Throughout 2025, the Farmer Veteran Coalition has been working with Flower Hill Institute, Farmers Outreach Solutions, and Latino Farmers and Ranchers to provide Disaster Relief outreach, education, and technical assistance to help farmers and ranchers access Farm Service Agency (FSA) disaster relief resources.
Work for this grant included hosting webinars, sharing resources at public events, and providing technical assistance to those interested in applying for disaster relief programs.
Flower Hill Institute has traveled several times to Puerto Rico to conduct outreach and visit with local farmers there, and this time the Farmer Veteran Coalition joined them for this trip.
It’s important to remember that we have members not only in the states, but overseas as well. This includes U.S. territories, such as Puerto Rico. This trip was a great chance to connect with FVC members on the island and to learn about the challenges they face as beginning farmers and ranchers.
From September 29th to October 3rd, I traveled to Puerto Rico and, along with our collaborators, hosted information sessions in two locations, Adjuntas and Maricao.
Adjuntas Information Session
Adjuntas Information Session Image blurb: Many local farmers, including veterans, gathered at the information session in Adjuntas to learn about USDA programs available to them.
September 30th was the first session, held in Adjuntas, which also included representatives from the USDA and ZForm.
Around 80 attendees were present for the Adjuntas information session and we all had presentations about the work that we do. I was able to meet with several veterans and a couple of FVC members.
I learned valuable information about things they struggled with and how FVC can help them. It was an eye-opening experience to hear about their challenges.
The next day, we attended an event hosted by the Liga de Cooperativas de Puerto Rico, and learned about the island’s commitment to cooperative action and how important unity and resilience are to Puerto Rico’s agricultural communities.
Maricao Information Session
Miltons Farm Image blurb: Milton’s Farm in Cabo Rojo is a major supplier of beef in his local community.
On Thursday, October 2nd, we visited Milton’s Farm in Cabo Rojo, where we learned about his cattle operation, and had the chance to taste his locally crafted sugarcane treats, produced by Sr. Milton Toro himself.
Following the visit, we held our second information session in Maricao, with around 50 attendees showing up. This time no USDA representatives were present, but this allowed us more time to go through our presentations.
I was lucky to meet with another FVC member who showed up at the last minute but was eager to speak with me. He was excited about the chance to finally speak with a FVC representative face-to-face, saying that he rushed to the event location upon seeing the flyer.
At both events, valuable information was shared about the work that the Farmer Veteran Coalition offers for veterans who wish to pursue a career in agriculture. This was an important event not only for FVC members on the island, but for me as well.
Diego FVC Presentation Image blurb: Diego Loredo, Digital Marketing and Outreach Specialist for FVC, spoke to attendees at the Maricao Information Session.
I was able to learn more about how we, as an organization, can provide better outreach. This also provided great practice for doing presentations to a crowd, as I plan on providing more of these in the future.
I encouraged not only the veterans I spoke with, but the other attendees as well to spread the word about what FVC does and to urge other veterans to reach out and become a member.
Effective communication is key to keeping up with our membership and while sending out emails and hosting webinars is great, nothing beats face-to-face interactions. It’s a great way to learn more about our members, their farming endeavors, and the challenges they face as Farmer Veterans. I look forward to meeting with more FVC members, both in Puerto Rico and throughout the United States.
To learn more about the disaster assistance that FVC provides, please visit our Farm Service Agency Toolkit here: https://farmvetco.org/farm-services-agency-tool-kit-farmer-veteran-coalition/
As more natural disasters occur, we urge our members to please reach out to us for any assistance via support@farmvetco.org.
How You Can Help
- Ask Your Employer – Check with your HR or benefits department to see if your company has a charitable matching gift program.
- Submit Your Donation – When you make a contribution to FVC, keep a record of your receipt.
- Request the Match – Complete your employer’s form or online process to direct matching funds to Farmer Veteran Coalition.
- Spread the Word – Encourage your colleagues and fellow members to do the same!
A Simple Step, A Lasting Impact
When you take just a few minutes to ask your employer about matching funds, you’re not just giving – you’re creating double the impact for farmer veterans across the country. Your generosity, combined with the support of your employer, ensures that those who served our nation have the resources they need to serve our communities through agriculture.
This season, consider Farmer Veteran Coalition for your employer’s year-end matching funds program. Together, we can build a stronger future for veterans and American agriculture. To make a contribution towards the Farmer Veteran Coalition, visit https://farmvetco.org/donate/.
For any questions, please contact jeanette@farmvetco.org.
About Farmer Veteran Coalition
Based in Waco, Texas, the National Farmer Veteran Coalition empowers Veterans to build meaningful careers in agriculture. FVC offers resources, training, and support to help them transition into farming or agricultural employment. Through education, mentorship, and partnerships, FVC creates economic opportunities, fosters sustainability, and enables Veterans to continue serving by strengthening American agriculture and their communities.
Established in 2009, some of FVC’s in-house programs include the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund small grant program, the nationally recognized Homegrown By Heroes label for Veteran-grown products, MarketMaker, Hives Training Program, Fields4Valor Food Security Program, and the national stakeholders conference. For more information, visit www.farmvetco.org or follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @FarmerVeteranCoalition and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@farmvetcoalition/videos.
