State Program Helps Vets Transition To Farm Fields

This Veterans Day, amid the parades and ceremonies, a new agricultural initiative was launched in Ohio. It strives to give a marketing edge to soldiers who’ve exchanged their uniforms for farm boots. Ericka Hawkins is a spokeswoman for the Ohio Department of Agriculture. She says so far, participation with Ohio’s new “Homegrown By Heroes” is modest. Just 10 farmers are signed on, though promoters hope it’ll expand. The program allows veterans who farm to use an exclusive logo on their products, whether it be produce, livestock, or fish. “The program sits real nice alongside our 'Ohio Proud' program, which does the same thing, to help consumers identify products that are grown and processed here in the state Oho," says Hawkins. "They’re important because a lot of consumers now want to understand more about where their food, their ag products coming from. And then this program allows them to do that, to thank those veterans for their service by purchasing their products as well.” “Homegrown By Heroes” originally started in Kentucky last year. At last count, there were 60 farmers signed on there. The national non-profit group, Farmer Veteran Coalition, has since launched it across the U.S. Veterans with current or past service who own or operate at least half of a farm business are eligible.