AgroPages-West Virginia joins Farm Bureau Patriot Program to mentor veterans-Agricultural news

The American Farm Bureau Federation recently added the West Virginia Farm Bureau to its Patriot Program, which brings experienced farmers and military veterans together, with the farmers acting as mentors to the veterans.

"We love farmers and veterans and all that both do for our country, and it’s just a really great way for farmers to not only help someone who is interested into breaking into the agriculture industry, but also help veterans who have given so much to our country make strides towards a personal goal," Tabby Kuckuck, a West Virginia Farm Bureau spokesperson, said in speaking with Micheal Clements on the Farm Bureau's Newsline podcast on Tuesday.

The West Virginia Farm Bureau joined Arkansas, Indiana and Texas farm bureaus in partnership with the American Farm Bureau in the Patriot Project.

Military veterans interested in participating in the program must have an honorable discharge, access to farmland, basic farming skills and a willingness to learn. The farmland can be rented or owned by the veteran. A mentorship should last at least six months.

"We hope that our participants continue down a path of friendship and are able to learn from one another," Kuckuch told Clements. "And if our veteran can take all that he learns from his mentor and apply it and really thrive with his ventures, I think we’ll have accomplished our goals, and it’s going to be really great to see the success of his new farm and business that he’s wanting to create and how that team building has really worked to make that happen."