Brent Barnes, Pesticide Management Division
For some of us military veterans, returning to civilian life
is a transition that requires a little help.
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| Brent Barnes is assistant director of WSDA's Pesticide Management Division |
Before I left the U.S. Army, I had the chance to participate
in a wonderful transition program called Northwest Edge that helps veterans
enter Washington State and federal employment. This led to a Washington State Veterans
Fellowship, a number of informational interviews and job shadowing
opportunities and, finally to the position I currently fill, for which I am
very grateful.
But not every veteran wants to work for the state government.
Some want to farm.
WSDA had been hearing about efforts around the country to
help veterans transition into agriculture. We would occasionally get calls for
information about organizations involved in this type of work.
While there was interest in sharing this information, most
websites I found focused on recruiting veterans for vacant agency positions or linking
to benefits available to veterans based on their honorable service. I believed
what WSDA needed was a web resource for those who wanted to become farmers,
ranchers, or find another way to enter the industry that we support.
The result is www.agr.wa.gov/aginwa/veterans
- a website sharing links for a range of resources that might be useful to a
military veteran seeking a future in agriculture.
Creating this website is one result of WSDA’s interest and
intent to help veterans.
We can now provide an online resource that I hope will serve
as a clearinghouse for subjects such as assistance for beginning farmers, small
farm loans and grants, education, ecotherapy and mentorships.
I hope this small effort will help those who want to enter
the agriculture industry, whether in Washington or anywhere transitioning
service members relocate.