The volunteers and staff at SAVE Farm understand that agriculture isn’t just a business, it’s a calling that transforms people’s lives – that’s why they are this month’s Ag Heroes.
After serving our country overseas, veterans often come home looking for opportunities to readjust to civilian life, find community, and secure meaningful and fulfilling work. That’s where SAVE Farm comes in. Located on 308 acres of farmland near Manhattan, SAVE (Servicemember Agricultural Vocation Education) offers veterans a five-month program consisting of practical training in agriculture as well as physical and mental health support.
Since the beginning of SAVE Farm, about 50 veterans have completed the program, 75% of whom are now working in agriculture full-time. SAVE is meeting multiple needs at the same time; America needs more young people to get excited about careers in agriculture, and veterans need as many pathways as possible to plan their next steps after they take off their uniforms. I am particularly proud that my alma mater, Kansas State University, has been partnering with SAVE Farm to create a cutting-edge curriculum and further invest in sustainable practices. The farm has both part-time staff and volunteers who, along with the veterans participating in the program, manage cropland, livestock, orchards, horticulture, and beekeeping.
Tod Bunting, Chair/CEO of SAVE Farm, has been leading the organization through many exciting opportunities and building new partnerships for the past few years. He had this to say,
"Veterans and agricultural producers have a lot in common; we do important work at all hours in tough conditions with little fanfare. The team at SAVE Farm is proud to help veterans and their families transition into one of our nation’s most essential professions – farming and ranching!"
In America, we honor the sacrifices of our veterans on November 11th each year, but the folks at SAVE Farm are honoring veterans every day while building a model of agricultural education and veterans’ service that can be replicated throughout the U.S.
