2025 Farmer Veteran Fellowship Application

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Please read this page carefully as it has instructions for the application.

Deadline to apply for the 2025 funding cycle is February 14, 2025.

The Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund is a small grant program that provides direct assistance to veterans who are in their beginning years of farming or ranching. Awards range from $1,000 to $5,000 to purchase equipment or supplies that will support your farm business. The application process is extremely competitive and submitting an application does not guarantee funding.

Application Process:

It will be helpful to have the following information available during the process: military service history, educational background, farming history, business and financial plans, and short-term and long-term goals. The application process can take 1-3 hours to complete. It is strongly recommended that you write your responses in a Word document on your computer, and save

the document often. Copy and paste the text over to the application. This will prevent losing information in the case of a technological malfunction.

Be sure to click "save my progress and resume later" on the application every time you are ready to leave the form! It will require you to put in your password each time.

Previous recipients of the Fellowship award are only eligible to apply again for funding if previously awarded $1,000 or less. All are welcome to apply for Kubota's Geared to Give.

Th The Kubota Geared to Give application is integrated into this Fellowship Fund application.

Eligibility Requirements:

· Applicants must have served in the U.S. Armed Forces, currently be on active-duty, or serving in the military reserve/National Guard.

· Applicants must be members of FVC (you can join for free at farmvetco.org)

· Applicants must have an honorable discharge (other characters of discharge may be accepted on a case-by-case basis). Active duty or reserve members need a command support letter.

· The Fellowship is designed to support for-profit ag businesses, non-profit entities are not eligible to apply.
· Applicants must have an agricultural business in operation, and submit a business plan.

· Applicants must be willing to fully participate in the Fellowship Program, which includes reporting progress, capturing photos of the purchase, and mentoring aspiring veteran farmers if needed.

· Applicants must have the desire to continue to serve others and make a positive impact on the farmer veteran community.

Each applicant will be evaluated based on the following criteria:

· Farm Training, Experience, and/or Transferable skills.

· Personal Investment in the farm business.

· Strategic and concise funding request that will help the business grow in the long term.

· Vision and goals for the future of the business.

· Community involvement and unique impact.

Documents Required: (uploaded in a digital file format as a word document, PDF, or JPEG)

· Documentation of military service. All discharged service members must provide their most recent DD-214 that includes character of service (Member 4). Active, Reservist, or National Guard applicants must provide a command support letter.

· A business plan, outlining the business you currently operate and future business goals. Please keep your business plan 15 pages or less.

· The application includes a short essay question exploring the following areas: motivation and experiences that led to launching your business and career ambitions in agriculture. Minimum one paragraph, maximum one page.

Fellowship Expectations:

· Purchases are made through third-party vendors and must be directly related to building your agricultural business. If awarded, you must follow FVC's purchasing procedures.

· As part of your role as an awardee, we may ask you to become an ambassador of FVC, with the option to respond to media requests or attend events to further our mission.

· You may be asked to provide periodic business and progress reports when requested.

· You will be expected to maintain a high moral character while representing FVC in the community.

Page 1 of 1

Questions marked with a red asterisk are required in order to successfully submit this form. The next section of the application will appear after this section is filled out.

First Name

Last Name

Mailing Street

Mailing City

Mailing State / Province

Mailing Zip/Postal Code

Mailing Country

Mailing Country Other

Birthdate (MM/DD/YYYY)

Please enter as: MM/DD/YYYY

Gender

MaleFemaleOther

Phone (123-456-7890)

format:123-456-7890

Race (check all that apply):

Arab-American or Middle EasternAsian-AmericanBlack or African-AmericanLatino or HispanicNative AmericanPacific IslanderWhite or CaucasianOther

Have you been convicted of a felony?

YesNo

If yes, please explain below:

Have you served in the U.S. Armed Forces or are you currently serving in the U.S. Armed Forces?

YesNo

According to your response you are not eligible for our Fellowship program because you indicated that you have not served in the U.S. Armed Forces. Please cancel your application. If you would like to become involved with FVC please register as a supporter on our website.

Are you a member of the Farmer Veteran Coalition?

YesNo

According to your response, you are not eligible for our Fellowship program because you indicated that you are not a member of the Farmer Veteran Coalition. Please go to farmvetco.org to become a member. It is free to join.

Military Service Questions

Current Military Status

Currently ServingSeparatedRetired

Military Branch

Air ForceArmyCoast GuardMarinesNavySpace ForceOther

Type of Service, check all that apply:

Active DutyNational Guard / Reserves

Type of service:

EnlistedOfficer

Date of Service Entry (MM/DD/YYYY)

Date of Separation (MM/DD/YYYY) If still serving, enter today's date.

Please upload your redacted DD214 or Service Verification documents. Characterization of Service must be shown

Did you serve after September 11, 2001?

YesNo

Have you been wounded, injured, or become ill as a result of your service?

