92nd Civil Affairs Battalion (Airborne) Tests New Agricultural Program

By Sgt. 1st Class Jesse BelfordDecember 8, 2015

Civil Affairs Soldiers Tour Chicken Farm
1 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Students in the 92nd Civil Affairs Battalion's Farm Education and Assessment Training tour a backyard chicken farm in Raeford, N.C., Sept. 22nd, 2015. The program focused on how small farms can play a major role in CA missions around the world, and g... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Ithaca Acres Farm Tour
2 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Allison Carter, co-owner of Ithaca Acres Farm, shows students in the 92nd Civil Affairs Battalion's Farm Education and Assessment Training how to properly inspect a goat hoof in Raeford N.C., Sept 22, 2015. The health and care of animals on a small f... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Learning To Milk A Goat
3 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Stephanie Carter explains the steps on how to properly milk and care for goats to civil affairs teams in the 92nd Civil Affairs Battalion's Farm Education and Assessment Training in Raeford, N.C., Sept. 22nd, 2015. Goats are an ideal animal for start... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Hands On Experience
4 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Capt. Brian Farr, a 92nd Civil Affairs veterinarian and leader of the 92nd CA Farm Assessment and Evaluation Training, milks a goat at Ithaca Acres Farm in Raeford N.C., Sept. 22nd, 2015. The week long class allowed CA Soldiers to see firsthand how s... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Spence Farm Tour
5 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Ed and Sheila Spence, owners of Spence Farms in Spring Lake, N.C., walk civil affairs members around their farm during the 92nd Civil Affairs Battalion's Farm Assessment and Evaluation Training, Sept. 24th 2015. The tour showed the CA students the be... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Walking The Farm
6 / 6 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Ed Spence, co-owner of Spence Farms, Spring Lake, N.C. gives a walking tour of his farm to Sgt. Jayda Balough, 92nd Civil Affairs Battalion team member, Sept. 24, 2015. The tour was part of a program developed by the 92nd CA to familiarize team membe... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

(FORT BRAGG, N.C.)--There are more than 500 million smallholder farms in the world that directly support 2 billion people and their livelihoods. With more than one third of the world's population involved in agriculture, it plays and important role in the civil affairs mission abroad. "Civil Affairs Soldiers must understand the political, economic and cultural characteristics of the region in which they are working" said Col. Scot Storey, the commander of the 95th Civil Affairs Brigade (Airborne). "Agriculture is often a key aspect to these elements. Everyone has to eat so agriculture is often woven into the fabric of a society."

With that in mind, the 92nd Civil Affairs Battalion started a pilot program called the Farm Assessment and Evaluation Training (FEAT), to get civil affairs Soldiers hands on training on local small farms throughout the Fort Bragg area. Capt. Brian Farr, a veterinarian with the 92nd civil affairs battalion, said the goal of the program was to give civil affairs teams a better understanding of how small farms work.

"The goal of the initial FEAT course was to provide deploying companies and teams the ability to capitalize on agricultural targets of opportunity in order to gain further access, build rapport, and obtain information," said Farr. "FEAT accomplished this goal by teaching the basics of smallholder farms and farm culture and by providing students the opportunity to practice assessing farms, developing programs, and briefing their programs to both the military/embassy chain and the farmer on whose farm the project would be conducted."

To get the program started, Farr worked with the North Carolina Cooperative Extension to make contact with local farmers that were interested in participating in the program. Liz Lahti, the Livestock Extension Agent for Cumberland County was the main point of contact for the program. She talked about the importance that visiting working farms added to the training.

"Working with local farmers can teach civil affairs Soldiers how to interact with farmers before they go to a foreign country," said Lahti. "For this training we tried to find farms that were similar to what the teams may see when they are in their countries."

The morning portion of the week-long event consisted of classroom training covering the fundamentals of farming. In the afternoon, the students were able to visit working farms to see firsthand how those practices are conducted in real life. From visiting backyard chicken coops, to larger operations, the students were able to see the time and effort farmers spend in order to be successful. Most importantly, it gave them a better understanding of how they can apply an agricultural aspect to their missions in their respective countries.

"Agricultural programs performed by civil affairs have historically proved to be an effective method to gain access to a population, obtain mission essential information, and identify the root causes of instability" said Farr.

For the farmers that hosted the class, it was a great opportunity to help out the civil affairs mission. Stephanie Carter, the Farm Manager of family owned Ithaca Acres in Raeford N.C., a 170 acre farm that specializes in poultry, cattle, and goats, talked about what it was like to host the program.

"We love what we do, and that's farming." Carter said. "We love to see these Soldiers, and love to educate people about what we do, and our practices, and that they can go and learn about the food they eat and can educate other people about it, and also, take it to other countries and help those that may not have resources we do."

To Sheila and Ed Spence of Spence Farms in Spring Lake N.C., a veteran owned operation, the class offered an opportunity to not only give back to the military, but show the students that people who have not grown up around farming can learn how to set up a sustainable source of food and revenue.

"What we hope to do is share with them some of our experiences, because Ed and I are not born farmers." said Shelia Spence. "We can share with them some of our experiences and tell them some of the challenges we had starting a farm business and show them the different aspects, because there are so many different aspects of farming."

Sgt. Jayda Balogh, a student in the class, realized how being proficient in agricultural areas can help accomplish the civil affairs mission.

"With the agricultural aspect you will be able to go back constantly, checking on the growth, checking on the improvements, checking on what you did, how many other people want to do it." Said Balogh. "This will allow you to open more doors on getting into the area and getting access to people, and allow you to go back more times and get more information on whatever your goal is in that area."

After the final assessment of the course is completed, the goal is to make FEAT a brigade wide program that all five battalions can participate in.

"Food is one of our most basic needs followed closely by security," said Storey. "Knowledge

of farming techniques provide our Civil Affairs Operators a tool to access populations and assist partner nation governments in working with them."

Related Links: