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27–171 PDF 2017

S. HRG. 114–701 

A REVIEW OF OPPORTUNITIES AND BENEFITS 

FOR MILITARY VETERANS IN AGRICULTURE 

HEARING 

BEFORE A

SUBCOMMITTEE OF THE 

COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS 

UNITED STATES SENATE 

ONE HUNDRED FOURTEENTH CONGRESS 

SECOND SESSION 

SPECIAL HEARING 

APRIL 5, 2016—WASHINGTON, DC 

Printed for the use of the Committee on Appropriations 

( 

Available via the World Wide Web: http://www.gpo.gov/fdsys/browse/ 

committee.action?chamber=senate&committee=appropriations 
(II) 

COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS 

THAD COCHRAN, Mississippi, Chairman 

MITCH MCCONNELL, Kentucky 

RICHARD C. SHELBY, Alabama 

LAMAR ALEXANDER, Tennessee 

SUSAN M. COLLINS, Maine 

LISA MURKOWSKI, Alaska 

LINDSEY GRAHAM, South Carolina 

MARK KIRK, Illinois 

ROY BLUNT, Missouri 

JERRY MORAN, Kansas 

JOHN HOEVEN, North Dakota 

JOHN BOOZMAN, Arkansas 

SHELLEY MOORE CAPITO, West Virginia 

BILL CASSIDY, Louisiana 

JAMES LANKFORD, Oklahoma 

STEVE DAINES, Montana 

BARBARA A. MIKULSKI, Maryland, Vice 

Chairwoman 

PATRICK J. LEAHY, Vermont 

PATTY MURRAY, Washington 

DIANNE FEINSTEIN, California 

RICHARD J. DURBIN, Illinois 

JACK REED, Rhode Island 

JON TESTER, Montana 

TOM UDALL, New Mexico 

JEANNE SHAHEEN, New Hampshire 

JEFF MERKLEY, Oregon 

CHRISTOPHER A. COONS, Delaware 

BRIAN SCHATZ, Hawaii 

TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin 

CHRISTOPHER MURPHY, Connecticut 

BRUCE EVANS, Staff Director 

CHARLES E. KIEFFER, Minority Staff Director 

SUBCOMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT, FOOD AND DRUG

ADMINISTRATION, AND RELATED AGENCIES

JERRY MORAN, Kansas, Chairman 

ROY BLUNT, Missouri 

THAD COCHRAN, Mississippi 

MITCH McCONNELL, Kentucky 

SUSAN M. COLLINS, Maine 

JOHN HOEVEN, North Dakota 

STEVE DAINES, Montana 

JEFF MERKLEY, Oregon, Ranking 

DIANNE FEINSTEIN, California 

JON TESTER, Montana 

TOM UDALL, New Mexico 

PATRICK J. LEAHY, Vermont 

TAMMY BALDWIN, Wisconsin 

Professional Staff 

CARLISLE CLARKE

PATRICK CARROLL

RACHEL SANTOS

JESSICA ARDEN SCHULKEN (Minority) 

DIANNE NELLOR (Minority) 

Administrative Support 

CARLOS ELIAS

TERI CURTIN (Minority) 
(III) 

C O N T E N T S 

Page 

Opening Statement of Senator Jerry Moran ......................................................... 1 

Prepared Statement of Senator Jerry Moran ................................................. 2 

Statement of Senator Jeff Merkley ........................................................................ 2 

Summary Statement of Lanon Baccam ................................................................. 4 

Prepared Statement of Lanon Baccam ........................................................... 5 

Conclusion .................................................................................................. 7 

Statement of Alison Perry, Executive Director, Central Oregon Veterans 

Ranch .................................................................................................................... 8 

Prepared Statement of Alison Perry ............................................................... 10 

Introduction ............................................................................................... 10 

Givens ......................................................................................................... 10 

Solutions ..................................................................................................... 11 

Veteran Health Benefit ............................................................................. 11 

Economic/Environmental Benefit ............................................................. 11 

Social/Community Benefit ........................................................................ 11 

Statement of Gary LaGrange, President, Soldier Agricultural Vocation Education, Manhattan, Kansas; Accompanied by John Ulrick, Chief Warrant 

Officer 4, U.S. Army ............................................................................................. 12 

Prepared Statement of Gary L. LaGrange ..................................................... 15 

