A new award recognizes veterans or service members for excellence in farming and positively impacting their communities. 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 is bringing veterans into agriculture in multiple ways.
Ricker said that many of the skills and routines that veterans learn during their years of service can carry over to farming and ranching.
Support for the award is provided by Farm Credit. For more information, visit fb.org.
