How one national organization is transforming lives, strengthening rural communities, and shaping the future of American agriculture. Click here to listen to the podcast episode with Jeanette Lombardo.
A Leader Rooted in Agriculture: Meet Jeanette Lombardo
When Jeanette Lombardo talks about agriculture, she speaks from a lifetime of experience. Raised on a farm in Pennsylvania, she has spent her entire career in the ag sector — from 24 years in agricultural lending to founding advocacy and water-innovation companies. Her expertise spans water, labor, and trade, and she’s held multiple state and federal appointments, including roles under the USDA, EPA, and the Beginning Farmers and Ranchers program.
Five years ago, during the height of COVID-19, she received a call from a national recruiter about leading the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) — a mission that instantly felt like the culmination of everything she had worked toward.
“It was like everything I had done in my life up to that point had led me to this job.”
Selected from more than 300 applicants, Jeanette stepped into the role of Executive Director and has since helped scale the organization from 17,000 to more than 52,000 members.
The Farmer Veteran Coalition: A Mission With Purpose
FVC’s mission is both powerful and clear:
Mobilizing veterans to feed America.
The organization cultivates a new generation of farmers and food-system leaders by connecting military veterans with:
- Viable employment opportunities in agriculture
- Hands-on training and education
- Business and farm-start support
- Community, purpose, and healing
Veterans bring unique skills — discipline, adaptability, leadership, and the ability to operate under pressure — that translate naturally into agriculture. And the land offers something equally valuable in return: meaning, stability, physical activity, and an opportunity to continue serving a mission bigger than themselves.
“We believe agriculture offers purpose, opportunity, and physical and psychological benefits.”
A Growing National Community of Veteran Farmers
All 52,000+ FVC members are involved in agriculture in some capacity. Many start small — perhaps as master gardeners, homesteaders, or farmers selling at a local stand — and grow into commercial producers over time. The USDA defines the first 10 years as the “beginning farmer” stage, and FVC supports veterans through every step:
- Creating business and crop plans
- Guiding access to land
- Helping convert military experience into loan-ready resumes
- Supporting marketing, distribution, and sales
- Offering disaster-readiness and recovery assistance
- Connecting farmers with local buyers, restaurants, hospitals, and retailers
FVC has also expanded its popular Homegrown By Heroes labeling program. Now owned entirely by the organization (originally from Kentucky Department of Agriculture), it’s co-branded with 19 states and gaining momentum toward retail placement nationwide.
Helping Veterans Access Land — One of Agriculture’s Biggest Barriers
Land access is a challenge for every new farmer, but FVC has built a network of practical solutions, not obstacles.
When Jeanette joined, the organization divided the country into 10 regions aligned with USDA models — grouping climates, crops, and regional needs. Each region supports localized state chapters where veterans find:
- Camaraderie that mirrors military connection
- Opportunities to share or lease land
- Mentorship and on-the-ground training
FVC also collaborates with nonprofits nationwide to unlock access to:
- Land around airports or military bases
- National grazing lands
- Urban agriculture spaces
- Indoor or controlled-environment farms
“It’s an amazing time to be in agriculture because of all the innovation happening.”
Connecting Veterans to Agricultural Careers Beyond Farming
Not every veteran will become a farm owner — and that’s okay. Many want to work outdoors, in labs, with drones, in logistics, or in other ag-related careers. To support this, FVC partnered with AgCareers, an international agricultural placement agency.
Veterans can now explore:
- Drone operations
- Compliance roles
- Agribusiness marketing
- Lab and research positions
- Logistics and supply chain roles
- Remote employment options while building a farm operation
This helps many bridge the financial gap during early farm startup years.
New Initiatives: Behavioral Health, Care Farms, Agritourism & More
Based on member needs and feedback from annual conferences, FVC is expanding in several transformational areas:
1. Behavioral Health Department
- Built on years of SAMHSA-funded mental health support
- Includes the Wellness Recovery Action Plan
- Provides new resources specifically for farmer well-being
2. Care Farm Directory
Many veteran farmers run care farms or therapeutic operations. FVC is building a national directory to help:
- Veterans seeking healing find nearby resources
- Care farms build visibility and revenue streams
3. Agritourism Opportunities
With rising consumer interest in food origins, wellness, and authentic rural experiences, agritourism is booming. FVC is helping veteran farmers tap into:
- On-farm educational events
- Farm stays and tours
- Pick-your-own experiences
- Culinary and wellness programming
4. Retail Expansion of Homegrown By Heroes
FVC is working on:
- Virtual co-ops
- Aggregated supply planning
- Regional marketing agreements
The goal: united veteran-grown products on retail shelves across America.
National Conference 2025: Emerging Trends in Food & Health
This year, FVC is hosting its long-awaited national conference in Waco, Texas — its first since relocating in 2022.
The theme: Emerging Trends in Food and Health
Attendees will discover:
- How microgreens, functional foods, and herbal crops are reshaping consumer demand
- Trends in “food as medicine”
- Opportunities for veterans to grow high-value specialty crops
- Business models supporting farms of all sizes
Anyone who is a veteran beginning farmer, growing a farm, or seeking a career in agriculture will benefit from the educational sessions, networking, and hands-on learning.
How Veterans Can Join the Farmer Veteran Coalition
FVC continues to grow rapidly — 70 to 100 new members every week, entirely through word-of-mouth and community visibility.
Veterans can join by visiting:
👉 farmvetco.org
Click “Become a Member” and complete the ID.me verification process.
If support is needed:
📞 855-FVC-FARM
📧 support@farmvetco.org
FVC’s team of veteran service providers is ready to help with:
- Membership
- Disaster preparedness and recovery
- Risk management resources
- State chapter connections
- Career and farm-start questions
Mobilizing Veterans to Feed America — A Mission Worth Supporting
The Farmer Veteran Coalition is more than an agriculture program. It is:
- A community
- A pathway to purpose
- A bridge between military service and meaningful civilian careers
- A catalyst for strengthening rural America
- A driving force behind sustainable, innovative U.S. agriculture
The organization continues to scale, innovate, and expand services — all while staying grounded in its founding belief:
Veterans have the character, resilience, and leadership needed to build a stronger, more sustainable food system for America.
Click here to listen to our Podcast Episode entitled Veteran Farmers, Serving Our Country Twice, by Defending it and Feeding it with Jeanette Lombardo.
