Former Iowa first lady Christie Vilsack announced her Fields of Opportunity program at the Ames Public Library on Thursday morning.

“This fall, I think about my nephew, my brother’s son, in Afghanistan. A year ago he was celebrating homecoming with his high school,” Vilsack said.

She said part of her Fields of Opportunity program would help get Iowa veterans back to work after they return home from tours of duty.

The first step of her plan would be to create 10 farmer and ranch centers at small colleges, community colleges or public universities using $1 million from existing funds of the USDA Beginning Farmer and Rancher program.

The second step would be for beginning farmers to complete the financial and marketing courses, which would be offered through the program, and the farmers would receive a $50 per acre federal income tax break for the first 160 acres.

The next step would provide tax-free exchanges when land is sold to beginning farmers. According to her plan, if the buyer is a veteran the seller would pay no tax on the sale.

The last step would be to insure veterans are made aware of the initiative.

Vilsack said 10 percent of Iowa farm owners are now females older than 75.

She said hopefully the program will encourage smaller farms and slow population decreases that are hurting Iowa’s rural communities and cities.