A Pilot Study ............................................................................................. 16 

Farm tours ................................................................................................. 16 

Research ..................................................................................................... 16 

Statement of John Arthur Ulrick, Chief Warrant Officer 4, U.S. Army ............. 17 

Prepared Statement of John Arthur Ulrick ................................................... 18 

Statement of Paul Kanning, Owner/Operator, Tom Tilda Farm, Flaxville, 

Montana ................................................................................................................ 19 

Prepared Statement of Paul Kanning ............................................................. 20 

Veteran-Related Benefits Utilized ........................................................... 21 

Non-Veteran Related Benefits Utilized ................................................... 22 

Additional Recommendations ................................................................... 23 

Subcommittee Recess .............................................................................................. 41 

(1) 

A REVIEW OF OPPORTUNITIES AND BENEFITS FOR MILITARY VETERANS IN AGRICULTURE 

TUESDAY, APRIL 5, 2016 

U.S. SENATE, 

SUBCOMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, RURAL DEVELOPMENT,

FOOD AND DRUG ADMINISTRATION AND RELATED AGENCIES, 

COMMITTEE ON APPROPRIATIONS,

Washington, DC. 

The subcommittee met at 2:37 p.m., in room SD–192, Dirksen 

Senate Office Building, Hon. Jerry Moran (chairman) presiding. 

Present: Senators Moran, Daines, Merkley, and Tester. 

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE 

OPENING STATEMENT OF SENATOR JERRY MORAN

Senator MORAN. This hearing will come to order. Good afternoon. 

The purpose of today’s hearing is to review opportunities and benefits for military veterans in agriculture. Several of us on this subcommittee serve on the Veterans Committee, and all of us on this 

subcommittee have an interest in veterans, and all of us have an 

interest in agriculture, and I think there is an opportunity for us 

to serve our veterans and serve the agricultural community as well. 

We have before us today Mr. Lanon Baccam, Deputy Under Secretary and Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison at the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA). Mr. Gary LaGrange, president of 

Soldier Agricultural Vocation Education (SAVE) from Manhattan, 

Kansas; Ms. Alison Perry, executive director of the Central Oregon 

Veterans Ranch; and Mr. Paul Kanning, owner of Tom Tilda Farm 

in Montana. I appreciate each of you being here with us today. 

I am especially proud to have a fellow Kansan here to tell a story 

about what is happening in regard to agriculture and veterans in 

our State, and Mr. LaGrange is an advisor of mine on veteran and 

military issues, and I appreciate and value his friendship. 

This program is known as SAVE. The SAVE Program provides 

transition assistance, training and therapy on training farms so 

that veterans can be equipped to farm on their own, and I look forward to Mr. LaGrange telling you today about the impact of that 

program on veterans’ lives. 

Chief Ulrick is joining Mr. LaGrange to share some of his experiences with SAVE. 

As all of you know, the President’s budget requested a number 

of increases to enhance opportunities in the agricultural sector for 
2 

military veterans, so I appreciate the insight we will gather from 

this today. 

I know I speak for all of us in saying we are anxious to hear 

what you have to say and to learn from your experiences. I think 

the goal that I have is to figure out how best we can utilize the 

resources that we provide, the taxpayer dollars we provide to the 

Department of Agriculture to assist individuals and private organizations as we attempt to create greater opportunities for those who 

served our country. 

[The statement follows:] 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF SENATOR JERRY MORAN

This hearing will come to order. Good afternoon. The purpose of today’s hearing 

is to review the opportunities and benefits for military veterans in agriculture. 

We have before us today Mr. Lanon Baccam, Deputy Under Secretary and Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison at USDA; Mr. Gary LaGrange, President of Soldier Agricultural Vocation Education, from Manhattan, Kansas; Ms. Alison Perry, 

Executive Director of the Central Oregon Veterans Ranch; and Mr. Paul Kanning, 

owner of Tom Tilda Farm in Montana. I appreciate all of you for taking the time 

to be here today. 

I am especially proud to have a fellow Kansan here today to tell you all about 

the great things happening in Manhattan with the Soldier Agricultural Vocation 

Education program, also known as the SAVE program. The SAVE program provides 

transition assistance, training, and therapy on a training farm so that veterans can 

be equipped to farm on their own, and I look forward to Mr. LaGrange telling you 

today about the impact that the program is making in veterans’ lives. Also, I’d like 

to thank Chief Ulrick for joining Mr. LaGrange to share some of his experiences 

with SAVE. 

