AFBF Announces First Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence Winner

Smith: Retired Army Colonel Joe Ricker of Indiana is the first winner of the American Farm Bureau's Veteran Farmer of Excellence Award. Ricker served 30 years in the Army and now helps other veterans get into agriculture.

Ricker: I joined the Army in 1992, and I got my commission through a program called ROTC. I did a couple years as a reserve officer, and then I went into full time reserve. I served in the United States, and then I did two tours overseas, one in Afghanistan and one in Iraq. My skill set is mainly a logistician, and I think that really kind of helps me in the farming and distribution community.

Smith: Ricker is bringing veterans into agriculture in multiple ways.

Ricker: Three ways that I usually get communication with: I have two nonprofits, At Ease Orchard and Veterans IN Farming. At Ease Orchard does beekeeping. Veterans IN Farming does a lot with just general agriculture in the Midwest. Both of them do classes and presentations. Veterans IN Farming does a conference. And then lastly, I work with AgrAbility that helps people with disabilities continue on in farming.

Smith: Ricker says many of the skills and routines that veterans learn during their years of service can carry over to farming and ranching.

Ricker: Agriculture is good because it's a little bit therapeutic, right? We're used to getting up in the morning to take care of a private or two o'clock in the morning, pulling somebody from some silly situation. It's kind of the same with farming. It's some continuity. When you deal with bison or cattle or bees, you know that level of management and that engagement kind of continues, I think, the service.

Smith: He says it's a tremendous honor to win Farm Bureau's first Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence.

Ricker: So, it's a huge honor. It'll provide me a huge networking opportunity as well.

Smith: Support for the award is provided by Farm Credit. Learn more at fb.org. Chad Smith, Washington.