FVC Coverage

Miller-McCure

Returning Warriors Go to Work in the Fields

By: Jodi Helmer

Published: January 10, 2012

The LCN

Local Shearers Compete to Help Military Veterans

By: DJ Smith

Published: December 29, 2011

Lancaster Farming

Where There’s Wool, There’s a Way

By: Maegan Crandall

Published: December 31, 2011

Bon Appétit Management Company

These Farmer-Veterans are Growing Peace

Published: December 22, 2011

Reno Gazette-Journal

“Aquaponics, or growing plants in water from fish farming, is an efficient way to raise food and reduce waste”

By: Heidi Kratsch

Published: December 9, 2011

The Register Citizen

“New Hartford Veteran Creating New Farming Legacy for Family”

By: Debbi Morello

Published: December 7, 2011

Farm Plus Financial

“Veterans Finding Ag Jobs”

By: Justin Ellison

Published: December 4, 2011

The Des Moines Register

“When Vets Want to Become Farmers”

By: Jens Manuel Krogstad

Published: December 3, 2011

Southwest Farm Press

“From the Farm to the Battlefield and Back, Soldiers Have Hope for Farming’s Future”

By: Logan Hawkes

Published: November 16, 2011

Farm Plus Financial

“Veterans Finding Ag Jobs”

By: Justin Ellison

Published: December 4, 2011

Farm Progress

“Veterans Are Focus Of BFC’s New Partnership”

By: Staff

Published: November 16, 2011

90.5 Essential Public Radio

“Military Veterans Find Employment, Comfort in Farming”

By: Ilana Yergin

Published: November 12, 2011

Iowa Farm Bureau

“Veterans are focus of ISU’s Beginning Farmer Center’s new partnership”

By: Iowa State University

Published on: November 14, 2011

Local Dirt: KDVS 90.3 FM Davis, Ca

A radio segment featuring farming organizations including  Soul Food Farm, Swords to Plowshares, and Farmer-Veteran Coalition. FVC Executive Director Michael O’Gorman speaks about the organization.

Aired: November 14, 2011

Civil Eats

“Veterans Day: Honor Farmers Who Continue to Serve Their Country” Civil Eats re-posts story written by FVC National Veteran Outreach Coordinator Chris Ritthaler on Veterans Day.

By: Chris Ritthaler, Reposted by: Civil Eats

Published on: November 11, 2011

Raw Earth Living

“From Fighters to Farmers” An wonderful story on the work and mission of FVC re-published in an updated form by Raw Earth Living.

By: Judi Gerber

Published: November 10, 2011

An Organic Conversation

A free podcast by Organic Food Advocate Helge Hellberg, Produce Expert Mark Mulcahy and Holistic Chef Sitarani Brain featuring the Farmer-Veteran Coalition.

Released: October 31, 2011

Napa Valley Register

“Program Helps Veterans Become Farmers”

By: Lila Casura

Published: November 11, 2011

Parade Magazine

“Hope Grows Here” The inspiring story of Adam Burke, one of FVC’s Bob Woodruff Farming Fellows.

By: Jerry Camarillo Dunn Jr.

Published: October 16, 2011

Clif Bar Family Foundation

Clif Bar features FVC as a grantee, discussing the purpose and work of the organization and providing a wonderful video with interviews with Michael O’Gorman and farming veteran Matt McCue.

Published: October 15, 2011

Health Impact News

“War Vets Turn to Organic Farming for Mental Health Instead of Drugs” A great article on the health benefits of farming on veterans, highlighting FVC and featuring an interview with Adam Burke, one of FVC’s Bob Woodruff Farming Fellows.

By: Health Impact News

Published: November 8, 2011

Examiner.com

“Veterans can go back to school & learn to become local farmers and ranchers”

By: Anne Hart

Published: October 27^th, 2011

UrbanFig: Backyard Farming for Urban Dwelling

Farming Red, White and Blue—an interview with FVC Executive Director Michael O’Gorman, whom the author deems as ‘Farmer of the Week’.

By: Carol Carimi Acutt

Published: October 29, 2011

Defense Media: All Hands Television

A short documentary shot at the “A Call to Farms” Pennsylvania FVC retreat and compiled by Defense Media!

By: Peggy Trugio

Aired: October 22, 2011

The Art of The Rural

A great description of the FVC and farming veteran Matt McCue, including a video interview from Matt.

