Soldier to Agriculture Program

BY LISA S.T. DOSS

Robert Elliott’s story is familiar. After 15 years serving in the Marines, he struggled to find employment in the civilian world amid a recession in 2011. Elliott writes, “I tried school. Actually, I tried everything, but nothing was working out. Then, I learned quickly why veterans commit suicide immediately after leaving the service, and I had to do something. Of all the things, farming seemed like my only answer.” Local news outlets and word of mouth spread the word of Elliot’s success as a military veteran who had found a meaningful career in agriculture. Seeking to help other veterans, he founded the Veteran’s Farm of North Carolina, Inc, VFNC, on his multi-century family farm and began training interested men and women. Elliott’s idea aided the launch of the Soldier to Agriculture program, a partnership between Ft. Bragg and N.C. State Agricultural Institute.

Farming, an Ideal Match for Veterans

Most veterans feel a disconnect returning to the civilian world. From their uniform to meals, days are structured. Elliott expresses, “The farm saved my life. Coming home, I no longer had a purpose and lacked the support needed to get me to the next step.” Farming is one field that fulfills the responsibility of providing for the family and supporting the community, while working in a peaceful environment. Elliott expresses, “Vets are ready-to-work types with a mindset to rise early every morning, and they have no choice but to work hard. If agriculture is North Carolina’s biggest industry, it needs more people, particularly veterans.” In registering for the Soldier to Agriculture program, military members can transition surrounded by the veteran farmer network; it is one avenue to offer a lifeline.

A Six-Week Program

All active-duty service members with six months or less on their current enlistment, veterans, and military or veteran spouses can register for an Introduction into Agriculture course at Fort Bragg in Fayetteville. Online class lectures lead the way to practical handson learning opportunities. The curriculum includes: • CROP SCIENCE: A career opportunity for individuals seeking production, field research, or consulting on the production of food, feed, fuels, and fibers for a world population. • TURFGRASS MANAGEMENT:

Applicable as a career path, turfgrass management studies a range of topographies, climate, and soils in

North Carolina. • SMALL-SCALE FARMING: Emphasizing sustainability of crops and livestock while working on small acreage, without using advanced technology and equipment. • HORTICULTURE: Linking the science, technology, and business of annual and perennial species, from fruit trees

and berries to crops and medicinal herbs and flowers. Lessons extend beyond the sustainable production of greenhouse and soil-based plants, including hydroponics. • LIVESTOCK AND POULTRY MANAGEMENT:

More than just animal husbandry, lessons range from housing principles, space requirements, hatching and brooding of chickens and ducks to managing sheep, goats, pigs, and cows. • PRECISION AGRICULTURE: The farming management concept offers a means to lower land usage, water, fertilizers, herbicides, and insecticides to optimize crop yields and profitability. • AGRICULTURAL BUSINESS: Modern farming consists of the farming, management, production, and marketing of livestock and crops. As technology has progressed, farmers need to solve high-tech needs and problems.

The Next Chapter

The Soldier to Agriculture program provides networking opportunities and resources beyond the six-week course. Participants can take advantage of a three-week experience to apply their knowledge alongside experts in the agricultural industry, or meet with recruiters, who provide careers in agriculture. As a result of training and continued support, vets in North Carolina are opening farmer’stable restaurants, participating in markets, partnering with certified kitchens, and forming food hubs. “We could not grow past mentorship opportunities and consultation for veterans without the community helping us in various ways,” Elliott explained. “Farm equipment donations, financial support, or even skilled tradesmen and women, from bulldozer operators to carpenters and drone pilots, are a big help to us, too.” If interested in the Soldier to Agriculture program, contact instructors through Facebook or N.C. State University’s Agricultural Institute website.

With the price of gas hovering above $4 a gallon, many people are considering electric vehicles. In 2021, sales of electric cars increased 89% to 487,460, according to Cox Automotive. And if there wasn’t a global microchip shortage, it’s safe to say that sales would have been even higher. The average electric car uses about 2,000 chips. But for many consumers, interest is also turning to electric motorcycles. Unfortunately, electric motorcycles are suffering from the same chip and supply-chain issues as cars and many other consumer products. Safety course

If you are thinking of buying an electric motorcycle, your first stop needs to be a safety course with the Motorcycle Safety Foundation (MSF), msf-usa.org or call 800.446.9227. The foundation offers a variety of courses throughout the nation. Some states require a MSF course before a rider can get a motorcycle license, and some insurance companies will give a discount for completing a course. Once you have developed the skills and knowledge to ride a motorcycle, then you can turn your attention to selecting and buying a bike. If you are willing to wait in line because of supply-chain problems, here are some buying tips for electric motorcycles: What is an electric motorcycle?

