07/04/07 Alternatives to farming

Alternative Careers for Idaho is a six year old program that has helped agriculture producers find alternatives to farming. Since its inception 910 people have taken advantage of support or services offered by ACFI but 65 percent of them actually stayed in agriculture. Some now use a second career as support for their farming. Program coordinate Brad Jahn says he can help in three areas; short term for those who need financial assistance to attend seminars or workshops. Then there are alternatives like truck driving school that require several weeks of training. JAHN "In the long term programs a person could be working on an Associate Degree or a Bachelors Degree, going back to school trying to become certified as a school teacher and those sorts of things." The Department of Labor provided the money for the program through University of Idaho extension. Jahn says he was told that funding will not be renewed in the future. JAHN "We would just have to wind the program down, help as many of the people who are currently enrolled as we can." The funding will last another 13 months until June 30th of 2008 but Jahn is encouraging farmers and ranchers to continue to enroll. Voice of Idaho Agriculture Bill Scott