Tractor Supply Company Supports 50 Military Veterans With Farmer Veteran Coalition

Tractor Supply Company honored 50 military veteran farmers nationwide this month in partnership with Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) in celebration of the Fourth of July. Each awardee has been awarded a $1,000 gift card to support their agriculture projects and businesses.

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Tractor Supply is proud to partner with Farmer Veteran Coalition to support farmer veterans nationwide. Photo by Kenneth Paylor with West 12 Productions. (Photo: Business Wire)

The FVC is a national nonprofit organization that assists active duty and veteran members of our Armed Forces embarking on careers in agriculture by providing them with education, resources and small grants to launch their own farming operation or find employment in farming. The group serves more than 20,000 members nationwide

The 50 farmer veterans were selected based on essay applications describing their farm training and experience, personal investment in their farm business and clear need for assistance to further their vision and goal for the business. The winning veterans received a $1,000 Tractor Supply gift card for their work and dedication to our country and local communities. Winning businesses ranged in fields of beekeeping, sustainable gardening, community education, Farm to Table meats and more.

“We are honored to support these veteran farmers as they serve our local communities through their wide-ranging agricultural businesses,” said Roc Hodges, who retired as a Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force and currently leads the Tractor Supply Veterans Employee Resource Group. “These military heroes have supported our country through their service and it’s a privilege to assist with these gift cards while letting them know how much we support them as they pursue their work in agriculture post-military service.”

In Jacksonville, Florida, Pamela Monk, who served in the Navy for 18 years, received a grant to support her local business, Queen Natural Farm. Monk’s main crop is blueberries, but with these funds she plans to expand her 5-acre farm to grow sweet potatoes, hot peppers and a variety of herbs. Long-term, she strives for Queen Natural Farm to be a place for the community to gather and learn best practices in growing food, fishing and conserving energy with solar panels and irrigation.