As you all know, the President’s budget requested a number of increases to enhance opportunities in the agricultural sector for military veterans, so I appreciate 

the insight you all bring on these efforts. 

I think I speak for everyone in saying we are anxious to hear from today’s witnesses about their experiences, so I will now turn to our Ranking Member, Senator 

Merkley, for his opening remarks. 

Senator MORAN. I now will turn to the ranking member, Senator 

Merkley. 

STATEMENT OF SENATOR JEFF MERKLEY

Senator MERKLEY. Thank you very much, Mr. Chair, and thank 

you for holding this particular hearing. 1,300 veterans return to civilian life every day here in America. Combine this with the fact 

that although rural Americans make up only 16 percent of the population, 40 percent of returning veterans are from rural areas, and 

opportunities for veterans in agriculture, therefore, are very important. 

I do want to welcome all of you and the work that you are doing, 

and particularly appreciate the investment of time and energy both 

in the mission and to come here to testify, and I would especially 

like to welcome Ms. Alison Perry from Bend, Oregon. 

Ms. Perry is a licensed professional counselor and founder of the 

Central Oregon Veterans Ranch. She is a sister, an aunt, and a 

granddaughter of Army, Marine, and Air Force veterans. She has 

been a strong advocate for the veterans of Central Oregon for many 

years. 

She has worked with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) patients at Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) facilities in Portland 

and Bend, and it was from those experiences that she developed 

the vision of a ranch for veterans to come and connect with each 
3 

other and the land. Her hard work and drive has brought this vision to life, and now the Central Oregon Veterans Ranch is a 19- 

acre farm where veterans of all walks of life can come to work, to 

heal, and to support one another. 

The three counties surrounding the ranch have more than 20,000 

veterans, and certainly many of them are going to find their way 

to Ms. Perry’s project. Thank you very much for your work on behalf of our servicemen and servicewomen, and for coming to testify 

today. 

Thank you. 

Senator MORAN. Senator Merkley, thank you very much. We also 

have a witness from Montana, and there are two Senators from 

Montana at the table who I would welcome to introduce and speak 

about that witness. 

Senator Daines. 

Senator DAINES. Well, welcome, a warm welcome to Paul 

Kanning. Paul is from Flaxville, Montana. That is not the end of 

the Internet but you can see it from there. It is truly out in the 

great part of our State. 

I understand he is third generation there from Northeast Montana, a lieutenant colonel as well in the Air Force, served his country for 20 years after graduating from Montana State University, 

my alma mater, a Bobcat, and then came back to the family farm 

there. Paul, warm welcome to Washington, DC. Thanks for taking 

time off the farm to bring your voice here to DC. 

Senator MORAN. Senator Tester. 

Senator TESTER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank 

Ranking Member Merkley, also. Hopefully, Jeff, your finger being 

hit by the mallet will not end up like mine did when I hit mine 

by mallet. It is great to be here. 

Senator MERKLEY. How large was that gavel that got your finger? 

Senator TESTER. It is part of the hazards of the job when you 

have Moran sitting to your left. 

I appreciate the opportunity to introduce a fellow Montanan and 

fellow farmer before this subcommittee. Paul does farm in what he 

would call ‘‘God’s country,’’ Flaxville, Montana, a family farm, totally diversified with wheat and peas, lentils, fava beans, flax, and 

granola. It has been in his family like mine has for over 100 years. 

You just stopped a little quicker. Mine kept going west a little further. 

Paul has been back on the farm since 2013. Prior to that, he 

served his country in the Air Force as a lieutenant colonel. I cannot 

think of a better voice to speak to the opportunities in rural America and the opportunities in agriculture than a veteran such as 

Paul. 

There is nothing more therapeutic than having your hands in the 

dirt, and I am little biased when I say that, being somebody who 

has their hands in the dirt. 

In Montana, agriculture is the number one industry. Couple that 

with the fact that we have one of the highest rates of veterans per 

capita in this country, it makes sense to get more veterans involved 

in family farm agriculture. 
4 

So, this hearing is about jobs, it is about the economy, it is about 

honoring our commitment to veterans, and it is about making rural 

America all it can be while the veterans make this country all it 

can be. 

