When Army veterans Matt and Kara Rutter retired in 2020, they didn’t slow down.
They built fences.
A lot of fences.
“My last day in the Army, we came home, took off camo, put on Carhartts, and started building fence that afternoon.”
That fence marked the beginning of a new mission — one rooted not in combat zones, but in soil, livestock, and community. Today, through their farm Rutters Ranch and nonprofit Project Victory Gardens, the Rutters are helping military veterans transition into agriculture and agritourism.
And in the process, they’re reshaping what veteran support can look like.
🌱 Farming as a 180-Degree Turn
After decades in high-pressure military careers — including deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan and leadership roles across Europe — both Matt and Kara felt called to something radically different.
“We wanted to do a 180-degree turn from what we were doing in the military.”
For Matt, who spent years working inside windowless intelligence facilities, the draw was simple:
“I was really tired of being in a building where I couldn’t see the sun.”
Farming brought fresh air, hands-on work, and a renewed connection to nature — something they soon realized could be deeply meaningful for other veterans, too.
🧑🌾 Why Veterans and Farming Make Sense
What started as a personal transition soon became a shared mission.
“We realized the piece of farming that is super cool to us is the peace that it brings you… how it helps connect you with nature and with the animals.”
Veterans, Matt and Kara noticed, often miss the sense of tribe and shared purpose they had in the military. Farming offered both healing and camaraderie — but it also offered something else: purpose and food security.
“Food security is national security.”
The empty grocery shelves of 2020 made one thing clear: local food systems matter. Helping veterans become farmers isn’t just therapeutic — it strengthens communities and resilience.
🎓 Inside Their “Farmer Boot Camp”
Through Project Victory Gardens, the Rutters created an intensive training program called Farmer Boot Camp — a crash course in starting a farm business.
“It’s exactly what it sounds like — a crash course in farming.”
The four-day program covers:
- Day 1: Business planning, marketing, financing, and grant writing
- Day 2: Hands-on animal husbandry and horticulture
- Day 3: Visits to highly profitable, specialized farms
- Day 4: Business pitch presentations (yes, like Shark Tank!)
Participants compete for small micro-grants to help launch their farm ideas — and the results have been powerful.
“Twenty-five percent of the last round of state agriculture grant recipients had come through our Boot Camp.”
Veterans now travel from across the country to attend, drawn by the program’s practicality and authenticity.
🐐 “You Can’t Be Mad If You’re Holding a Baby Goat”
While education is the program’s focus, the therapeutic side of farming naturally follows.
“The agro-therapy comes just by being on the farm.”
One participant, a blind veteran, proved just how empowering that environment can be.
“He processed a chicken and did a better job than most of our sighted participants.”
Moments like that remind the Rutters why they do this work.
🚜 Agritourism as a Survival Strategy
Farming is tough — especially in the first five years. That’s why the Rutters now focus heavily on agritourism education through a new Agritourism Incubator Program.
“We found that there need to be diversified income streams. Agritourism can help farmers get from year zero to year five.”
But they teach agritourism differently. Instead of copying trendy ideas, farmers learn how to design experiences that actually fit their business model.
“If I have school buses full of kids show up on my farm, I’m not going to sell my $40-a-pound charcuterie.”
It’s a humorous line — but it highlights a serious truth: agritourism must align with farm goals, capacity, and audience.
🇺🇸 Farms of the Brave: A New Kind of Farm Trail
The Rutters also launched Farms of the Brave, a branding and marketing initiative that highlights veteran-led agritourism farms.
This growing network helps visitors intentionally support veteran farmers — and will soon power a statewide Veteran Ag + Art Tour in South Carolina.
“It’s a one-stop shop where you can say, ‘I want to visit a farm, and I want it to be a veteran farm.’”
❤️ Purpose After Service
When asked what keeps them going, both Rutters pointed to impact.
“To see where people are now… and know we were a small part of that journey — that’s incredibly rewarding.”
Matt added:
“Why would I do this and not get smarter at it?”
Both are now pursuing PhDs focused on agriculture, veterans, and agritourism — blending lived experience with research to strengthen the future of veteran farming programs.
🌟 Final Takeaway
The Rutters may joke that they’re “bad farmers,” but their real crop is something far more valuable: confidence, knowledge, and opportunity for veterans building second careers in agriculture.
Through education, mentorship, and community, they’re proving that farms can grow more than food.
They can grow new missions.
Listen to the full Agri-Tourist Podcast, Episode 62, with Matt & Kara by clicking here.