Empowering Arizona Veterans Through Sustainable Agriculture
vaeap offers
Free hands-on training to help Veterans thrive in agriculture and gain self-sufficiency.
meet a farmer
Bruce Laird of Avra Valley Growers, LLC, talks about his experience with farming as a Veteran.
understand the program
Dr. Ursula Schuch, of the University of Arizona, discusses the curriculum and the program.
why is this important?
Dr. Mark Sorensen of the STAR School discusses the program and its potential benefits to Veterans across Arizona.
Curriculum
Benefits
Career benefits of VAEAP
Physical Health Benefits of Agriculture
Mental Health Benefits of Agriculture
- Career growth in sustainable agriculture.
- Access to grants and business support.
- Hands-on skills for self-reliant living.
Mental Health Benefits of Agriculture
Physical Health Benefits of Agriculture
Mental Health Benefits of Agriculture
- Reduces depression and anxiety through interaction with nature.
- Builds optimism, life satisfaction, and self-esteem via purposeful work.
- Combats loneliness with community engagement.
Physical Health Benefits of Agriculture
Physical Health Benefits of Agriculture
Physical Health Benefits of Agriculture
- Improves physical health with outdoor activity
- Enhances vitality through natural movement
- Strengthens resilience with consistent labor
Connect with the program
Contact Info for vaeap
You can contact us by email at vaeapsw@gmail.com or by phone at (520) 877-2697.
our facebook page
Our Facebook page is where we'll be posting updates on the program, as well as pictures and content. Check the page for the most current information!
our Facebook group
The Facebook group is specifically for veterans who are involved or would like to be involved with the program. It will be a place for discussions, for connecting, and for sharing resources.
Program background
Hands-on and immersive training experience has been identified as a critical strategy to help returning military Veterans enter into and sustain successful careers in agriculture. The long-term/overarching goal of this program is to increase the number of military Veterans pursuing successful careers in food, agricultural and green industry sectors through a comprehensive, hands-on, and immersive training program jointly provided by the Painted Desert Demonstration Projects, Inc. (known as the STAR School), the University of Arizona (UA) - Cooperative Extension, Apex Applied Technology, Inc. (AATech) and several Arizona farms, food hubs, nursery/landscape businesses.
The program will also increase the Veteran’s access to Federal, local, and/or private grants/loans by providing grant application/administration assistance. In addition, the program intends to offer therapeutic healing to Veterans through farming, animal caring, and green industry practices.
Program Goals
To mitigate the challenges facing new Veteran farmers and ranchers, such as lack of capital, limited access to land, and lack of relevant knowledge, etc., the proposed program will have the following goals:
Goal 1: Provide active and targeted outreach to military Veterans in the Southwest.
Goal 2: Facilitate the Veterans’ connections to USDA, Cooperative Extension, VA, and other agencies.
Goal 3: Conduct on-going needs assessment.
Goal 4: Build a virtual collaborative network for job referral/placement.
Goal 5: Develop the curricula and provide classroom training/workshops on farming, ranching, green industry, and agribusiness development.
Goal 6: Develop the curricula and host apprenticeship trainings in model farms/businesses.
Goal 7: Host farm tours/filed trips to showcase innovation and sustainable farming practices.
Goal 8: Provide sustainable business assistance.
Goal 9: Provide grant assistance.
Our Partners
