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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) is now offering a virtual version of its popular sustainable agriculture training program for military veterans. NCAT is moving the training
online to make it accessible during COVID-19 restrictions. Veterans who want <span class="zmsearchresult">
to</span> attend the Virtual Armed to Farm <strong>t</strong>raining, which will take place in six sessions during April and May, can apply online now.</span><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">The Virtual Armed to Farm will cover topics essential to farm success, including business planning, budgeting, recordkeeping, marketing, and USDA programs, as well as specific enterprise discussions.
Attendees will have the opportunity to meet and network with other beginning farmers from across the country. The training will also include breakout sessions for region-specific networking and resource-sharing.
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Virtual Armed to Farm will include an engaging blend of interactive online instruction and video farm tours via Zoom. Participants will be expected to be involved in virtual activities, complete assignments, and interact with other attendees. NCAT Sustainable
Agriculture specialists will teach the training sessions. Staff from partner organizations, USDA agencies, and experienced crop and lives<span class="zmsearchresult">to</span>ck producers will provide additional instruction.<o:p> </o:p></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Applications are available at
<a href="https://ncat.org/atf_virtu/" title="https://ncat.org/atf_virtu/">https://ncat.org/atf_virtu/</a> and are due by March 12, 2021</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">.<br>
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</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif">Virtual Armed to Farm topics will be applicable to all beginning farmers regardless of location in the U.S. Military veterans interested in farming are encouraged to apply.
</span><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Spouses are welcome to participate as well, but must submit a separate application. The number of participants will be limited to facilitate
effective online interaction. <b>NCAT will notify selected participants by March 19</b>.
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<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#002060">Training Session Dates</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#002060"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Virtual Armed to Farm will consist of two-hour sessions on the following dates:<br>
April 1<br>
April 8<br>
April 15<br>
April 22<br>
April 29<br>
May 6<br>
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</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">The training sessions will take place from 3:00-5:00 p.m. Pacific time/4:00-6:00 p.m. Mountain/5:00-7:00 p.m. Central/6:00-8:00 p.m. Eastern.<o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">The Virtual Armed to Farm training is free. While participants may join the live sessions via phone only, access to a computer, tablet, or mobile device
and internet is required in order to watch recorded sessions and complete online assignments.<b><o:p> </o:p></b></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#002060">Sponsors</span></b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#002060"><o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">NCAT is organizing and hosting this Armed to Farm event with support from NCAT’s ATTRA program, USDA’s Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement,
USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program, and Canandaigua VA Medical Center. Partner organizations include Holistic Management International, Farmer Veteran Coalition – Washington, Walla Walla County Conservation District, Spokane Conservation
District, Cornell Small Farms Program, Georgia Organics, and the University of Arkansas.<o:p> </o:p></span></p>
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<b><span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";color:#002060">Questions?<o:p> </o:p></span></b></p>
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<span style="font-size:12.0pt;font-family:"Times New Roman",serif;mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman"">Please contact Margo Hale at margoh@ncat.org or Robyn Metzger at
<span class="MsoHyperlink" style="color:blue;text-decoration:underline"><a href="mailto:robynm@ncat.org">robynm@ncat.org</a></span>, or call
<u><span style="color:blue"><a href="callto:479-442-9824">479-442-9824</a></span></u>.</span><o:p> </o:p></p>
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<o:p>*****</o:p></p>
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<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><b><span style="color:rgb(0,111,201)">Robyn Metzger</span></b></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">Program Specialist/Armed to Farm Coordinator</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT)</p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><a href="http://www.ncat.org/armedtofarm" class="OWAAutoLink">www.ncat.org/armedtofarm</a></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;"><a href="http://www.attra.ncat.org" class="OWAAutoLink">www.attra.ncat.org</a></p>
<p style="margin-top: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px;">479-442-9824<br>
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