The Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence recognizes a member of the U.S. Military
July 16, 2024
A farm organization has introduced a new award to recognize servicemen and women who have transitioned from active duty to members of the ag community or are currently doing both.
The American Farm Bureau Federation, with support for Farm Credit, is looking for applicants for its first Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence .
The award recognizes one person currently serving or who has served in any branch of the U.S. Military and is actively involved in ag and their community.
“We are wanting to elevate and celebrate those who have served our country and continue to do so through involvement in agriculture and community, really thanking those who served our country and continue to serve agriculture,” said Logan Yearsley , director of member engagement with the Farm Bureau.
Servicemembers make up a small portion of the U.S. farming community.
The 2022 Census of Agriculture counted 305,753 producers who had served or were actively serving in the military – down 18 percent from the 2017 census.
In all, producers with military service accounted for about 9 percent of the country’s 3.4 million farmers. And 15 percent of all U.S. farms had at least one producer with military experience.
Those farmers produced food on more than 100 million acres of land and generated $49 billion in ag sales.
Florida and South Carolina have the most producers with military service as a percentage of total producers in the state with 12 percent each.
Applications for the Farm Bureau’s award must be submitted by Aug. 30, 2024, and meet specific criteria.
A veteran, for example, should have received an “Honorable” discharge.
Those currently in the military should provide a letter of support from a commanding officer.
The application must also showcase how the applicant has exhibited excellence in farming or agriculture, and how they’ve been a positive influence in their community.
The recipient will be notified in September with the award being publicly announced on Veterans Day – Nov. 11.
The winner will receive $10,000 and up to $5,000 reimbursement in travel for themselves and a guest to attend the AFBF Convention in San Antonio, Texas in January 2025.
Resources are available for servicemen and women looking to begin a farming or ag career.
The Farmer Veteran Coalition , for example, is the largest national nonprofit dedicated to supporting members of the armed forces interested in careers in ag.
Since 2013, Armed to Farm has helped more than 1,000 veterans with hands-on and classroom opportunities for ag. Veterans receive training on how to run a successful business, market products and access USDA resources .
And AgCareers.com’s Ag Warriors program helps service members find careers in the ag and food industries.