Over the past several seasons, many Farmer Veterans have built real momentum through local and regional markets. Farm-to-school contracts have expanded, food hubs have grown, institutions leaned into regional sourcing, and consumers actively sought out products with a story and a face behind them.
2026 is International Year of the Woman Farmer and the Farmer Veteran Coalition is committed to featuring women FVC members each month, as a part of the Women of FVC program. This month’s feature is April Smurda, U.S. Air Force, of Growing Roots Farm.
Davian McKnight, U.S. Marine Corps, is the owner and operator of McKnight Farms, as well as the President of the South Carolina FVC Chapter. Davian works to support veterans and members of his community who are interested in agriculture and help others discover agriculture as a path forward.
Every November, our country pauses to honor something truly profound: National Veterans and Military Families Month. Veterans Day gives us the opportunity to thank the brave men and women who served, but this month-long observance widens the lens. It invites us to look closely at the people whose love and commitment make that service possible – the families who carry the weight of military life right alongside their veteran.
The Farmer Veteran Coalition is proud to welcome Maine as its 27th state chapter. As membership and engagement in the farmer veteran movement grows, the state chapters play a vital role in providing support to farmer veterans in their state.
Last month, the Farmer Veteran Coalition hosted its 11th annual Farmer Veteran Coalition Stakeholders Conference in Waco, TX. The theme for this year was “Emerging Trends in Food, Agriculture, and Health.”
The Farmer Veteran Coalition traveled with Flower Hill Institute and Farmers Outreach Solutions to provide disaster relief outreach to local farmers in Puerto Rico.
Every October, schools and communities across the country celebrate National Farm to School Month, a nationwide effort to connect students with fresh, locally grown food while building stronger
Mark Beacom, U.S. Army Veteran, and his wife, Amy, are the founders of Mush Ohio, a farm specializing in gourmet and medicinal mushrooms. Thanks to the Fellowship Fund, funded by Wounded Warrior Project, they were able to greatly increase their efficiency and focus on more tasks.
The event, themed “Elevating Our Voice,” invited attendees to reflect on how agriculture can more effectively communicate its value and respond to the challenges of modern food systems, regulation, and public perception.
