Supporting veterans turned farmers

As our country celebrates Memorial Day and honors those who have dedicated their lives and given the ultimate sacrifice to ensure the freedoms we enjoy today, we focus on an organization dedicated to helping veterans pursue careers in agriculture.

The mission of the Farmer Veteran Coalition is mobilizing veterans to feed America. A national nonprofit that serves nearly 30,000 veterans turned farmers, FVC creates a new generation of farmers and food leaders. It simultaneously offers veterans a new purpose on America’s farms.

Established in 2008, its in-house programs include the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund small grant program, the nationally recognized Homegrown By Heroes label for veteran-grown products, and national and regional conferences. As the nation’s largest nonprofit assisting veterans and active duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces embark on careers in agriculture, FVC has been successful in getting millions of dollars of USDA funds appropriated for farmer veterans and the groups that support them.

Over the past 12 years, the Farmer Veteran Coalition has created a new generation of farmers and food leaders, while offering veterans a new purpose on America’s farms. Returning veterans often face big challenges in starting their agriculture careers, and the coalition supports these aspiring farmers as they work to achieve their goals. After serving their country once, now they are serving their communities by producing food.

Learn more at www.farmvetco.org or follow on Facebook or Instagram at @FarmerVeteranCoalition and Twitter at @FarmVetCo.