Farmer-Veterans Go to Farm Aid

The Farmer-Veteran Coalition went to Farm Aid in force this year. FVC purchased forty great seats for the concert held in St. Louis on October 4, and with help from fellow groups that make up the Coalition for Iraq and Afghanistan Veterans (CIAV) we filled them with young military veterans that are taking up farming, along with their families and friends.

Photo by Matt Edson

Altogether twenty-four veterans and still-active duty military personnel joined our group, including twenty that have served Post 9-11 and at least fifteen who fought in Iraq, Afghanistan or both. Both men and women, they came from every branch of the military and fifteen states. Most are actively pursuing careers in farming or the good food movement.

The Farmer-Veteran Coalition came to St. Louis to support Farm Aid’s long-time work on behalf of America’s farmers, as well as to give our veteran-farmers a chance to meet each other. And thirdly, to let them see how Farm Aid makes heroes out of America’s beginning farmers – something these young men and women are so deserving of.

Some in our group grew up on family farms and received injuries during their service. The Farmer-Veteran Coalition is especially committed to helping these young people get the extra help they need to restart their farming careers.

Six of the vets who suffered wounds or disabilities related to their combat service had their flights to St. Louis paid for by Air Compassion for Veterans, a member group of the CIAV. Another leading member of the Coalition, the Iraq and Afghan Veterans of America (IAVA) sent Senior Master Sergeant Sheila Ford, USAF, Master Sergeant Vincent Martinez, USAF and Master Sergeant Joseph Gaffney, USAF Retired, all stationed near St. Louis, to show solidarity with our project and represent their organization.

Farm Aid treated our group wonderfully and gave us a chance to let concert goers visit our informational booth that the vets had decorated with pictures of them on their farms in front of backdrops of military camouflage.
One of the first visitors to the booth, well before the gates opened, was particularly moved. He said he was a Vietnam Vet and really appreciated our project. When asked what he was doing now he said he was Willie Nelson’s assistant. We passed on one of our FVC hats.

That evening, just as the enormous harvest moon came shining through the covered seats from the East, Willie walked on stage to join Dave Matthews. Our group went absolutely wild. He was wearing the FVC hat and kept it on until his final set!

One of the young veterans studying organic farming in California was particularly excited and anxious about the chance to join us in St. Louis. When he was just eight months old his father, a Vietnam Vet, took his own life in St. Louis – one of a number now surpassing those that died in combat. He had never been back to see him. On their own initiative, three of the other young men stayed back on Monday to accompany him to the cemetery, a testament to the profound honor it is to get to work with these young farmers.

Looking forward to seeing you all at Farm Aid 2010!

Michael O’Gorman,
Project Director, Farmer-Veteran Coalition

221 G Street, Suite 204, Davis, CA 95616

530-756-6555 x 20