Farmer Veterans Receive $100,000 in Support from Tractor Supply
Tractor Supply Company, the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, together with the Tractor Supply Company Foundation, has reaffirmed its commitment to America’s military veterans by contributing $100,000 to the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) Fellowship Fund. The donation continues an eight-year partnership focused on helping veterans establish and grow successful farming and ranching businesses while supporting the long-term sustainability of rural communities across the country.
The Fellowship Fund is a competitive grant program that provides direct financial assistance to military veterans during the early stages of their agricultural careers. Since the partnership began in 2018, Tractor Supply and its Foundation have donated a total of $750,000 to the initiative, helping more than 450 veteran farmers and ranchers launch or expand their agricultural operations.
Supporting Veterans Beyond Military Service
Transitioning from military service to civilian life often presents significant challenges, including finding meaningful employment and establishing a new sense of purpose. Agriculture has emerged as a rewarding career path for many veterans, offering opportunities to build businesses, serve local communities, and contribute to the nation’s food supply.
The Farmer Veteran Coalition is a national nonprofit organization dedicated to assisting veterans in building successful careers in agriculture. Through education, mentorship, networking opportunities, and financial assistance, the organization connects military veterans with the resources needed to become successful farmers and ranchers.
Tractor Supply believes agriculture provides veterans with more than just a profession. Farming encourages resilience, discipline, leadership, and community engagement—qualities that many veterans already possess through their military experience.
Mary Winn Pilkington, Senior Vice President of Investor Relations and Public Relations at Tractor Supply and President of the Tractor Supply Company Foundation, emphasized the importance of supporting military personnel long after their active service has ended.
She noted that agriculture offers veterans a meaningful career while also providing significant physical and emotional benefits. By helping veterans establish farms and ranches, Tractor Supply is also investing in stronger rural communities and ensuring local food production continues to grow.
Foundation Awards Grants to Promising Farm Businesses
Half of the $100,000 contribution—$50,000—will be distributed through the Farmer Veteran Coalition Fellowship Fund in the form of business development grants.
An advisory committee reviewed numerous applications and selected 12 veterans with outstanding business plans to receive grants ranging from $1,000 to $5,000. The recipients represent diverse agricultural backgrounds and production systems, reflecting the wide range of opportunities available within American agriculture.
Brian Castner – du Trieux Farm, New York
Air Force veteran and author Brian Castner operates du Trieux Farm in Hartford, New York. The 140-acre family farm specializes in pasture-raised livestock produced through regenerative agricultural practices.
Beyond raising livestock, the farm welcomes visitors through a farmstay bed-and-breakfast experience, helping consumers better understand sustainable farming while creating an additional source of farm income.
Elmer Douglas Stark – Stark’s Organic Farms, Virginia
Navy veteran Elmer Douglas Stark owns Stark’s Organic Farms in Ruther Glen, Virginia.
His operation focuses on producing Asian vegetables and culturally important specialty crops that are supplied to grocery retailers throughout Virginia. The farm also dedicates accessible growing spaces for wounded veterans with service-connected disabilities, offering therapeutic agricultural experiences while promoting adaptive farming techniques.
John Zaginaylo – Tri John Farms, Pennsylvania
Army and Marine Corps veteran John Zaginaylo represents the fourth generation of his farming family.
He established Tri John Farms in Berwick, Pennsylvania, to support his family’s dairy business while operating his own crop production enterprise. His farm supplies corn to regional grain elevators while also marketing products directly through local sales channels.
Tractor Supply Gift Cards Help Meet Everyday Farm Needs
In addition to the business grants, another $50,000 will provide practical assistance through Tractor Supply gift cards.
The Farmer Veteran Coalition selected 50 veterans and active-duty military members representing every branch of the U.S. Armed Forces to each receive a $1,000 Tractor Supply gift card.
Unlike traditional grants that often require lengthy reimbursement processes, these gift cards allow recipients to immediately purchase essential supplies needed for daily farm operations.
