans

Farmer Training For Veterans! Are you a military veteran interested in learning the trade of farming? Look no further! Take Root is a program that connects veterans to paid employment and training on established farms in southern Wisconsin, northern Illinois, and the Chicagoland area.

Through the Take Root Program, veterans interested in farming will work on an established farm to gain hands-on production skills and guidance from an experienced local farmer. Veteran trainees will be supported by a customized education plan developed by farming professionals, and widen their farmer network through access to Upper Midwest CRAFT, a network that provides further on-farm education at interactive field days.

Take Root Farmer Training for Veterans – Program Benefits:

Individualized education plan
Hands-on farm production skills, learned on an established farm
A yearlong membership in Upper Midwest CRAFT
Paid time off to attend Upper Midwest CRAFT field days during the term of training
Accommodations and admission at MOSES Organic Farming Conference – February 2018
Accommodations and admission to the Wisconsin New Farmer U (plus Fearless Farm Finances or Food Safety workshop)
Invitation to Routes to Farm and Upper Midwest CRAFT events
Connect with the Upper Midwest CRAFT network of more than 200 local sustainable and organic farmers
Hourly salary (at least minimum wage) PLUS a $30 stipend toward additional educational resources

Take Root Farmer Training for Veterans – Program Components:

Selected trainees will work with Angelic Organics Learning Center staff to create an individualized education plan to better understand training needs and aid in pairing trainees with an appropriate trainer farm.

Then Learning Center staff will make recommendations to help facilitate a good trainee/trainer farm match, but the potential trainee will also go through the farm’s regular hiring process. Final hiring decisions will be made by trainer farms. Trainer farms will determine their trainee’s hourly rate of pay, a wage which will be similar to that of other farm employees.

In addition to being treated as regular employees, trainees will receive additional training or mentoring from trainer farmers throughout the season. Trainer farmers will start hiring for the upcoming growing season in the beginning months of 2018. Contact us directly to learn more about our trainer farms.

Interested in Farmer Training for Veterans? Application Period Opens October 10th!

Learn more at www.LearnGrowConnect.org/takeroot for complete program details and application information.

Questions? Email farmertraining@learngrowconnect.org or call the Angelic Organics Learning Center at 815-389-8455.

This program is FREE and for veterans.