Source: NCSU COLLEGE OF AG & LIFE SCIENCES, 6/22/16

The College of Agriculture and Life Sciences is partnering with the North Carolina State Grange to connect veterans with careers in agriculture on June 24.

The free hiring event takes place from 10 a.m.-3 p.m. at the Embassy Suites located at 4760 Lake Valley Drive in Fayetteville, North Carolina – just an eight-mile drive from Fort Bragg.

In addition to representatives from CALS and the Agricultural Institute at NC State, companies like Pfizer and Butterball will be there recruiting, said Laurie Barnhart, legislative director of the NC State Grange.

“This is not just a feel-good, fuzzy event. We want veterans to have jobs,” Barnhart said. “This event could be an entrée into the agricultural world, if each veteran so desires it.”

About 78,000 active military members are expected to transition back to civilian life between 2015 and 2018, according to North Carolina for Military Employment. The June 24 event was initiated by the NC State Grange, a long-standing nonprofit membership organization involved in rural development, after a meeting with the N.C. Department of Military and Veterans’ Affairs stated jobs for veterans as a top priority.

Agriculture is the largest industry in the state, and military is the second largest, Barnhart said – introducing the two worlds benefits both.

“We want them to understand that there are opportunities out there beyond driving a tractor,” Barnhart said.