Feature Veterans
Building a New Mission
Community Becomes the New Unit for Veterans in Agriculture
By Christy Caplan
T he call to serve doesn ' t end when the uniform comes off. For a growing number of veterans, it simply takes a different shape. Instead of missions overseas, they ' re planting orchards, raising livestock, and building small agricultural businesses that feed their neighbors. The land becomes the new assignment.
Agriculture offers something many veterans crave after service: purpose, ownership, and a way to keep contributing. It also comes with real challenges.
A New Way to Keep Serving
Ask Joe Ricker why farming resonates with so many veterans, and he ' ll point to two things: service and control.
" Service members want to continue service in their community and control their decisions and outcomes after service," says Ricker, founder and executive director of At Ease Orchard. " A small business and farming allow them to do both."
That shift matters. Military life runs on orders and chain of command. Farming flips the dynamic. As Ricker puts it, " After being ordered around in the military, it is an opportunity to lead yourself and lead your family into community ties by providing food to food pantries or farmers ' markets."
The through-line is service— just expressed differently. A veteran who once protected a nation can now help feed one. That sense of mission doesn ' t fade. It gets replanted.
For Wayne Swanson of Swanson Family Farm, the appeal is even simpler. " Being outside can be very therapeutic," he says. " It ' s a bonus if being outside brings you peace of mind and you can pay a few bills because of your labor."
The Barrier Most People Miss
When people talk about why veterans struggle to break into agriculture, the conversation usually starts with land and money. Those barriers are real. Swanson names them plainly: " Access to land, money, and effective training." He notes that the training piece alone " is an entire conversation itself." But Ricker believes the biggest obstacle is often internal. " Most people will say land, but I believe it is more of the ability to self-assess and determine what is right for them," he says. " Small business ownership is tough but doable. A veteran needs to honestly assess what they are capable of giving and have the ability to do."
Farming looks straightforward from the outside. Plant, grow, harvest, sell. The reality demands time, patience, and genuine passion. Ricker encourages veterans to ask themselves hard questions before diving in. " A veteran ' s biggest barrier is sometimes selfassessment and themselves, to see if it is really what they want to do and have time and passion for."
That honesty upfront saves heartache later. Knowing your limits is its own kind of strength.
Learning From People Who ' ve Walked the Path Once a veteran decides to move forward, support makes all the difference. And not just any support. Both Ricker and Swanson stress the value of learning from other veterans.
16 AcreageLife November 2026 AcreageLife. com