Rusty served in the South Dakota National Guard. He enlisted in February 2000 of his junior year of high school. On Dec 1st 2003, he was put on active duty orders for deployment to Iraq. He served in Iraq from February 2004 to February 2005 and then in Afghanistan from September 2009 to September 2010. Their primary missions were Route Clearance and Convoy Security. Camp security and a few Cordon and Searches, including Traffic Control Points. Realizing he wanted to start a family, he discharged a short time after returning home from Afghanistan. His career lasted 12 years and 2 Combat Tours.
"The Farmer Veteran Coalition opened my eyes to a world of Veterans just like me. Trying to find meaning and purpose after the Military experiences we were a part of. It provided ideas and access to discounted prices on tools/equipment, that I had no idea were out there. It helped to father a new relationship with a Veteran farmer, who has now and very quickly become one of my closest friends. The emails keep me posted on events happening. Whether that be learning events or wellness checks with your battle buddies. Through the Networking, I’ve developed alternatives to marketing as-well as my role in providing and serving others through our Ranch."
1898 Ranch started off as grass fed beef/lamb. They have done direct sale to the consumer. Now they run a cow/calf operation. They raise calves with no antibiotics or vaccinations in a regenerative frame Ranch. Rusty wants to run a ranch that thrives with the wildlife. He wants to increase wildlife and not decrease it. They are working with fellow Veteran Farmer Ranchers to get these animals to consumers who are looking for products raised like this.
My love for nature and Gods creation is what got him into agriculture. Then he quickly realized how therapeutic it was for him to be out doing it. Working outside and with animals, watching the land and the wildlife, it brought peace and healing to him.
"Ranching in the ways we are doing and continue to try and do, does a few things. By increasing wildlife life on the ranch, allows us to share by allowing others to harvest game off the ranch. They are able to go to a place that isn’t heavily pressured, and has habitat for the wildlife. It allows us to have kids come out to hunt. Trying to ranch in a way that is sustainable, helps to keep production costs lower and try to increase production off the same acres, helping for food security and the future of the ranch being able to serve others through quality products."
