Indiana AgVets Curriculum

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The Indiana AgVets training curriculum is designed to meet the needs of any military veteran who has an interest in agriculture and related industries.  Such opportunities might include agricultural or food businesses, natural resources, turf or landscape enterprises, agrotourism, specialty animal or crop production, and much more.  Each AgVet will have a be introduced to agricultural careers with a set of core trainings, then will be encouraged to seek additional educational opportunities in topics that meet their interests.  All AgVets will be expected to complete an 8 week (+/-) internship at a partnering farm or agribusiness to learn hands-on skills and further increase their knowledge.  Every effort will be made to assign AgVets to internships that meet their personal interests within reasonable commuting distance of their home.

Core Trainings for all AgVets

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  •  Introduction to program; Indiana agriculture; veteran services
  • Tours of Indiana farms and agribusinesses
  • Employment and career guidance
  • Ag. Safety & Health Training
  • Commercial Pesticide Applicator Core Training
  • OSHA Forklift certification
  • No instructional fees

Supplemental Training Options

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  • Commercial Driver’s License
  • Pork/Beef/Transport Quality Assurance
  • Accredited Horticulturalist
  • Master Naturalist / Master Gardener
  • Commercial Pesticide Category Training (ag, turf, ornamentals, etc.)
  • OSHA 10 or 30 hour course
  • Many other options!
  • Partial or full stipends for instructional fees may be available for supplemental training options

AgVets Interships

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  • Stipends paid to interns (no cost to hosts)
  • Agribusinesses such as crop services, grain handling, machinery dealers, etc.
  • Nurseries, turf & landscape operations, forest products
  • Other locations depending on AgVet’s interests
  • Purdue Agricultural Centers will serve as intern host sites
  • Support from Indiana agribusinesses, commodity organizations for intern placement
  • Sites throughout Indiana

Mentoring and Job Coaching

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  •  Internship host mentor
    • Coordinates with project staff and intern
    • Serves as on-site mentor
  • Disability services
    • AgrAbility to assist AgVets and host sites to ensure accessibility
    • Counselors & mentors for service-related challenges (PTSD)

AgVets schedule

Tentative Project Schedule

The Indiana AgVets project is funded by the USDA-NIFA Grant # 2019-77028-29971.  The three-year project began in September 2019, and is scheduled to conclude August 31, 2022.


Four teams of up to 15 AgVets each are planned for the project.  The first team is expected to begin training in late winter 2020, and complete internships in summer 2020.  Each training/internship cycle is expected to last about six months.  Future teams are planned for fall 2020, summer 2021, and spring 2022.  This schedule is subject to change!


The application process will be ongoing.  If you are interested in the program, but are unsure of your schedule, please submit your application.  AgVets staff will work with prospective participants in developing a plan to accommodate various situations.

AgVets Application Form (pdf)

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