Brent enlisted in the United States Army in October 2008 as a 13F Forward Observer. He served with the 82nd Airborne Division at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and later with the 4th Infantry Division at Fort Carson, Colorado. In 2010, He deployed to Haiti as part of the humanitarian response after the earthquake. That mission showed him how service is not always about combat. Sometimes it is about showing up when people need help the most.
In 2011, he deployed to Iraq in support of combat operations. His time in the Army taught discipline, leadership, patience under pressure, and how important it is to take care of the people around you. Those lessons did not stop when he left the military. They are still part of how he approaches family, community, and Zero G Quail Farms today. Whether it is working with birds, teaching classes, or helping families get started with quail, Brent carries that same mindset forward: stay steady, do the work, and take care of the mission.
"The Farmer Veteran Coalition has helped Zero G Quail Farms in more ways than just business support. It helped us realize that the veteran community is still very active, still mission-focused, and still working toward many of the same goals we are. After leaving the military, it can feel like the mission stops. For us, the Farmer Veteran Coalition helped reinforce that the mission still continues. It may look different now, but the purpose is still there: serve others, build something meaningful, and help strengthen the community around us."
"Being connected with the Farmer Veteran Coalition has also allowed us to see and share the support systems that exist for veterans who are looking for a new direction. Agriculture can be a powerful avenue for healing, purpose, family involvement, and long-term stability. For Zero G Quail Farms, it has become another way to show fellow veterans that they are not alone, that there are other paths forward, and that service does not end when the uniform comes off. The mission just changes."
Zero G Quail Farms is a veteran-owned Coturnix quail farm based in Florence, Colorado. They raise Coturnix quail for families, homesteaders, educators, youth programs, and anyone looking for a practical way to bring small-scale agriculture into their life.
What started as a joke, quickly escalated into something much bigger. After Brent's military service, he was looking for something that gave him purpose again. Running the farm became his own form of therapy.
Coturnix quail ended up being the right fit. They are practical, efficient, and approachable, but they also open the door to education, self-sufficiency, and community.
One of the biggest rewards for Brent has been teaching children, families, and other veterans about the opportunities that quail and small agriculture can provide. It is not just about birds or eggs. It is about showing people that there are other paths forward, other support systems, and new missions worth taking on.
"Farming continues my sense of service because it gives me a mission that reaches beyond myself. In the military, service meant showing up, doing the work, and taking care of the people around you. Farming has become a continuation of that same mindset, just in a different uniform. With Zero G Quail Farms, I get to serve by raising food, teaching families, supporting youth programs, and helping other veterans see that agriculture can be a real path forward. It gives me a way to stay connected to a mission while building something that matters for my family and my community."
"Being an American farmer means responsibility. It means working hard, staying steady, and being part of something bigger than yourself. It means helping preserve skills, food independence, and the idea that small farms still have a place and a purpose. For me personally, farming is therapy, service, education, and mission all wrapped together. It has given me a way to keep serving after the military and to show others that the mission does not end. It just changes."
