CA’s Farmer Veteran Coalition Donations Reaches Record-Breaking High
The Farmer Veteran Coalition announced nearly half million dollars given in awards and equipment to veterans across the country through the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund.
Marine Veteran Jesus Toro of Toro Honey Company in Madera, CA, used a 2021 fellowship fund to purchase a trailer to transport his hives and equipment.
Another winner we’ve got here is Air Force veteran Ashley Riggin, who used a fellowship fund to buy fencing for her farm in Talking Rock, Georgia.
Farmer Veteran Coalition’s Director of Marketing and Communications Evan Eagan joins us to talk about the opportunity.
“More than 130 farmer veterans representing 41 states and all branches of service—with the exception of the Space Force—received notifications this week that they have been selected to receive an award to purchase things like beekeeping equipment, fencing, livestock, tractor implements, walk-behind tractors, and other supplies."
"Awardees of the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund were selected by third-party reviewers consisting of seasoned agriculture industry professionals from Farm Credit Council and their network of cooperative lending institutions, the National AgrAbility Project, and other partner organizations. Applications were judged based on the strength of a veteran’s business plan, personal investment in their business, vision and goals, and a clear need for assistance. The application period for the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund opens once per year, usually in January, at which time veterans have four weeks to submit an application."
To see the full list of awardees, visit www.farmvetco.org/2022-awardees.
Since it was established in 2011, the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund has awarded nearly $4 million in small grants and equipment to more than 930 veterans. To learn more about the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund, please visit www.farmvetco.org/fvfellowship. To inquire about supporting the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund, please contact rachel@farmvetco.org.
