ARCADIA VETERAN FARM FELLOWSHIP
APPLICATION
ARCADIA CENTER FOR SUSTAINABLE FOOD & AGRICULTURE
9000 RICHMOND HIGHWAY
ALEXANDRIA VA 22309
This is a paid fellowship for one year on Arcadia farm, working and studying under the Arcadia Agricultural
Staff as a full member of the Arcadia Team, which is dedicated to creating a more equitable and
sustainable local food system. Fellows are asked to commit for the full year, approximately 50 hours a
week, including classroom and independent study time. A second year may be available pending the
interest of the participant and organizational capacity. Farm work is strenuous and includes frequent
weekend work.
Fellows are required to pay attention to detail, complete assigned tasks, readings, and records; to report
directly to Arcadia farmers for instruction, observation, and direction; and to articulate observations,
questions, and needs. Above all, Fellows need to enjoy what we do, keeping a positive attitude and a
sense of humor, curiosity, and goodwill.
The full-time annual training salary is $19,000 and include 3 weeks paid vacation, optional health care
benefit (Kaiser Permanente), and free participation in the Farmer Reserve training program. The selected
Farm Fellow may also qualify for an additional tax-free housing allowance through the G.I Bill. We will
assist with the applications for the additional stipend.
Please direct all questions, and submit completed application to info@arcadiafood.org.
Arcadia is an Equal Opportunity Employer that is committed to diversity in the workplace. People of color,
LGBTQ and multilingual people are encouraged to apply.
Start Date: Sept. 30, 2015
End Date: Sept. 29, 2016
Fall 20105
Winter
2015/16
Spring 2016
Summer 2016
Harvest
Season Extension
Field Prep
Harvest
Breaking Ground
Crop Planning
Greenhouse
Propagation
Field Maintenance
Winter Crops
Business Planning
Transplanting and
Direct Seeding
Pest Control
Cover Crops
Independent Study
Equipment
Fall Crops
Composting
Field Trips
Field Trips
Field Trips
Personal Information
Name: Laron Shamel Murrell
Date of Birth:01/02/1979
Current Address:
2650 biddle rd
City: dover
State:
nc
ZI28526P:
Permanent Address (if different from current):
City:
State:
ZIP:
Email:
Laronsmurrell79@gmail.com
Phone: 2522599571
Best time to call: any
Current position (school, employment, or seeking employment):
Em
Date of separation from military:
2008
Type of discharge (general, honorable, dishonorable):
honoable
Education & Training
Name of High School
Location (City & State)
Vanceboro NC
Dates Attended
1994-1998
Location (City & State)
Greenvile nc
Dates Attended 2014-2015
West Craven High
Did you graduate or receive a GED?
Graduate
Name of School or Program
Pitt Community College
Subjects Studied horticulture techonolgy
Name of School or Program
Subjects Studied
Degrees or Certificates Obtained (if any)
Location (City & State)
Dates Attended
Degrees or Certificates Obtained (if any)
Please list any other skills that you have learned through work, military service or other ways that you will
apply to a career in agriculture. I did farm work growing up as a child but I learned to listen and that helped
me while I was in the Army.
Military Background
Branch Service &
Highest Rank
achieved
SGT/E-5
Dates of Service
1998-2008
Job Specialty (MOS, rating, occupation)
52D
While serving did you command personnel, and/or were you responsible for equipment and supplies other than
your personal gear? Please describe. Duties included but not limited to providing military security for
several units during tours to IRAQ. Supervision of subordinates while during active duty in war zones.
Supervise, repair, and overhaul power generation equipment. Perform routine maintenance on all
engines as well as carburetors, ignition points, alternators, regulators, and solenoids. Repair small motor
generators as well. Perform electrical repairs using schematics as well as wiring diagram. IRAQ
Deployment 2003 – 2004 and IRAQ Deployment 2005 – 2006.
Other Work History
Please list any non-military employment, beginning with the most recent work experience.
Name of Employer
Hospira
Is it ok to contact this employer?
YES
Position Title
Maint Tech
Employer’s Address
rocky Mount NC
Employer’s Email or Phone N/A
Job
City/State/Zip
Dates of Employment 2008-2013
Description
Duties includes working independently and/or with other
plant personnel to perform preventative and routine
maintenance tasks and change-overs. Troubleshoot major
and minor issues, repair failures of production and the
facilities equipment to ensure maximum and optimum
equipment efficiency and effectiveness. All tasks performed
while supporting the policies, goals and objectives of the
company. Assure safety standards are used which comply
with all company, local, city, state and federal guidelines.
Ensure compliance of all work related activities in a fair,
ethical, and consistent manner.
Essential Duties and
Responsibilities include the following.
Repair and maintain plant machinery and equipment such as
mixers, conveyors, compressors, and pumps. Repair or
replace control devices such as switches, photo eyes,
proximity sensors, pushbuttons, contactors, motor starters as
needed. Perform work order repairs, inspections and
adjustments. Ablilty to set up and operate drill press, grinder,
hand tools and other metal working equipment. Fabrication
and modification of new and existing equipment. Participate
in plant safety, health and environmental programs.
