Ben served in the U.S. Coast Guard as a helicopter pilot for twenty years. He retired in 2022 and moved his family back home to Texas.

"The Farmer Veteran Coalition was initially a source of encouragement as I was beginning to plan our life after the military. The mere existence of such an organization was a shot of inspiration for the many other veterans like me with a similar passion. The FVC has directly impacted our farm through the Fellowship Fund that helped us purchase a greenhouse that is used to provide winter shelter for our egg-laying flock of hens."

First Light Farm is a multi-species farm that employs rotational grazing. They produce grass-fed beef, pastured poultry, pork, and eggs.

"My passion to begin farming started when I learned about the integral connection between the nutrition of the food you eat and the manner in which it was raised. I relish the chance to be outdoors and observe God's creation and intricate designs. When my wife, Meg, encouraged me to pursue farming as a vocation after the military, doors began to open and we have worked together as a family to build a farm that provides food for our local community."

"Farming continues our sense of service through the interactions we have with our local communities and family. Rural areas, like ours, are often deficient in locally-produced food. Growing and distributing food in our small towns keeps the economic dollars in our community to turn over several more times. Small farms and small businesses are critical to food security and community stability."