PRESS
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
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
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
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
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
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
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 27th, 2011
UrbanFig: Backyard Farming for Urban Dwelling
By: Carol Carimi Acutt
Published: October 29, 2011
Defense Media: All Hands Television
By: Peggy Trugio
Aired: October 22, 2011
The Art of The Rural
By: Matthew Fluharty
Published: October 11, 2011
The Rural Blog: Groups Will Receive USDA Funding to Continue Training Veterans to be Farmers
By: Ivy Brashear
Published: October 19, 2011
Yes!: Farming Careers for Young Veterans
By: Robert Mellinger
Published: June 15, 2011
Lancaster Farming: A ‘Call to Farms’ Brings Veterans to Pennsylvania
By: Jennifer Hetrick
Published: September 17, 2011
Sierra Club: ACT On Your Convictions
By: Wendy Beckhold
Aired: September, 2011
Central Coast Foodie: Veterans Farming
By: Megan Zottarelli
Published: August, 2011
Des Moines Register: Back from War and Growing
By: Mike Kilen
Published: August 15, 2011
Good Morning Sacramento: Vets Helping Vets
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
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.
