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Veterans IN Farming: Indiana program connecting service members to careers in ag

A Hancock County, Indiana farmer is working with veterans across the state to help them find careers in agriculture.

Retired Army colonel Joe Ricker tells Brownfield, “A lot of the aspects of farming are the same as they are in the military, such as safety, do I buy this, do I need to spend this money. How much effort you put into it is what you get out of it.”

He says the industry provides opportunities for veterans to start their own operations.

“We have the NRCS Equity and Conservation Grant for another year,” he says. “AgrAbility helps people with disabilities continue in farming after accident or injury. These are great programs to bring veterans closer to agriculture.”

Ricker is a veteran outreach coordinator with Indiana AgrAbility, the founder of Veterans IN Farming, the owner of At Ease Orchard, and is a volunteer with Heros to Hives. 

For more information about Veterans IN Farming, click here.

AUDIO: Joe Ricker