YesNoYou do not need to have a VA rating to apply.

Do you have a service-connected disability rating?

YesNo

In your time of service, did you deploy?

YesNo

Deployment Information

Number of Deployments

Location of Deployments

Desert StormOIFOEFVietnamOther

Location of Deployment (if Other)

Please briefly tell us about your military experience:

Are you currently involved in agriculture?

YesNo

According to your responses you are not eligible for a Farming Fellowship because you indicated that you are not currently involved in agriculture. However, we may have scholarships or other services that you might qualify for and can assist you in becoming involved in agriculture. Please cancel your application and check out our website for other services and programs available. Thank you.

Are you requesting funding for a non-profit?

YesNo

According to your response, you are not eligible for our Fellowship program because you indicated that you are requesting funding for a non-profit. Please cancel your application.

Agriculture Questions

Business name:

Business website or social media link:

Your previous year gross sales were:

This information is not reported to any external agencies.

Please upload your business plan, maximum 15 pages:

If you need assistance creating your business plan, visit farmvetco.org/fvfellowship/ to view previous webinars with Farm Credit and CFFM. You can also contact our support center (support@farmvetco.org).

Please give a brief overview of the business you are operating:

How is this being financed? (i.e; off-farm income, loans, revenue from operation, etc.)

What is currently grown? (Please check all that apply):

AquaponicsBeesBerriesCattleDairyEquineFish / ShellfishFlowersFruit TreesGrapesHay, roundHay, squareHydroponicsLumberNut TreesPoultryRow CropsSwineVegetables HerbsHempMushroomsCommodities (e.g. corn, soy, wheat, rice, cotton)Other Livestock (bison, quail, etc.)Other

Production Methods (check all the apply):

ConventionalNo-tillSustainableOrganic

Number of acres

Do you own or lease your facility/property

OwnLease

Please list your current infrastructure including land, buildings, equipment, animals, agriculture products, etc:

Please describe your market(s) (how and where you sell your product):

Please upload your response to the prompt in a single Microsoft Word document, a maximum of 1 page.

Describe how your military service has helped you in the food/farming industry and

what other life experiences have led you to choose a career in agriculture?

Upload essay responses:

I acknowledge that I have read and agree to the Farming Fellowship guidelines, information, terms, and expectations on the face page of this application.

YesNo

According to your response you are not eligible for a Farming Fellowship because you indicated that you are not eligible based on the information on the face page of this application or you are not willing to participate within the guidelines of the program. Please visit our website for other services and programs available. Thank you.

Fellowship Questions

Have you ever applied for a Fellowship award from FVC?

YesNo

Have you ever received a Fellowship award from FVC?

YesNo

Were you awarded $1,000 or less?

YesNo

Please select what year you have been awarded.

Describe your background in the food and farming industry, including hands-on experience and any formal or informal training. If you do not have any experience or training directly related to your business, how are you planning to learn what you need to learn in order to be successful?

Describe your involvement with the Farmer Veteran Coalition or Veteran and/or farming communities.

Goals

Please list your short-term goals in agriculture (up to 12 months):

Please list your long-term goals in agriculture (3 -5 years and beyond):

Award Questions

Farming Fellows can be awarded a grant worth up to $5,000. Fellows do not receive a direct payment. Purchases must be durable goods and sustainable in order that they will make a lasting impact on your agricultural business. If awarded, you will submit invoice(s) for your requested item(s) and payment will be made to the vendor.

Previous awardees of more than $1,000 are not eligible for a fellowship, but may proceed with the application to be considered for Geared to Give. Please put "not applicable" if needed.

Explain what item or equipment you would purchase if awarded, and how it would advance your goals:

Estimate how much the item or equipment you are requesting would cost:

Emergency Preparedness

Due to the natural disasters experienced nationally in the past several years, FVC is requiring applicants to complete some basic emergency preparedness questions to ensure that they have a prompt response from emergency personnel and recovery assistance.

Please save this form digitally and print a copy to have on hand with your farm disaster organization kit. Remember in times of emergency, cell towers may be down, and internet service may be lost.

Natural disasters can create life-threatening situations for many of us who live in rural areas because our communities are vulnerable due to limited resources, inadequate infrastructure, and capacity constraints such as equipment shortages. These limitations can make it challenging to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies and disasters.

As you may be aware, there are five general types of risks in agriculture: production risk, price or market risk, financial risk, legal risk, and human risk. Emergencies, disasters, and hazards affect all of these risks, but most particularly production risk.

