A military uniform and a pair of farm boots tell different stories, but the people who have worn both carry the same sense of purpose. They get up each morning knowing others are counting on them, ready to give their best to something bigger than themselves.
As Veterans Day approaches, I’m reminded of how much we owe the men and women who have defended our freedoms. As the father of a veteran, that gratitude is personal, just as it is for every military family in our great nation. Across farm country, we also see that spirit of service at work as veterans care for the land and communities they call home.
Veterans Find a New Calling in Agriculture
According to USDA, 15% of America’s farms have at least one farmer with military experience. That is a powerful presence in our fields, pastures and rural communities. For some veterans, coming home means returning to a family farm. For others, it is an entirely new chapter. Either way, farming offers an opportunity to build a business, care for the land, and serve the community in a new way.
Veterans bring valuable experience to that work. They know how to solve problems under pressure, work as a team and keep going when the day gets difficult. Those qualities serve them well in agriculture, where plans can change without warning and there is always something new to learn.
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