Veterans Invited To Explore Agribusiness During Annual Tour

HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, FL — Hillsborough County will host a bus tour of local agriculture businesses to provide active-duty members of the military, veterans and their spouses an opportunity to explore career options beyond the field.

The eighth annual Military Agriculture Tour hosted by the Hillsborough County Extension Service provides military veterans a first-hand look at jobs available in the agriculture industry. Today's farming operations increasingly focus on technology and management systems to produce food, medicine, consumer products and energy. Transitioning veterans are at a competitive advantage for agribusiness careers because of the unique skill set gained through the military.

The tour takes place on March 24 at 8 a.m. and will start and end at the Hillsborough County Extension Service, 5339 County Road 579, Seffner. Attendees will tour a strawberry farm, plant nursery, tropical fish farm, blueberry farm and the University of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center.

Military veterans and their spouses will have the opportunity to hear from former veterans-turned-agribusiness professionals about how they used their skills to transition from the military to careers in agriculture. The cost of the tour is $5, which includes lunch. Attendees are asked to wear appropriate clothing for the weather and closed-toe shoes.

Registration is required and seating is limited.

The Military Agriculture Tour is organized through a partnership between Hillsborough County Extension Service, the University of Florida Gulf Coast Research and Education Center, the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, Farm Credit of Central Florida and Chemical Dynamics.