Friday, March 29, 2024

In partnership with VCC/DVA

Tatley Outpost introduces Veteran Internship program to ranch operations

Posted

PATEROS – Tatley Outpost, a military veteran-operated ranch on Watson Draw Road north of Pateros, announced earlier this month the formation of a Veteran Internship program as part of its expanding training, learning and recovery mission.

In partnership with the Veterans Conservation Corps (VCC) and Washington State Department of Veterans Affairs, the internship program is being supervised by the VCC with its goal to “provide veterans and their families with self-directed connections to our state’s natural resources.”

The annual internships will span the growing season from spring through fall with a new veteran brought on board every year.

“The veteran will have the opportunity to train and learn side-by-side with other veterans across all aspects of the Tatley Outpost operations,” Outpost founder David Overcash said.

Those operations will include spring planting, irrigation, equipment maintenance, and harvests of a diversity of crops along with assisting with the other training and learning programs.

“At the end of the yearly program the veteran should have a wide degree of hands-on experience and learning to work across the spectrum of ranching and farming anywhere in the country,” said Overcash. “However, should they fall in love with the operation, Tatley Outpost will support them in the starter farm program on site.”

Jason Alves, Program Manager for the Veterans Conservation Corps adds his endorsement to the Tatley internship experience.

“We need more partnerships like this across the state,” said Alves, “and we are excited to work with them on this internship program and support the impacts they are making on our veteran community.”

A new part of the farming operation this year is reintroduction of alfalfa, the site’s primary crop before the wildfire struck.
“The current plan is to add 50-plus acres of alfalfa in 2019 and another 50-plus acres in 2020,” Overcash said.

The Tatley team is currently looking for veterans to help with the land preparation, planting, and irrigation work as soon at the ground thaws this spring. The VCC is interviewing veterans for the 2019 internship position. All inquiries can be directed to Kim Pham at kim@dva.wa.gov. More information about the VCC and its internship program is available online at www.dva.wa.gov/benefits/internships.

Tatley Outpost was founded in 2015 by David Overcash following devastating losses to the ranch property and structures from the 2014 Carlton Complex wildfire. A successful Seattle technology executive, Overcash and wife, Sherrie, volunteered to serve with Medical Teams International on a mission to Guatemala. That experience inspired Overcash to launch Golden Acts with the simple focus to “make the world a better place, one Golden Act at a time.”

Later, while hiking with father-in-law Don Tatley over the wildfire-devastated ranch, Overcash had the vision to create Tatley Outpost. Working with veterans’ organizations through Golden Acts, the veteran-oriented ranch rose from the ashes and continues to expand its outreach to bring veterans back to the healing influences of working on the land.

Tatley Outpost operations manager Tim Andrews said, “I love that we are continuing to expand and diversify our ecosystem where we can provide more and more learning opportunities, good jobs, and a great community environment for veterans.”

More information about Tatley Outpost is available online at tatleyoutpost.com.

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