Anthony served in the United States Army from 2003 to 2009 on active duty and stayed in the Inactive Ready Reserve until 2011. He was with the 82nd Airborne Division out of Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He deployed twice to Iraq and once to Afghanistan during the Global War on Terror.
Anthony served as an Infantryman, mostly on gun teams. His job was straightforward — train hard, stay ready, and take care of the Soldiers next to him. Combat and deployments taught him real quick what matters and what doesn’t, discipline, trust, and how to keep moving even when things are hard.
He earned the Army Commendation Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Combat Infantryman Badge, Expert Infantryman Badge, Afghanistan Campaign Medal with campaign star, Iraq Campaign Medal with campaign star, NATO Medal, Parachutist Badge, and his service and deployment awards.
"The Army shaped how I handle everything in life. It taught me to be accountable, to work through problems instead of around them, and to always take care of your people. Those lessons still guide me today in farming, ranching, and life at home. I never really left it behind — I just carried it into what I do now."
Anthony joined the Farmer Veteran Coalition in 2024 when they started their farm business, Garcia Eat Meats LLC. It meant a lot to him to be connected with an organization that understands both military service and agriculture, and the transition that comes with leaving the military and building something new.
Being part of the Coalition also allowed him to join Homegrown by Heroes, which has been an important way for them to identify their products as veteran-grown and share that story with customers. They proudly use that recognition when marketing their premium lamb and when talking with customers through social media and direct sales.
"More than anything, the Farmer Veteran Coalition has helped validate that what we’re doing matters — that veterans can continue to serve their communities through agriculture, and that there is support and recognition for that path. It has been encouraging to be part of a network of others doing the same thing and building something meaningful after military service."
Garcia Eat Meats LLC is a small family farm business Anthony started with his wife in 2024. The goal was to build something of their own and create a future they could be proud of together, while also giving him purpose after military service.
They raise hair sheep for premium lamb meat, focusing on quality, consistency, and doing things the right way. Their operation is hands-on, and they manage everything from flock care and lambing to finishing and working with a local processor to bring their product to market.
After leaving the military, Anthony went through civilian jobs trying to find the right fit, but nothing felt right. He struggled with the lack of structure and teamwork that he had been used to in the Army. During that time, he was also working through PTSD from his service, and in 2019 he reached the lowest point in his life. Recovery took time, therapy, and rebuilding.
The shift toward agriculture started with horses. They got their first horses, and he got Red. Working with him became something steady for Anthony. It helped him rebuild patience, trust, and confidence, and it connected him to working with animals in a meaningful way.
"My wife grew up around agriculture and wanted to return to that life. She also knew I needed something hands-on and meaningful to help me move forward. In 2024, we started Garcia Eat Meats LLC. What began as a way to build something of our own became a shared purpose. Working with livestock has been grounding. It brought back routine, responsibility, and teamwork in a different form — first through horses, then into our sheep. Agriculture became the place where I could rebuild stability, purpose, and a future we are proud of."
For Anthony, farming is a continuation of service, in a different form. In the Army, service meant taking care of his unit and completing the mission. Today, it means taking care of animals, land, and the people who trust them to produce food they can feed their families.
"Agriculture has given me a way to live with purpose and responsibility every day. There is structure in it, there is accountability, and there is a team — just in a different form. Instead of Soldiers beside me, it is my wife and the work we do together on our farm. The expectations are still there: show up, do the job right, and don’t cut corners."
"Being an American farmer means more to me than just producing food. It means being part of something that sustains communities in a real and practical way. It means working honestly, respecting the land, and understanding that what we do matters beyond just our property line. Farming also gives me a sense of stability and purpose that I struggled to find after leaving the military. It has helped me rebuild routine, focus, and a sense of belonging. To me, it is another form of service — quiet, steady, and meaningful."
