Growing Hawaii's next crop of local farmers

Windward Community College presents Ag-Curious

Contact:

Billie Lueder, (808) 845-9187

Director of Communications, Honolulu Community College

Dave Ringuette, (808) 236-9265

Professor, Agriculture, Windward Community College

Director of Communications, Honolulu Community CollegeDave Ringuette, (808) 236-9265Professor, Agriculture, Windward Community College

Posted: Oct 4, 2012







C3T Hawaii is a grant awarded to the UH Community Colleges C3T Hawaii is a grant awarded to the UH Community Colleges

WHAT:

Register by Thursday, October 11, at gofarm@hawaii.edu. Windward Community College (Windward CC) will host an informational session open to the public for people interested in learning about farming as a viable business opportunity in Hawai'i. Participants will hear from expert farmers on the challenges and rewards of farming while assessing their individual readiness to farm. Parking is free.

WHEN/WHERE:

Thursday, October 11, 2012

5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

Windward Community College, Hale Akoakoa 105

WHY:

“Approximately 85 – 90 percent of our food supply in Hawai‘i is imported, and with an aging farming population we need to start preparing and supporting the next generation of farmers to cultivate a thriving agricultural industry in Hawai‘i,” shares Dave Ringuette, Professor of Agriculture at Windward CC.

FarmStarter Hawai‘i is a comprehensive and practical training program built around the real-world needs of tomorrow’s farmers. The program’s goal is to train successful growers with a viable business plan thus creating a sustainable farming populous to benefit not only the farmer, but also the greater community.

This program is in partnership with the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa, and is made possible with the support of C3T Hawai‘i, a $24.6 million dollar grant awarded to the University of Hawai‘i Community Colleges through the U.S. Department of Labor Employment and Training Administration. The C3T Hawai‘i grant targets certificate and degree programs specific to the three areas of agriculture, energy and health industries.

Participants will have a complete pathway to obtain the skills and education necessary for high-wage and high-skill employment through the educational component. Coupled with employer outreach, C3T participants will have the highest possible likelihood that their educational obtainment will be tailored to available employment opportunities.