By: Matthew Fluharty

Published: October 11, 2011

The Rural Blog: Groups Will Receive USDA Funding to Continue Training Veterans to be Farmers

This blog post describes the work of FVC and related organizations and the money awarded to them by the USDA.

By: Ivy Brashear

Published: October 19, 2011

Yes!: Farming Careers for Young Veterans

This article discusses the transition from returning veteran to beginning farmer, highlighting FVC’s work and the work of a similar organization, Combat Boots to Cowboy Boots.

By: Robert Mellinger

Published: June 15, 2011

Lancaster Farming: A ‘Call to Farms’ Brings Veterans to Pennsylvania

Lancaster Farming writes a great review of the recent PA retreat held by USDA, Risk Management Agency, FVC, and NCAT.

By: Jennifer Hetrick

Published: September 17, 2011

Sierra Club: ACT On Your Convictions

A great interview of Farmer-Veteran Coalition Executive Director, Michael O’Gorman, speaking about FVC.

By: Wendy Beckhold

Aired: September, 2011

Central Coast Foodie: Veterans Farming

Megan Zottarelli highlights the Farmer-Veteran Coalition in this article: A Viable Soluation for Local Food Systems, and a Means to Heal

By: Megan Zottarelli

Published: August, 2011

Des Moines Register: Back from War and Growing

An inspirational story of Sandra Kendrick, a female veteran who attended the FVC retreat in Iowa and is getting her start with farming in her hometown of Cedar Rapids, Iowa.

By: Mike Kilen

Published: August 15, 2011

Good Morning Sacramento: Vets Helping Vets

Great coverage by Good Morning Sacramento reporter Courtney Dempsey of FVC, friends, and community members working at Vonita Murray’s organic farm in Woodland, California.

By: Courtney Dempsey

Aired: July 8, 2011

Grit: Military Veterans Learn to Farm with Farmer-Veteran Coalition

Coalition offers military veterans a means of easing their way back into civilian life.

By Evan B. Welch

Published: July 2011

VAntage Point : Dispatches from the US Department of Veteran Affairs

Returning Vets Find Purpose on America’s Farms

By FVC National Outreach Coordinator Chris Ritthaler

Published: June 16, 2011

The Organic Movement: An Independent Supplement from MEDIAPLANET in the Washington Post

U.S. Veterans: From War Zone to Healing Gardens

By Laura Lowe-Brody

Published: May 2011

Down to Earth News

“National Coalition Helps Train Veterans in Agriculture”

By: Julie Schaffer

Published: April 8, 2011

Sunday New  York Times, National Section

Helping Soldiers Trade Their Swords for Plows

By Patricia Leigh Brown

Published: February 5, 2011

New York Times, Veterans Day 2010

Another unusual, smaller effort is the Farmer-Veteran Coalition, in Davis, Calif., which tries to recruit, train and place veterans in organic and other farming.

Michael O’Gorman, its executive director, said federal data showed that 16 percent of Americans lived in rural communities, while 45 percent of the military members were from rural areas — and faced high levels of unemployment there if they returned.

A former former and farm manager, Mr. O’Gorman gathered $220,000 in financing, including $50,000 from the comedian Lewis Black, to help veterans interested in farming. The coalition hosts five farming retreats, introducing around 20 veterans each session to agriculture as varied as raising organic fruits and vegetables, poultry, sheep and goats, to maintaining orchards and vineyards. It also lists farming jobs on its Web site.

After some false starts, Aaron Newsom, who spent six years in the Marine Corps, including a tour in Afghanistan, as an aircraft recovery specialist, found the Farmer-Veteran Coalition and learned of a retreat near his home in the Santa Cruz area.

“We stopped by a large garden, then an orchard with apple and pear trees, and an organic food stand,” said Mr. Newsom, 27. “I knew then I wanted to know the biology of it all.” He is now studying for a horticulture degree at a community college.

“It’s a kind of healing,” said Mr. O’Gorman of veterans who decide on farming, “and it’s an income.”

Certified Organic Magazine – Summer 2010 Issue (pdf)

Veterans Find New Mission in Organic Farming by Janet McGarry

LA Times

From swords to plowshares: Introducing military veterans to farming
By Mary MacVean, July 8, 2010
Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training and other groups aim to encourage former soldiers, sailors and Marines to consider careers in farming and other food-related businesses.

