Ryan is a retired U.S. Air Force officer who served as a Pilot and Finance Officer at various levels at seven duty stations, including Elmendorf Air Force Base, Alaska. Deployments include Iraq, Kuwait, and Kyrgyzstan during Operations IRAQI FREEDOM and ENDURING FREEDOM.

"My purpose for farming aligns with FVC's mission and guiding principles. The State of Alaska needs food security. We already have the highest percentage of military veterans in the United States who possess drive and resilience, qualities that can be transferred to the farm. I want to help folks become or better appreciate farmers, especially those with military ties. FVC and other organizations that support agriculture are collaborative partners that help Alaskans retain our independence while making a huge impact on our communities, regardless of farm operation size."

Coming from six generations of farmers, Ryan could not wait to ditch the dairy farm in Iowa for the U.S. Air Force Academy. Though he maintained some sort of garden at almost all of his duty stations.

Agriculture after the military was limited to a suburban homestead with produce, chickens, and honeybees - sharing his excess bounty with others. It was not until he pursued a Master Gardener Certification and learned about the dire state of Alaska's food security that he considered agriculture beyond his backyard.

Thanks to the intentional succession planning of Beth and Kurt of Scenic Place Peonies, he and his wife now own and operate Red Cabin Farm. No surprise, the farm came with established peony plants. Thanks to Beth, Kurt, and others, they not only survived Year One; they gained an appreciation for specialty cut flowers. While their blooms are not all edible, they are a key component of their business plan to attain a thriving, self-licking ice cream cone status, feed Alaska, and eventually pass the torch to future farmers.

"Alaska is the biggest 'small town' I know. An Alaskan who is a military veteran and also a farmer is a triple threat with potential liability, aka Independent cubed. Independent does not equal alone. I am fortunate to experience a strong sense of camaraderie and collaboration with my fellow farmers and supporters of the “Alaska Grown” agriculture industry. We share core values like the U.S. Air Force: Integrity First; Service Before Self; and Excellence in All We Do. We succeed in partnership and community. I get to learn from and help others. For us, “service is not in place of self” - physical, mental, and emotional well-being must be addressed to be ready to take on life challenges. And while I didn’t initially set out to be a commercial flower farmer, there’s something about working the land to grow flowers that richly nourish hearts and souls. It is an honor to be an American farmer among the Homegrown by Heroes that feed America and provide long-lasting American Grown Flowers locally and across the U.S."