“THE VETERAN FARM” 501(c)3

THE VETERAN FARM”

at McCLAIN’S MEADOWS

Contact e-mail: theveteranfarm@mcclainsmeadows.org

OUR MISSION:

1. Conduct outreach to military veterans and their family members.

2. Offer support while they transition from the military to the civilian sector and help disadvantaged veterans gain the support they need with resources, including the Social Security, the VA and disability.

3. Support Veteran’s interest in small-scale agricultural industry, such as farming, ranching, forestry, homesteading or artisan food production.

2. Offer education, mentors, classes and hands-on learning opportunities to veterans interested in learning to run a small business in these Ag industries.

3. Specialize in holistic, intensive internships on-site at McClain’s Meadows with mentoring, facilities and resources that support this hands-on training.

3. Provide Veterans with networking and financial resources to help them achieve their goals, interact with the local community in a positive way, and pay it forward to other Veterans.

OUTCOMES & INDICATORS

**Coming Soon**

We are 100% volunteer supported and led, with zero overhead.

All donations go directly toward the resources given to Veterans, their family members and service animals.

Please contact katherine@mcclainsmeadows.org if you are interested in donating or mentoring a Veteran.

VETERANS interested in an internship or service animal please contact us by email: theveteranfarm@mcclainsmeadows.org

We met Dulanie Ellis (Producer/Director) of the documentary film GROUND OPERATIONS: Battlefields to Farmfields at the 2019 Farmer Veteran Coalition Conference.

Veteran Programs that use farming, ranching and other agricultural careers in combination with physical and mental health rehabilitation, vocational training, and career redirection address some of the challenges of transitioning to civilian life (Fleming: 2015). These programs appeal to 45% of armed service members (USDA 2013) as well as veterans, government organizations and educational institutions.

Jon Jackson is very eloquent about how veterans are uniquely qualified for agriculture and how farming is beneficial for Veteran’s mental health. We were inspired by his presentation at the 2019 Farmer Veteran Coalition Conference.

Numerous programs across the country (see citations) show that Veterans who participate in community agricultural initiatives report improvements in physical and mental health, including improvements in sleep, nutrition, and exercise AND decreases in anxiety, pain, depression, medication and substance abuse – all known factors impacting Veteran reintegration. 

We offer mentors and education in many topics, including but not limitted to:

  • VA, Social Security & Disability
  • Service Animals
  • Permaculture
  • Forestry and Food Forests
  • Agro & “Green Therapy” Health benefits
  • Crop management
  • Heavy equipment
  • Livestock and animal husbandry/Breeding
  • Pest control
  • Soil health
  • Water and resource management
  • Sustainability
  • Economic planning and budgeting
  • Business plans
  • State requirements, annual reporting and licenses
  • Start up funding and grant opportunities
  • Bookkeeping/Taxes
  • Networking and support
  • Marketing and Sales
  • Direct sales to chefs; farm to table; barn to door etc.
  • “Have a beer around the fire pit after a hard days work and talk” therapy

Our Community Partners:

Farmer Veteran Coalition and Homegrown by Heroes, Nationwide

Farmer Veteran Coalition, State of Idaho Chapter (Formation Committee, 2020)

Veterans of Foreign War Post # 10300, Potlatch Idaho

The American Legion, Potlatch Idaho

University of Idaho Extension: Harvest Heroes (Moscow) and Cultivating Success: Sustainable Small Farms Education

The Food Bank, Potlatch Idaho

USDA: National Resources Conservation Services (NRCS), Moscow Idaho

Brigadoon Service Dogs, Bellingham Washington

Twin Creeks Farm, Princeton Idaho

Grazing Hills Alpaca Ranch, B&B and Country Store, Viola Idaho

Next Mission Farms, Ephrata Washington

Hollyaire Farm, Junction City Oregon

Bates Familly Farm, Potlatch Idaho

Citations and Resources:

Besterman-Dahan, K., Chavez, M., Bendixson, C. & Dillahunt-Aspillaga, C. (2016) Community reintegration of transitioning veterans: An overview of Agricultural Initiatives. In M. Townsend (Ed.) Veterans: Political, Social and Health Issues (pp. 27-50). Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

Besterman-Dahan K, Chavez M, Njoh E. (2018). Rooted in the Community: Assessing the Reintegration Effects of Agriculture on Rural Veterans. Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, 99, 2, 72-78.

Calabretta, A. (2020). Cultivating Veteran Farmers. Retrieved June 27, 2020 from https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/news/story/veterans-farmers

Collins, D. (2018, October). Quantifying the Effects of a Therapeutic Horticulture Program on Veterans in Central New York. Paper presented at the meeting of American Horticulture Therapy Association Conference, Lakewood, Colorado. 

Dulanie E. (Producer/Director). (2013). Ground Operations: Battlefields to Farmfields [Documentary]. United States: Walk Your Talk Productions.

Eichholz, C. (2020). Therapeutic Horticulture as a Healing Tool for Veterans. Doctorate in Social Work (DSW) Dissertations, 142.

Fleming, L. (2015). Veteran to Farmer Programs: An Emerging Nature-Based Programing Trend. Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture, 25.1, 27-48.

Idaho Division of Veteran Services. (2015, March). Statewide Facility Assessment. Retrieved June 27, 2020 from https://veterans.idaho.gov/file/762/download?token=oorZO7n_

Kirk, A. (2010). Therapeutic Garden Design and Veteran Affairs: Preparing for Future Needs. Journal of Therapeutic Horticulture, 20, 66-76.

Taylor, C. (1945). The Veteran in Agriculture. Division of Farm Population and Rural Welfare, 238, 48-55. 

Westlund, S. (2014) Field Exercises: How Veterans are Healing Themselves through Farming and Outdoor Activities. British Columbia: New Society Publishers.

Westlund, S. (2015). ‘Becoming Human Again’: Exploring Connections between Nature and Recovery from Stress and Post-Traumatic Stress.” Work, 50(1), 161-174. 

Wise, J. (2015). Digging for Victory: Horticulture Therapy for Post-Traumatic Growth. London: Routledge. 

Wood, J. (2018). Post 9/11 Combat Veterans in Agriculture: Healing, Peace and Purpose. Thesis in Agricultural Education. Retrieved June 27, 2020 from http://hdl.handle.net/2142/101094

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