Farm Force: Building the Next Generation of Conservation Leaders

The White River Natural Resources Conservation District in Vermont, the Virgin Islands Women in Agriculture Association (VIWIAA), and the Bennington County Natural Resources Conservation District have spent the past three years building “Farm Force,” a professional workforce development certification program that bridges Vermont and the US Virgin Islands. This year, we proudly partnered with the Working Lands Climate Corps (WLCC), a new AmeriCorps initiative sponsored by the USDA-NRCS and the National Association of Conservation Districts (NACD), to train 30 young adults in Conservation Planning and Climate-Smart Agriculture over the course of one year.

The program provides participants with immersive educational experiences, professional development, and opportunities to become Certified Conservation Planners—a credential recognized across all U.S. states and territories.  This is a year-long Conservation Career Workforce Development Program that connects young adults from Vermont and the US Virgin Islands through hands-on training in conservation planning and climate-smart agriculture.

Program Highlights

Farm Force brings together 30 dedicated members—15 from Vermont and 15 from the US Virgin Islands—for a transformative year of learning and collaboration. Members work part-time in their communities, focusing on sustainable agriculture practices and conservation projects. Over the course of the program, participants attend two immersive “mini boot camps”:

• October 2024 Boot Camp in Vermont:
  Hosted from October 2–8, this intensive training welcomed 26 Virgin Islanders, including 15 WLCC members and 11 trainers, to Vermont. Participants engaged in workshops covering grazing systems, soil health, regenerative farming, agroforestry, and biological invasive species management. Hands-on learning took place at diverse agricultural operations, including beef and dairy grazing farms, vegetable farms, agroforestry sites, and maple sugar farms.
  Evening sessions featured leadership development and professional skills training, with videos of these talks available on our YouTube page.
• February 2025 Boot Camp in St. Croix (Upcoming):
  A similar weeklong boot camp will be led by the Virgin Islands Women in Agriculture Association (VIWIAA) and other partners, offering Vermont members the opportunity to learn from agricultural systems in the USVI.

Beyond the Boot Camps

The program is designed to foster deep collaboration and cultural exchange between participants across Vermont and the USVI. Members work an average of two days a week on conservation projects in their local communities, applying the skills gained during the boot camps. Monthly online seminars allow members to connect, share experiences, and continue their learning together.

Impact and Legacy

Farm Force is not just a training program—it’s a critical step in addressing workforce gaps in conservation planning and sustainable agriculture. By equipping participants with skills to access federal conservation funding and implement climate-resilient farming techniques, Farm Force contributes to food security, environmental sustainability, and community resilience.

The October Boot Camp demonstrated the power of cross-regional collaboration, with months of planning ensuring every detail—from travel and accommodations to meals and cultural needs—was thoughtfully handled. This immersive experience built a strong foundation for the program, and we look forward to continuing this momentum in the months ahead.

Farm Force represents a bright future for conservation and agriculture, uniting young leaders from Vermont and the US Virgin Islands in the shared mission of sustainable land stewardship.