Why did you leave the job? Stress
Additional Work Experience
Name of Employer
Employer’s Address
City/State/Zip
Is it ok to contact this employer?
Employer’s Email or Phone
Position Title
Job Description
Dates of Employment
Why did you leave the job?
Attach additional Work Experience as a separate document as needed.
Physical Capability
Farming is physically rigorous work. By initialing each box below, you acknowledge your understanding
that these are essential functions or requirements of this training program.
x
Lifting & carrying weights of 50 lbs on a regular basis.
X
Working out of doors for long periods of time in hot, cold or wet weather.
X
Bending or squatting for long periods of time.
Rate your physical condition:
Excellent
x Good
Fair
Poor
Do you have any allergies?
No
Asthma? No
If yes, what are you allergic to?
(Note: There is poison ivy as well as stinging and biting insects around the Farm.)
Do you have a valid and current driver’s license? YES
Can you drive a vehicle with standard (manual) transmission? YES
Interests & Goals
Answer these questions with up to a few paragraphs per question. The text box will expand.
Why are you interested in learning to farm? Cause ive alwalys had a passion for helping other and I cant
think of a better way than farming. And since we have farmland in my family I would love to learn what to
really do with it.
What are your goals for a career in agriculture (own a farm, work on a ranch, be a tenant farmer etc)?
Tend to the family farm.
What do you think your military service will bring to a new career in farming? After being to Iraq a couple of
times I realize I can do anything I put my mind to. And I took a semester of horticulture techonology I realize
it something I can do.
What do you hope to gain from this Fellowship experience? A better understanding of how farming can and
should be done.
Please indicate your interest in the following:
Not very
interested
Growing vegetables & herbs
Growing tree fruits & nuts
Berry crops
Raising cows (meat & dairy)
Raising sheep or goats (meat, dairy or wool)
Raising pigs
Raising chickens
Beekeeping
Greenhouse production
Somewhat
interested
x
Very
interested
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Don’t
know
Organic / ecological growing methods
Tree syrupping
Commercial food preparation:
jams & sauces
cheese making
butchering/sausage making
Pickling
beer and wine production
distribution (specify)
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Growing flowers and ornamentals (horticulture)
x
Sustainable energy (solar, etc.)
x
Please indicate if you have experience in the following. This is for our information only. Lack of
experience will not preclude you from being selected, and experience will not guarantee your selection.
SKILL
gardening hand tools
(spades, forks, rakes,
shovels, hoes, etc.)
lawn and garden power
equipment
(lawn mowers,
rototillers, garden
tractors)
carpentry hand tools
(hammers, saws,
squares, etc.)
carpentry power tools
(cordless drills,
electric saws, etc.)
chain saw
auto and machinery
mechanics and
maintenance
small tractor operation
(up to 30 hp)
Larger tractor operation
(over 30 hp)
pest control
(chemical/organic
sprays, cultural
practices)
gardening and/or field
crop planning
seed orders
Seed starting
NONE
LESS THAN 10 HRS
MORE THAN 10 HRS
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
weed control
(hand, tractor)
compost making
x
use of farm machinery
--moldboard plow
--disc harrow
--spader
--rototiller
--cultivators
--transplanter
--haying equipment
--compost/manure
spreader
x
x
irrigation systems
--installation and setup
--maintenance
--trickle
--overhead
greenhouse operations
seed saving
harvest experience
Markets
Animal care
Tree fruit production
Forestry
Bookkeeping
permaculture
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
x
Are there any other things that you would like us to know about you, or anything else that you wish to
comment on?
In the first year of this Fellowship you will learn to grow and market food by working through a full season.
In the second year, pending funding, we will place you in an externship with another farm that specializes in
the area of agriculture that interest you.
Are you currently interested in staying for more than one year? Yes
This is obviously a detailed application, thank you for completing it. If you are serious about a career in
farming, we offer you a unique opportunity to do the work of a full growing season and to compliment that
work with formal and informal instruction. The end goal, of course, is for you to feel confident that you can
farm – and that you will be closer to making your own farm a reality.
Other Information
We do not provide housing. Do you have a place to live locally that will be accessible to the farm or will you
be able to find a place to live? NO
We do not provide transportation. Do you own a car or other vehicle? YES
References
Please provide 3 references. At least two must be work references (military or civilian).
#1: Name of Reference
Keith Moore
Address
N/A
Relationship
Work at Hospira
Email N/A
#2: Name of Reference
Alton White
Address
N/A
Relationship
Friend
Email
N/A
#3: Name of Reference
MacAuthur Easley
Address N/A
Relationship
Military
Email N/A
City/State/Zip Rocky mount nc
Phone
2528832632
City/State/Zip new bern NC
Phone
2526494705
City/State/Zip Greenville nc
Phone
9107234042
Submit completed form to info@arcadiafood.org