An electric motorcycle has an electric motor instead of an internal combustion engine (ICE). The energy comes from a Lithium-ion battery instead of gas. Other than the engine, electric motorcycles are similar to their ICE counterparts. Different styles for different needs

The list of electric motorcycles is growing rapidly. There are designs for many types of needs: commuting, speed, different road surfaces, long-distance touring, etc. The first step is to determine what kind of riding you want to do. One of the big advantages of an electric motorcycle is that there are fewer moving parts and fewer individual components to wear out. Batteries

The life of an electric motorcycle largely depends on the life of its battery. While batteries diminish over time, they are much easier to replace than the motor on a gas bike. Most electric motorcycles have a range of 100 to 200 miles between charges, but there are electric bikes that hit 250 miles. The most efficient ICE bike can get 350 miles on a full tank, but many ICE bikes struggle to go beyond 200-250 miles on a tank. Gears

The gears on an ICE bike intimidate some prospective buyers, but they won’t have that issue with electric motorcycles. There aren’t any gears.

Photo: Harley-Davidson® LiveWire™ electric motorcycle.

Cost per mile

The cost of most electric motorcycles is $0.04 a mile, but that also depends on the cost of electricity in individual states and whether the charging was done during on- or off-peak electricity hours. At $0.04 a mile, it is cheaper than operating an ICE bike. A range of prices

Electric motorcycles can accommodate every type of budget. Some urban bikes can be bought for $2,500. And there are price points at $3,500, $10,000, $20,000, $30,000 and much more exotic models, like the Arc Vector, are over $100,000. The more you pay, the more you will get in terms of range, power, size and performance. Tax credit

At this point, the tax credit for electric motorcycles is unclear. In 2021, the tax credit was 10%, up to a maximum of $2,500. It was set to expire at the end of 2021. In the Build Back Better bill, however, the tax credit was 30%. That bill stalled in the Senate and will not be passed in its current form. Research is important

Since the electric motorcycle is relatively new for the mass market, you won’t find quality bikes at every dealer. Your best bet is to survey reviews online and to visit several dealers in your area. License and registration requirements

Electric motorcycles carry the same licensing requirements as gasoline bikes and they also have the same registration requirements. The most important purchase

Style isn’t an issue when it comes to motorcycle clothing. You want to buy a helmet that has been approved by the Department of Transportation. You should also think seriously about a jacket with padding, leather riding pants, gloves and ankle-high boots. One fall and you’ll understand why these are necessities and not options. They are the only thing between you and the pavement.

My Favorite Title is

BY GENEVIEVE CONDON

I’ve been called many things in my lifetime of almost 35 years, some of which I’m much more proud of than others. As we grow up and enter life at a larger scale, we covet titles and bigger paying jobs—striving to be the CEO, watching them speed away in their fancy cars, lavish vacations, and sparkly homes.

I remember going to school for what seemed like forever, getting degree after degree, loving each title change, credentials being added to the end of my name, and pushing myself harder and harder to live a dream I had manufactured for myself. Problem was, each promotion, each degree, just wasn’t enough.

Then something happened perspective.

The long days and nights were spent striving for a title and better position, to ultimately just work more. Not to enjoy the fancy car and house or be able to take a vacation became a reality. Then my children came.

I became a “Mama.”

That title changed the trajectory of my life. I no longer wanted to push myself beyond reason. I wanted a good life, don’t get me wrong, but who knew that, after a decade of college, proving myself, and landing a job, which I thought was what I always wanted, that idea would become obsolete? Life changed when I heard my children cry out for the first time. When they were laid in my arms, I looked at their little faces. My responsibilities, my degrees, my titles, none of them mattered. Being their “Mama” was the most important thing.

My life doesn’t look like what I thought it would. It’s better.

I have a wonderful job that allows me to work from home, take care of my children and make more than a decent living for us. A husband who loves me, a mother that helps so much, and every day reminds me that I am worthy of all the blessings in life.

We are told that our titles matter. We wear them like a badge of honor, displaying them as if all we are, are our jobs and degrees.

Truth is, when we are gone from this world, those titles won’t matter. What we have done in this world, our children, they are our legacy.

My titles, my career progression, my cars, my house, they all don’t matter at the end of the day.

My favorite title will always be “Mama.”

For a “Mama” is the most important job in the world, and one

I am thankful I am blessed to hold.

Ashley McKenzie-Sharpe

Senior Mortgage Planner NMLS 100776

www.FairwayLoansbyAshley.com

FairwayTop 1% Mortgage Originators in America 2012 - 2020

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