Among the many resources available lie few that offer the whole picture. Throughout a lot of my research, the two that seem to provide the most information appear to be The Farmer Veteran Coalition and The Young Farmers Coalition.
Whether or not you are a veteran, I would access their website and check the links available. More often than not, they lead to avenues that pertain to all people rather than just veterans. There are many aspects of these organizations that I find appealing that valuable not just for myself but for anybody interested in agriculture and starting their own business!
The Young Farmers Coalition has a lot to offer. This organization not only supports local farmers but it provides a plethora of resources such as access to business management classes, social events to bring together community, and educational workshops. I find it incredibly important to have a community and support group in place to help myself get through some of the hardships in decision making! I always like to keep that in mind. These guys also offer access to such resources that provide loans for business. There is even access to grants to certain young farmers.
One major factor that might contribute to one’s inclination to join The Young Farmers Coalition is that there is a fee, minimum of $35. It just might be worth the investment, however.
The Farmer Veteran Coalition does nearly the same thing but they offer resources that cater more towards veterans. Often times I’ve noticed that there are similar perks between the two coalitions. One of the upsides I like about The FVC is that they have a “Homegrown By Heroes” label that can be helpful marketing tool when promoting Helsing Junction. Essentially it’s a label certifying that the farm is indeed owned by veterans. Eventually, Zack and I will attain this label and promote ourselves on JBLM! These guys also have a couple of grants that are available to veterans which can help to renovate an existing business or purchase equipment. Check it out!
Both of these organizations offer discounts to certain companies that can benefit a young farmer! My personal favorites include discounts to Johnny’s Seeds, FarmTek, Kubota, and Tractor Supply Co.. This is just naming a few of their partners. The FVC and The YFC both have their respective sponsors and supporters that offer discounts and deals.
There are two more organizations that are fantastic resources are USDA and Enterprise For Equity (e4e).
The USDA Link is on par with what both the prior coalitions have to offer. The upside to the USDA link, is that it has access to NRCS and other federal programs and grants. I would recommend doing some digging in this area. They also have a tab for veteran farmers, as well. Over the last few months Arden Borden, a colleague of mine at Helsing and former POF Student, has maintained an excellent relationship with the NRCS which tends to make grant writing much easier. Already we’ve been awarded one grant from the NRCS for $2,000 to purchase a piece of equipment for our tractor to improve soil quality. Trust me, it’s well worth it to dedicate time to research grants. Did I mention that the people working with the NRCS are truly dedicated to helping the farmer? If I haven’t, then let me mention, they are amazing people. They truly have the farmer in mind when helping! This truly makes it much easier and more fun to work with people just as passionate as the person embarking on the journey of farm ownership.