Devon entered the U.S. Army as a PFC in 2013 and was an X-Ray tech (68P) and transitioned to biomed (68A) where his career ultimately ended with a medical retirement with an honorable discharge in 2019 at a VA rating of 100%.
"The coalition has helped me find a community that understands the ins and out of the work I'm doing. I have been able to apply for scholarships, meet other farmers that are willing to lend a hand or advice, and overall a group of like-minded individuals I can lean on. It has opened doors for ways I can better serve the community of East TN and given me ways to support future farmers, especially those just getting out of the military looking to find purpose in agriculture."
Rising Moons Farms is a 56-acre family farm located in Philadelphia, TN founded in 2020 and operated primarily by veterans with the goal of growing and providing the cleanest, healthiest, and best tasting food for their family and the community. With the need for farm to table food dramatically increasing across the country, it is their plan to provide a reliable farm to table food supply that is grown without the use of chemical fertilizers, pesticides, and herbicides. They offer fresh eggs, herbs, vegetables, fruits, and hope to continue adding to the product line with time to include aquaponic and aeroponic grown produce, goat cheese, fish, and agro-tourism u-pick berry patches. Besides, providing farm fresh produce and value added products, they want to offer educational resources, so that the next generation can continue this work.
After the accident that occurred in the Army that caused Devon to be medically discharged, he had to go through mental and physical therapy to learn how to use his hands and walk again while also making peace with what happens next in life after an injury that severe. Working the land gives him a sense of purpose and allows him to put in hard work for a goal he believes in.
In 2020 Devon found the perfect piece of land to start his journey in Philadelphia, TN. The 56-acre property was rolling with trees, but he has since cleared sections of the land and built animal pastures for their chickens, goats and geese, barns to store equipment and feed, and hopefully soon, an aquaponic/aeroponic facility that will allow for year-round gardening. Rising Moons Farms won't just be another family farm passed on to generations, Devon has big goals for it to become an education destination for all those wanting to learn about sustainable farming, a place for folks to learn about where their food comes from, and more importantly a center for the community to gather, talk, and learn from each other.
"In the military, we serve our country and all those that live here by helping to ensure our freedom remains intact. Farming to me, is an extension of that service. I have the chance to serve my local community by growing food with my own two hands that I know is healthy and nourishing and free of harmful chemicals, pesticides, and pollutants. I feel a sense of duty to not only my family, but my community to continue learning, researching, and offering that knowledge to all that will join me in my journey for better food sources."
"Being an American Farmer isn’t easy, it takes blood, sweat, and tears, which is what any military vet will tell you goes into our training and duty to this country. I get asked a lot why I want to farm instead of taking on an easy, normal 9-5 job, and honestly, I need farming to survive at this point. I want the pride in knowing I grew things myself to feed my family as well as my community, that I overcame my hardships, and built something from the land I get to call home, in the land of the free!"