Get started by gathering the following information in one place:

1. In case of a natural disaster how would you be warned?

2. Have you signed up for local alerts through phone or email?

YesNo

3. Where is your closest emergency shelter?

4. Have you identified areas to relocate your assets (livestock, equipment, etc.) if needed and neighbors to help?

YesNo

5. What is the phone number for your county emergency management office?

6. If you have a veterinarian, list their number.

7. Who is your state/county ag commissioner, and what is their address and phone number?

8. What is the address for the closest ag extension office and their contact information?

9. What is the address for the closest FSA office and their contact information? USDA Service Center Locator

10. What is the phone number of your insurance agent (business/home)?

11. If you have crop and/or livestock insurance, what is your agent's number?

12. When you are preparing your emergency disaster kit, don't forget your farm inventory. Some basic items to include would be: livestock (species and number of animals), crops (acres and types), machinery and equipment (make and model number), hazardous substances (e.g. crop protection tools, fuels, medicines, and other chemicals).

Got it!

13. Does everyone (spouses, older children, and employees) on the farm know the following: - Access routes to all sections of the property - Barriers to entry (fences and gates- location of keys/codes) - Location of Livestock (pasture #'s, barns, etc.) - Location of hazardous substances (fuel, chemicals, livestock medications)

Yes!

We all know that we should have emergency preparedness kits, but when we need them are they ready to grab? This list seems like common sense, but many farms and ranches lack even the basic preparations!

Please refer to this YouTube video on emergency preparedness:

Emergency Preparedness
Here you will find detailed checklists that were created with the Native Agriculture Financial Services for the work on the coalition's Extension Risk Management Education grant (ERME).

Resources

https://www.nal.usda.gov/animal-health-and-welfare/disaster-planning-animals

Emergency Farm Loans | Farm Service Agency

Disaster Assistance Programs | Farm Service Agency

US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) www.ready.gov

Humane Society of the United States 202-452-1100

US Department of Health and Human Services 877-696-6775

National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) www.noaa.gov

FVC Support center. Email- support@farmvetco.org Phone- 855-FVC-FARM

Thank you for taking this first step to prepare!

Geared to Give Supplemental Questions:

Geared to Give is a partnership between FVC and Kubota Tractor Corporation. Kubota will be donating equipment, including tractors, utility vehicles, hay tools, and skid steers.

Do you want to apply for the Geared to Give program, in addition to the Fellowship? If yes, you will be directed to a few more questions. If no, you will submit your application to the Fellowship Fund only.

YesNo

Geared to Give supplemental questions

Which of the following equipment do you currently own? Check all that apply.

TractorSkid SteerUTVHay ToolsNone

How many acres is your farming operation?

Tell us about your farming operation. What do you grow/raise/produce? How long have you been farming? What are your future growth plans for your operation?

Tractor Questions

Are you interested in applying for a tractor?

YesNo

If you currently own a tractor, tell us about it and its current condition, including year, make, model, and hours.

Tell us about your need for a tractor. What specific applications would you use a tractor for?

For a tractor, how much horsepower do you need?

0 to 30 HP31 to 65 HP66 to 130 HP131 to 168 HPNot sure

What are your top three most-needed tractor implements and how would you use each?

Anything else you'd like to tell us about your need for a Kubota tractor?

UTV Questions

Are you interested in applying for a utility vehicle?

YesNo

If you currently own a utility vehicle, tell us about it and its current condition, including year, make, model, and hours.

How do you currently get around on your farming operation?

Tell us about your need for a utility vehicle. What specific applications would you use a utility vehicle for?

Anything else you'd like to tell us about your need for a Kubota utility vehicle?

Hay Tools Questions

In order to be eligible for hay tools, you must already have a working tractor with a minimum of 110 PTO horsepower.

Are you interested in applying for hay tools?

YesNo

What is the year, make, and model of your current tractor?

If you already own a tractor, how much PTO horsepower does it have?

How many bales do you do per year?

Do you make round or square bales?

What type of hay do you cut, i.e., alfalfa, sudangrass, sorghum, corn stalks, etc.? List all that you expect to cut over the next year.

What hay tools do you currently own or have access to? For example, do you already own a cutter, rake, tedder, baler, etc.?

Tell us about your need for a baler. If you currently own a baler, what is the year, make, model, and current condition?

Anything else you'd like to tell us about your hay operation and your need for Kubota hay tools?

Skid Steer Questions

Are you interested in applying for a skid steer?

YesNo

If you currently own a skid steer, tell us about it and its current condition, including year, make, model, and hours.

Tell us how you would put a skid steer to use on your farming operation.

How much does the heaviest thing you will need to lift weigh? Tell us what you will be lifting and approximate weight in pounds (lbs.).

What is the maximum lift height you need to reach? Tell us in approximate feet and inches.

Do you have a barn or other places where work is performed that have low ceilings, narrow aisles, or other space limitations? If so, what are those limitations? Tell us the approximate height and width in feet and inches of any low ceilings, narrow aisles, or other space limitations.

If you are using attachments that utilize auxiliary hydraulics, what are the flow requirements for those attachments?

What are your top three most-needed skid steer attachments and how would you use each?

Anything else you'd like to tell us about your need for a skid steer?

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