PTOSI, MISSOURI
Beginning farmer and 25-year Army veteran Eric Work’s calendar is full of educational programs offered by University of Missouri Extension.
“MU Extension programs are a godsend,” Work says. “I benefit from the amazing, high-quality learning opportunities that University of Missouri Extension continually provides, not only to veterans but many other diverse groups that are interested in learning and potentially pursuing new careers.”
A favorite of Work’s is the Heroes to Hives program, which trains veterans in beekeeping. MU Extension agronomist Travis Harper teaches the hands-on por- tion of the program in Missouri.
Army veteran Adam In- grao of Michigan State University Extension, who developed the program, presents the online portion.
Students receive two to six hours of prerecorded lecture content from March to November so that they can learn at their own pace. On-ground training is Apri l to October at the Heroes to Hives apiaries at the University of Central Missouri’s Mitchell Street Farm in Warrensburg and the MU Southwest Center at Mount Vernon.
Participants learn ways to earn income through the sale of honey as well as value-addedproductssuch as candles, lip balms and mead.
More important than the technical knowledge is the opportunitytoconnectwith other veterans, says Work. Missouri has more than 440,000 veterans making the transition from military to civilian life.
"A lot of veterans come right out of the service and may feel disconnected and may be struggling with finding job opportunities or facing other issues,” he says. “The Heroes to Hives program offers a diversion as well as opportunities.”
Work grew up in a military family. His father retired from the military, his brother, Richard, served for 20 years, and one of his sons is in the U.S. Air Force in Okinawa.
Work says Heroes to Hives served as a gateway to other MU Extension programs, such as Missouri Beginning Farmers and Ranchers, which helps him learn about business plans, government programs and grants for farmers and ranchers, financingandhowtogrow and market specialty crops.
He works full-time as a business continuity/disaster preparedness professional but is preparing for another career as a farmer.
Bees are not Work’s only passion. He is on the ad- visory board for Peaceful Pastures Donkey Rescue in Lincoln, Missouri.
Thenonprofitrescuesdon- keys that are abused, ne- glected or at risk for slaugh- ter. Work’s 35-acre farm in Potosi includes eight hors- es, 13 dogs, 14 cats and a house pig named Mojo. Most are rescue animals. ∆
In addition to tending bees, U.S. Army veteran Eric Work is on the advisory board of Peaceful Pastures Donkey Rescue, a Missouri nonprofit that rescues donkeys thatare abused, neglected or at risk of slaughter.
Photo courtesy of Eric Work.