Coalition Members, April always feels like a turning point. The days are longer, the soil is waking up, and across the country farmers are preparing for a new
Corinna Warner served in the U.S. Air Force before she began her journey into agriculture. Today, she is the owner of Tanglefoot Farm, a woman and veteran-owned business that is also Homegrown By Heroes-certified.
Continuing our commitment to International Year of the Woman Farmer, we are delighted to feature Heather Delanoy, as a part of our Women of FVC program. Heather Delanoy served in the Washington Air National Guard before starting her farm, Wild Sage Farms. Heather was a Fellowship Fund awardee in both 2023 and 2024, funded by Tractor Supply Company both times.
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.
Darnell Dugger, U.S. Army, was in the 1st Calvary Division and served during Operation Iraqi Freedom. He is the owner of Acre & Herd Ranch in Griffin, Georgia. In November, he was among five recipients of new Kubota equipment for the “Geared to Give” program.
Stephen Clark served in the U.S. Army National Guard for 24 years and is now the owner of Buzz & Cluck Farm in Buckhannon, West Virginia. This year, he became a recipient for the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund, funded by Wounded Warrior Project.
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.
