AUBURN UNIVERSITY, Ala. — On May 28 and 29, Operation Grow will host an educational in-person Boot Camp for military veterans interested in starting a production agriculture business.  

This two-day event will be held at the Chilton County Research and Extension Center in Clanton, Alabama, an outlying unit of the Alabama Agricultural Experiment Station. The agenda includes a visit to Petals From the Past in Jemison, where participants can see regional fruit and ornamental plant varieties. 

Operation Grow Outreach Coordinator Jesse Teel said the action-packed agenda will allow attendees to hear from seasoned growers about the highs and lows of farming while they tour local operations.  

“I like to call this a Farming 101 event with interactive learning. I am excited for people to come out and fellowship with our Extension staff and local farmers,” Teel said. “The networking really kick-starts the excitement. This event will play a key role in helping veterans determine whether farming is the right fit for them.” 

Through its partnerships with the Alabama Department of Agriculture and Industries, Alabama Department of Veteran Affairs and Alabama Extension, Operation Grow gives veterans a supported pathway into new agricultural careers. These introductory classes are informal. They give veterans time with industry partners like ADAI, Natural Resources Conservation Service and the U.S. Department of Agriculture to ask questions and seek tools that help get their businesses started. 

Cultivation in the Community 

Operation Grow Boot Camp will also help veterans find cost-saving tools they need to create a financially savvy business model. Grant opportunities through ADAI, NRCS and USDA give beginner farmers valuable resources to reduce start-up costs. They help make the process of launching an operation more accessible and sustainable. 

Mainly focusing on livestock and horticulture production, the Operation Grow Boot Camp is tailored to the interests of the current class of participants.  

Alabama Extension agents Chip East, David Lawrence and Josh Elmore will lend their expertise in commercial horticulture, home horticulture and animal sciences. Their involvement ensures veterans receive hands-on and research-backed insights from Extension leaders.  

Teel expressed his enthusiasm for the fellowship of this event, which brings people together with community impact in mind.  

“I believe veterans have an ideal transition from their prior careers to becoming farmers. It takes a person with a sense of community and civic responsibility to do both jobs well,” Teel said. “During the lectures and field trips, the participants will meet growers and Extension experts to ask questions, build relationships and see how to turn their ideas into reality.”   

More Information 

For more details about Operation Grow, contact Teel at (334) 740-4248 or jct0014@aces.edu.