The North South Institute will be on hand at the Vets Freedom Fest information booth section.
The North South Institute Veteran Small Farm & Business Incubator Program provides practical training and support to Florida Veterans who are interested in launching their own agribusiness operations or gaining full time employment in agriculture or allied services (nursery and landscaping, lawn and gardening, golf course operations, small engine and equipment repairs, operation of farm, and construction equipment and machinery). Program participants also receive hands on experience through the AgVet Practicum, where they can select from a list of disciplines, including an introduction to Solar Powered Systems, Aquaculture, Best Management Practices, and Food Safety Manager Certification.
This program is operated by the North South Institute with funding provided by the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA)/ National Institute for Food and Agriculture (NIFA)/ AgVet Program. The North South Institute has supported the development of veterans in agriculture since 2002 and has seen that veterans are more successful in developing their businesses, farms and ranches and consistently outperform other groups. This is attributed to the training and discipline developed during their military service.
The long-term goal of the Veteran Small Farm & Business Incubator Program is to help veterans create, develop, and implement skills that will help them own and/or work in agribusiness and allied services. This project helps veterans access several career paths and employment opportunities by bridging existing skill gaps.
WHO CAN APPLY
Any Florida Veteran seeking to develop skills to either start their own farms, ranches,
small businesses or gain meaningful careers and employment in agriculture, allied and
auxiliary industries. A Veteran is anyone who has served in a branch of the US Military
and has received their DD Form 214.
To Register_ Call 954-434-8220 or Email_ mcook@nsied.org
Did You Know?
Florida has the third largest veteran population in the country (1,525,400 veterans)