Posted on Sep 21, 2015
SGT Sara Hodgkiss
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First let me state I realize I am a girl with a dream. I am a Medically Retired Vet who has recently bought my family's un operational, not even animal inhabitable horse farm. This farm is located in Lancaster County Pa. The farm is in need of more than I alone can handle, especially with my Medical issues. Does anyone know of any programs that could offer assistance whether it be labor or financial? Any and all advice is greatly appreciated!
Posted in these groups: Retirement logo RetirementWheelchair and flag Disabled Veterans
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Responses: 58
SGT Mark Stevens
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Contact the local horse shelters see if they would trade helping you rebuild for letting them have horses there.
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SPC Keith Magnussen
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Check with your VA Regional office- Vocational Rehab section: They can help you with training and a stipend during any training and during periods as you get going like "OJT or Interning" Make sure to apply for unemployment & Social Security Disability: remember involvement in any of these can open additional doors to assistance programs. Lastly:
A disabled veteran in Pennsylvania may receive a property tax exemption on his/her primary residence if the veteran is 100 percent disabled as a result of service. The exemption amount varies.
Pennsylvania
The 100% is based on VA service connection and if you are between 70%-90% SC you can also apply for Individual Unemployability (IU) from the VA which pays you at the 100% rate while unemployable, or going through any Voc Retraining program to become employable again- best bet is to contact a VSO Vet Service Organization to assist like the DAV or VFW.
Vet Success on VA.Gov or through ebenefits is helpful as well.
Good Luck..........
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SGT Sara Hodgkiss
SGT Sara Hodgkiss
9 y
Great information provided. I was unaware of the (IU).
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PO3 Deborah Hughes
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Hello. I am a female veteran who lives in Lancaster County, PA. Maybe we can network a little. I have a relative who owns a horse farm as well. Maybe he has some helpful info.
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SGT Sara Hodgkiss
SGT Sara Hodgkiss
9 y
That would be wondeful!
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SSgt Kristi Aldridge
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Edited 9 y ago
http://www.outreach.usda.gov/Veterans.htm
I read this a few minutes ago and thought of your situation, maybe it can help guide you :)
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SGM G3 Sergeant Major
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Edited 9 y ago
SGT Sara Hodgkiss, I believe COL Mikel Burroughs may have posted what you are looking for or at least something that may assist you, check it out; "Did you know about National movement that helps veterans become farmers?" - COL Mikel Burroughs
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LTC Christopher Sands
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SGT Sara Hodgkiss
SGT Sara Hodgkiss
9 y
Great link, with great resources!!!
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LTC Christopher Sands
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SGT Sara Hodgkiss
SGT Sara Hodgkiss
9 y
Great read!
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MAJ David White
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Talk with your Ag Extension folks. They can advise you about developing internships for HS students and Cooperative Education programs with Ag program college students. You don't have to limit yourself to PA; neighbor states' Animal Science programs may be interested in working with you on behalf of their students. The general idea is trade labor, at reduced rate (for you) for experience (for them). That may all have to wait 'til your operation is underway, but planning ahead can underpin your business plan that you're going to use to support your loan application.
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SGT Sara Hodgkiss
SGT Sara Hodgkiss
9 y
Love this Idea!
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SrA Gerald Anderson Jr
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Sara,
I think that it's a wonderful thing that you're doing, both for yourself and for the potential animals that might one day be part of your land & your operation. I think that SSG Swan was referring to a number of programs that are available for veterans, particularly those who are service disabled, to start up businesses. It's a section of the VA that does a lot of the same work that the Small Business Administration does for civilians. Here's a link to a page that I found on the VA website that might help direct you towards the place/people that can answer your questions: http://www.va.gov/osdbu/programs/.
One other place you might consider is local churches (if you are a church member yourself) as well as local veteran organizations like the American Legion of the VFW. They might have programs to help you in some manner, whether that be to help you re-install your farm's fence or find someone to do the work for you. For your information, I only just now found the VA information with a very quick Google search ("program available for veterans buying a business") and the above link was one of the first entries I found.
Good luck!!!
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SGT Sara Hodgkiss
SGT Sara Hodgkiss
9 y
Thank you for your advice and assistance!
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CW3 Stephen Mills
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You need to get with your county USDA office. There are all kinds of programs available to help get new and beginning farmers started. When you go and talk to them just call it a farm though, not a horse farm. Many programs are area specific and you don't want to lose help say building fences if they are only willing to build fences for a cattle farm, etc. Also, after that go to the county NRCS (Conservation District) office and ask to apply for the conservation cost sharing program. They will help pay for interior fences, water lines to pastures and sprigging of former crop lands in erodible areas.
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SGT Sara Hodgkiss
SGT Sara Hodgkiss
9 y
Great advice, thank you!
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