FVC State Chapters increase membership and participation in the farmer veteran movement, provide a means of grassroots support for farmer veterans within each chapter’s territory, and encourage and locate eligible veterans for the multitude of programs and services that FVC provides. To go directly to their site, click on a state below.
FVC State Chapters
Statewide chapters provide FVC with the capability to integrate veterans into local agricultural communities.
- Chapters bridge the gap between a nationally-driven movement of farmer veterans and the state and county-level resources that will help them achieve success in agriculture
- We rely heavily on our state chapters to connect with members for their individual needs
- Chapters offer an additional way for us to personalize the farmer veteran experience
Joining a state chapter — or helping to start one — offers significant benefits
- Collaborate with other members on local projects, participate in local agricultural opportunities
- Engage in networking with and building your surrounding community
- Contribute to helping your fellow farmer veterans in the local region
President: Martin Neal
Vice President: Dave Stander
Secretary/Treasurer: Gus Leigh
Communications: Robert Godfrey
Director: Kirstin Bailey
Director: Jeff Horne
Director: Ron Todd-Meyer
2023 was a busy year! Here's a recap for everyone . . .
In February, Central State University hosted us at the Ohio ecological Food and Farm Conference in Newark. Later that month, Farm Credit invited us to present at their "Know to Grow" event. This was reprised at another Farm Credit event in March.
April was a biggie - the IRS (finally) issued the chapter our 501(c)3 certification so we officially became a non profit. That allowed us to register with the state of Ohio and open a bank account. As info, we are technically a Delaware corporation. That month we teamed up with Central State and the USDA to enjoy our first workshop of the year at Wilberforce where there were presentations on the "Bee Better Program" and a tour of the CSU research apiary.
In April and May our members participated in three veterans round tables with Senator Sherrod Brown and one with Congressman Jim Jordan. Both sit on the Senate / Congress agricultural and veterans committees respectively. At the end of the day - they know who we are and appreciate our commitment to helping veteran farmers.
In July we did outreach at the Cultivate Trade Show in Columbus (premier trade show for hydroponics, greenhouses and nurseries). We also teamed up with Rural Action to hold a workshop in Athens focused on forest farming, silvopasture and alley cropping. Great field trip in the afternoon to the demo site.
In August we conducted outreach through a podcast hosted by the Center for Innovative Food Technology/CIFT at Bowling Green and a panel discussion hosted by Central State University.
September brought our second visit to the Farm Science Review, where we were hosted again by Central State University. We gave away a 3 point post hole digger as a door prize (again). Later that month we did outreach at the Southeast Ohio Forestry Farming Conference in Rutland, Ohio. The topper was a GREAT press conference organized by CIFT officially announcing the chapter formation in Stryker, Ohio where we were joined by Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur, representatives from Senator Brown's office and folks from a host of county and state agencies.
We closed out the year with our annual membership meeting and workshop on sustainable / restorative agriculture at the Ohio State University Waterman Research Farm in Columbus. Great fun in the afternoon driving combines and playing with autonomous farm equipment.