Previous recipients have used similar gift cards to purchase:
- Livestock feed and nutritional supplements
- Chicks and poultry equipment
- Stock tanks and watering systems
- Livestock fencing
- Utility trailers
- Dump carts
- Farm tools and equipment
- Infrastructure improvements
These purchases often address immediate operational needs that can significantly improve farm productivity and profitability.
Veteran Farmers Represent Diverse Agricultural Enterprises
This year’s gift card recipients showcase the diversity of veteran-owned agricultural businesses operating across the United States.
Lori Grant – Georgia
Navy veteran Lori Grant operates an agricultural enterprise in Fayetteville, Georgia, focused on small-scale food production and sustainable horticultural services.
Her business combines vegetable production, perennial crops, plant care services, and garden support while emphasizing regenerative growing methods that improve long-term farm sustainability.
Joshua Lewis – Washington
Marine Corps veteran Joshua Lewis and his partner Megan, who is also a military veteran, founded Black Dog Ranch in Cheney, Washington.
Their operation integrates livestock with regenerative farming practices while producing specialty flowers marketed under the brand “Winnie’s Whimsicals.” The ranch also offers goat grazing services that provide environmentally friendly vegetation management for landowners.
Joseph McGowan – New Mexico
Army veteran Joseph McGowan assumed ownership of Faith Farm in Anthony, New Mexico, in 2025.
Working alongside his wife, he transformed the property from traditional alfalfa production into a pomegranate orchard utilizing water-efficient irrigation systems and sustainable farming techniques. The farm also incorporates cover crop rotations to enhance soil health and reduce reliance on external inputs.
Colonel Christopher Mulder – Michigan
Colonel Christopher Mulder currently serves as Commander of the 80th Flying Training Wing at Sheppard Air Force Base in Texas.
Together with his wife, also a military veteran, he established Mulder Family Farm in western Michigan with a long-term vision of creating both a productive agricultural enterprise and a retreat where fellow veterans can reconnect and recharge.
The farm currently produces pears, apples, sweet cherries, and corn, while future plans include converting existing farm buildings into facilities dedicated to veteran wellness and recreation.
Ellie Smith – Pennsylvania
Air Force veteran Ellie Smith owns Nelson River Acres, a 13-acre regenerative farm in central Pennsylvania.
Her operation specializes in heritage-breed livestock while producing meat, eggs, wool, pelts, and breeding stock for other farmers. The farm emphasizes environmentally responsible production methods designed to improve soil health and biodiversity.
Rigorous Selection Process Ensures Long-Term Success
Recipients of the Farmer Veteran Coalition Fellowship Fund are selected through a comprehensive evaluation conducted by agricultural professionals.
Applications are assessed based on several important factors, including the applicant’s personal investment in their farming operation, the strength and feasibility of their business plan, the intended use of funding, future business goals, and contributions to their local community.
Grant recipients also commit to giving back by providing progress updates, mentoring future veteran farmers, and actively supporting the broader veteran agriculture network.
This approach helps create a cycle of mentorship and collaboration, ensuring that successful recipients share their knowledge and experiences with future generations of farmer veterans.
Building Stronger Rural Communities Through Agriculture
The continued partnership between Tractor Supply and the Farmer Veteran Coalition reflects a shared commitment to strengthening American agriculture while supporting those who have served the nation.
By investing in veteran-owned farms and ranches, the organizations help create economic opportunities, expand local food production, promote regenerative farming practices, and encourage leadership within rural communities.
Farmer Veteran Coalition Executive Director Jeanette Lombardo highlighted that launching a farm requires substantial investments in equipment, infrastructure, and operational resources. She noted that Tractor Supply’s consistent support enables veterans to overcome these financial barriers and establish sustainable agricultural businesses.
Lombardo added that Tractor Supply’s involvement extends beyond financial contributions, describing the company as a trusted partner that understands the unique challenges facing veteran farmers and ranchers while remaining committed to strengthening rural America and the future of U.S. agriculture.
With eight consecutive years of collaboration and hundreds of veterans already benefiting from the Fellowship Fund, Tractor Supply and the Farmer Veteran Coalition continue to demonstrate how public-private partnerships can create lasting opportunities for military veterans while supporting the growth and resilience of American farming.
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