These four new state organizations join a growing network of state chapters now numbering 13 that boast ties to a national organization dedicated to cultivating a new generation of farmers and food leaders while helping our veterans with their new post-service mission.

The Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) is a non-profit that helps veterans pursue careers in agriculture. Headquartered in Davis, California, they service a network of over 20,000 veteran members nationwide. FVC works with the agricultural community, partners and sponsors to support those who served our country once by defending it, and now serve a second time as farmers feeding it.

Many operate their own independent farms.

Michael O’Gorman, the project’s Founder and Chief Agricultural Officer, says:

“Ever increasing numbers of our military veterans come from rural areas. We find ways to offer them opportunities in agriculture. We assist veterans obtaining everything from equipment, business plans, financial advice and training.”

Rooted in its strong belief that veterans possess the unique skills and character needed to strengthen rural communities and create sustainable food systems, the organization recognizes that agriculture additionally offers veterans purpose, opportunity, and physical and psychological benefits.

Already with chapter presence in Illinois, Indiana, Kansas, Michigan, New York, Texas, Vermont, Virginia, and Washington, FVC has a major impact at the local level.

Chapters are effective at integrating farmer veterans into local agricultural communities. They bridge the gap between a nationally driven movement and resources at the state/county level to help them achieve success in agriculture. They are essential for ensuring members are aware of regional opportunities.

FVC relies heavily on its state leaders to connect with members; they offer an additional way to personalize the farmer veteran experience to individual needs.

“Because national travel remains uncertain, our chapters may be the first to organize local gatherings and on-farm training opportunities that are so important to our members,

shared O’Gorman, whose greatest pride is helping these veterans with their new mission.

“Even as we are unable to engage in person on a larger scale, chapter organizers are networking with local farmer veterans through teleconference capabilities; the growth is occurring despite COVID-19.”

This, in part, fueled FVC’s goal for significant chapter development in 2020.

To facilitate this growth, FVC standardized the governance of chapters last year.  In Austin last November for their national Stakeholders Conference, more than 200 veterans dedicated an extra day to learn about building presence in their states showing their commitment to serving others and explanding Farmer Veteran Coalition impact across the U.S.

Arkansas, North Carolina, South Carolina and Tennessee are the first to emerge as official new chapters since that gathering.

“Having these four new state chapters moves us one step closer toward our long-term vision of regional expansion in sync with the USDA’s ten farm production regions,”

beamed Jeanette Lombardo, who recently took over as FVC’s Executive Director in July.

“We have committed considerable time and resources towards developing more active chapters as we move into 2021.”

The new chapters at a glance…

Arkansas

“We are humbled to serve the veteran farmers of Arkansas and come alongside the national organization as we become a voice and source of support for an incredible community of Americans.”

– Michael Sparks, President
•   Serving 500 Arkansas members
•   Primary crop is rice, but ag in the state is diverse
•   Formation started in the Fall of 2019 with the Vets4Ag Summit – a trifecta of Arkansas Farm Bureau Federation, Arkansas Dept of Veteran Affairs, and the Arkansas Dept of Agriculture.
•   Jason Smedley of Arkansas Farm Bureau led the charge.  He is a Marine Corps veteran and a small farmer himself, and now holds a seat on the chapter board.

North Carolina

“‘To be rather than to seem,’ is the state motto of North Carolina. That is what we are seeking to do with the launch of FVC of North Carolina. To be supportive of the military members who have served this country. To be part of the backbone of the agricultural industry which is No. 1 in the state of North Carolina. To be what we are: veterans who are farmers and ranchers, in service once again to our country.”

– Lovay Wallace Singleton, President
•   Serving 1,000 North Carolina members
•   Top crops are cotton, soybean and corn
•   Wallace-Singleton is the Founder of Veterans Employment Base Camp and Organic Garden.  She was essential in getting the team across the line. Her dedication and commitment are a testament to how she treats every challenge in life – one step at a time, and you will get it done!
•   Farm Bureau NC was critical in ensuring the chapter’s formation. Debbie Hamrick has been on the organizing committee since its inception and motivated them to the win every step of the way.

South Carolina

“We are so excited that South Carolina is the newest addition to the Farmer Veteran Coalition family. We know that our chapter will provide the support needed across the Palmetto state to help mobilize South Carolinians to feed America.”

– Matthew Rutter, President
•   Serving 500 South Carolina members
•   Veterans farming 800,000 acres of the state
•   One in ten South Carolina adults are veterans, with South Carolina ranking ninth in the United States in military retiree population.
•   Members grow a tremendous variety of products from truffles to apples to commodity crops to livestock.
•   Chapter President, Matthew Rutter of Project Victory Gardens, is an eighth generation South Carolinian.  He strongly advocated for a state chapter, drawing support from the South Carolina Secretary of Veteran’s Affairs, the Commissioner of Agriculture, and numerous stakeholders.

Tennessee

“The creation of the Tennessee Chapter of the Farmer Veteran Coalition is the culmination of months (and in some cases, years) of hard work by a great team of people with a shared interest in supporting veterans in agriculture.  We look forward to creating a stronger community of farmer veterans across the state and finding new ways to network and share resources.”

– Ron Bridges, President
 

•   Serving 1,000 Tennessee members
•   Initially started their work in 2017 and have patiently waiting to launch while National revamped the chapter ordinance.  They quickly became one of the first to do so under the new process.
•   Ron Bridges is an Army veteran and professor of biology at Pellissippi State Community College.
•   Tim Prather, now retired from University of Tennessee Extension, was essential in making this chapter happen.

The post Farmer Veteran Coalition announces new state chapters appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.

With the arrival of the new generation, it was considered appropriate to rethink the mission: what are we? The vision. What do we want to be? and also, the values that Arcusin wishes to convey. What are we about?

Mission: Manufacturer of high-tech, specialist farming machinery in the bale handling sector

Vsion: Leaders in the innovative/patented technology sector

Values: Agile, Responsible, Committed, Useful, Helpful, Innovative, Noble

Rethinking all these questions will require each and every one of the members of the company to carry out a comprehensive review of the objectives of each department, following the main guiding thread of: speed-up engineering to boost existing markets.

The result is more than 38 projects that were presented during a briefing on December 20^th last year at Llotja de Lleida, and which was attended by every team that makes up Arcusin. Divided into 3 groups: customers and markets, machines and services, and internal organisation, each department presented an overview of its projects.

To round off the day with a smile, we took the opportunity to acknowledge the work of some of our colleagues and the prizes awarded were many and varied, such as for the “Best Partner”, the “Best Good Morning” or the “Most hard-working”.

Source: Arcusin

The post Arcusin presents its strategic plan for 2020-2022 appeared first on North America FarmQuip Magazine.