ABC News

More Young Veterans Making Agriculture Next Mission
by Andrew Keshner, July 8, 2010
This about programs from FVC to colleges to the USDA that are helping to ease the transition from military service to agricultural jobs.

Take Part

Farmer-Veteran Coalition Heals Vets Down on the Organic Farm
by Jenny Inglee, July 1, 2010
About FVC and its part in launching Teaching Gardens for schools in Los Angeles.

Balitang America

(Filipino Press)
Military Veterans Face Tough Job Market
by Steven Angeles and Balitang America Staff, ABS CBN News, North America Bureau, July 2, 2010
A report from FVC’s Food and Farming Career Fair in Santa Monica, June 30, 2010.

The Santa Monica Daily Press

Transitioning from Fighting to Farming
by Rebecca Kheel, June 1, 2010
A report from FVC’s Food and Farming Career Fair in Santa Monica.

The Climate Network

Interview with Michael O’Gorman
May 17, 2010
In a Climate Network video related to the Midwestern Green Jobs Project 2010, Michael O’Gorman explains the rationale for the Farmer-Veteran Coalition.

Tonic

From Battlefield to Blueberry Field
May 21, 2010 by Katherine Gustafson
A story about Adam Burke, an FVC associated veteran who has started a berry-growing operation in northern Florida to provide jobs for veterans.

Worldwatch Institute

After War, Veterans Find Peace, Fulfillment in Agriculture
May 24, 2010, by Molly Theobald
A follow-up article to the four-day long Coalition for Iraq & Afghanistan Veterans (CIAV) conference in Washington DC on May 11. Includes interviews with Adam Burke and Michael O’Gorman.

Organic Gardening

Earth Matters: Veteran Soldiers Become Novice Farmers
May 2010, By Amanda Kimble-Evans
Interviews with Michael O’Gorman and Matt Mccue, who says, “People join the military because they think outside the box. There is a huge potential for former military personnel to find solutions to some of the big-picture problems and food-security issues facing society.”

North Bay Business Journal

Farmer-vet program sees interest in wine
March 29, 2010
An article following up on FVC’s Career Fair in Santa Rosa, including interviews with FVC-related veterans and with the Culinary Institute of America, which trains vets to be chefs.

Santa Rosa Press Democrat

From war to wine: Helping North Coast vets find jobs
March 3, 2010
An article centered around Iraq veteran Shane Brannon and his work at a winery in Sonoma County. This was a lead in to FVC’s Career Fair in Santa Rosa, CA.

Obama Foodarama

Growing Hope – the Farmer-Veteran Coalition
November 15, 2009
The Farmer-Veteran Coalition (FVC), based in Northern California, is an apprenticeship-based program that’s doing a critical service for both our military and Ag sectors, by placing Veterans on farms in order to learn Ag skills, as well as to ensure that they have a safe place to re-adjust to civilian life.

Farm Aid Blog

Farmer Veterans
November 11, 2009 (Veterans’ Day)
FVC is welcomed as a member of the Farmer Resource Network after bringing over 20 young veterans to Farm Aid.

Marin Independent Journal

“Tanks to Tractors” event set for Point Reyes Station
by Bob Rogers, November 6, 2009
FVC Northern California Coordinator Jenn Fusaro and Michael O’Gorman are interviewed in advance of a fundraising event in Pt. Reyes Station, CA.

Sierra Club Radio

Radio Interview
April 4, 2009
Interview of Michael O’Gorman by Orli Cotel, introducing FVC.

Organic Conversation

Healing Stories
May 23, 2009
Marin Organic executive director Helge Hellberg interviews Michael O’Gorman about FVC.

The Slow Food USA Blog

Farmer-Veteran Coalition
March 31, 2009 by Brian Sinderson
Slow Food staffer Deena Goldman’s chat with Gail Wadsworth, Slow Food chapter leader and [then] new staff member at the Farmer-Veteran Coalition.

The Ethicurean: New Organization Helps Veterans Become Farmers

A follow-up article after the SF Chronicle piece on Farmer Veteran Coalition, discussing the importance of the work FVC does and encouraging others to learn more about the organization.

By: Marc R.

Published: September 27, 2008

San Francisco Chronicle

Food Conscious: Farmers recruit combat veterans
September 24, 2008
A follow-up article to FVC’s fundraising dinner in Sebastopol, CA.