Mark Osmer, a Marine Corps and Virginia National Guard veteran, is the owner and operator of Oz Homestead, a pasture-based poultry and pork farm located in Fauquier County, Virginia.

Mark’s journey into agriculture began after years of service. He enlisted in the Marine Corps the day after graduating high school in Prince William County, VA, and served with 4th Light Armored Reconnaissance, Delta Company. After completing his USMC training, he joined the Alexandria Police Department, where he continued serving his community. Later, Mark transitioned to the Virginia National Guard as an Intelligence Analyst and deployed to Iraq in 2019 as a military contractor.

It was during this deployment that Mark met his wife, Chelsea. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit in 2020, the couple began homesteading on two acres of land, driven by food shortages and a desire to become more self-sufficient. Their first experience of raising and eating pasture-raised chicken sparked a passion for high-quality, responsibly raised food.

In 2023, Mark and Chelsea purchased a 21-acre property and launched Oz Homestead, named after Mark’s family nickname. Their mission is to provide their community with pasture-raised poultry and pork using regenerative farming practices. Inspired by Joel Salatin’s methods, they rotate poultry daily and use pigs to clear wooded areas, gradually converting dense forest into silvopasture.

n early 2025, Mark applied for the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund and was awarded $4,500. Funded by the Farmer Veteran Coalition Virginia Chapter, Oz Homestead hired Fischer Land Management to forestry mulch over two acres of land. This cleared space will be used to expand their broiler operation and convert an existing shed into a butcher barn for on-site processing.

Community support has played a vital role in the farm’s growth. Mark built a strong relationship with 4Js Farm and Brewery in Warrenton, VA, where he vends and brings animals to their Summer Kids Camp. After receiving the Fellowship Fund award, he was invited to speak at their Memorial Day event, sharing his story and the journey of Oz Homestead.

“It was an emotional moment,” Mark said. “The kindness and encouragement from our community has meant everything. We’ve had people doubt us, but the support we’ve received – from FVC, our county, other farmers, and our customers – has been incredible.”