Describe the Issue or Situation. There are several young men that have no farming experience, because of being raised by families that have no farmland. Several of my fellow farmers and myself are targeting those individuals to help them with the work skills they need to succeed on the farm or other jobs they may get in their life's path.

Describe the Outreach or Educational Program Response (and Partners, if applicable). When I was growing up there was always a job we could get on the farm with family or neighbors regarding working in tobacco, hauling hay, milking cows, drive a tractor, feeding livestock and fixing fences. Today the people growing up without a farm family aren't learning those skills. My fellow farmers and myself are making every effort to teach these skills to young farm entrepreneurs so they can succeed on the farm or whatever job opportunity may come their way. We try to encourage them to come to Agriculture Extension meetings with us to be informed on knowing how to work cattle through BQCA, the value of soil testing and USDA funding opportunities with their farming practices, volunteering at the Farmers Market to help with the local FFA. The discussion on owning or renting farmland, and the loans that might be available to them through USDA.

Provide the Number and Description(s) of Participants/Target Audience. Five young men have helped my fellow farmers and myself hauling hay, fixing fences, driving tractors and cutting trees to get skills they have never been exposed to before. They have came to Extension Meetings with us and we have told them about the USDA programs.

Provide a Statement of Outcomes or Program Impact. Please note that the outcomes statement must use evaluation data to describe the change(s) that occurred in individuals, groups, families, businesses, or in the community because of the program/outreach. These young men are still developing their skills and one of them has just got a job working full time at a farm store. Some of the others are still in High School and learning the value of work and getting paid.

Most of these young men are being raised by grandmothers and gives them the skills to help do repairs at their own homes.