So, it is great to have you here, Paul. We thank you for traveling 

to DC from Montana, and thank you for your testimony. Thank 

you, Mr. Chairman. 

Senator MORAN. Thank you, Senator Tester. We will start with 

Mr. Baccam. I have been practicing, sir. We welcome you and look 

forward to your testimony. 

SUMMARY STATEMENT OF LANON BACCAM

Mr. BACCAM. Mr. Chairman, members of the subcommittee, 

thank you for this opportunity to provide information on the programs, accomplishments, and objectives of the U.S. Department of 

Agriculture, on behalf of our military veterans. 

In addition to serving as Deputy Under Secretary for Farm and 

Foreign Agricultural Services, I also have the honor of serving as 

the USDA’s military veterans agricultural liaison, a position created in the 2014 farm bill. This position allows me to track resources across the USDA, and to coordinate with other government 

agencies at the Federal, State, and local levels, as well as with 

farm associations and veteran serving organizations. 

Through these partnerships, the full suite of USDA programs can 

be shared with veterans nationwide. Taking care of our veterans is 

personal for me, and it is particularly rewarding to work with those 

moving back to rural America where I am from. 

My family’s story is the American dream, and was molded by the 

unrest in Southeast Asia in the wake of the Vietnam conflicts. 

Many people left everything behind to escape the war, including 

my parents and sisters, who risked their lives to escape from Laos, 

only to become political refugees. 

With the help of the U.S. Government, and with the generosity 

of the American people, in 1980, my family settled in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, a small town of less than 7,000 residents. I was born 

and raised in Mount Pleasant, and that is where my parents instilled in me that the United States of America offered the greatest 

possibilities of reaching one’s highest potential, that the opportunities I had to go to school to get an education, and to have a good 

meal each day were because we lived in a free country. 

It is where I learned the importance of giving back to my country, to fight for the freedoms every citizen enjoys in this great Nation, and why I enlisted and spent nearly 8 years in the U.S. Army 

and Iowa National Guard. 

I am a post 9/11 veteran from rural America, and I can connect 

directly with the veterans we seek to help. I served as an Army 

combat engineer in a year long deployment to Kandahar, Afghanistan, in 2004. I was stationed on a small provincial reconstruction 

team base, focusing on construction and explosive demolitions. 

My experiences growing up in rural America with the military 

and from my deployments help me understand what our current 

transitioning servicemembers are going through today. 

As Secretary Vilsack has noted, rural America sends a disproportionate amount of its sons and daughters into the Armed Forces. 
5 

This is because the values that rural Americans have are many of 

the same values held by members of the military, belief in hard 

work, love of country, respect for the land, and the importance of 

giving back and investing in the collective prosperity and future of 

this country. 

These values coupled with every veteran’s skills, experiences, 

training, as well as with their leadership development and dedication, makes them the perfect fit for a career in agriculture. 

There are many ways we are working to assist veterans, and I 

look forward to sharing them with you today, from connecting veterans with organizations to help them create business plans and to 

get financial management training, to apply for farm ownership 

and operating loans and risk management tools, to implementing 

conservation practices and expanding into value-added products. 

The USDA will be there to help them at every step along the 

way. It is not just about farming or ranching either. The USDA can 

help veterans purchase homes or start a business in rural America. 

With our nutrition programs, we can help make sure there is 

enough food on the table for their families, and we are also working 

very hard to expand the number of veterans we employ at the Department. I am proud to say we currently have over 11,000 veterans who work at the USDA. 

The work that we are doing at the Department is especially important now that nearly 200,000 servicemembers are expected to 

separate from active duty each year. According to the Department 

of Defense (DOD), this results in approximately 1,300 veterans and 

their families returning to civilian life every single day. 

While many troops have plans upon returning home, many others have challenges, finding new jobs, assimilating back into civilian life, or transitioning their skills into new careers. 

We want these veterans to know that rural America has a place 

for them, and that the USDA has tools and resources to help them 

follow their dreams of starting a farm or ranch business. 

As I like to tell every servicemember who is considering a career 

in agriculture, your mission in the Armed Forces is to protect this 

country. Our mission in agriculture is to provide for it. We want 

you to join us. Farming and ranching will give you that same sense 

of duty, purpose, and meaningful work when you are no longer 

wearing the uniform of the United States military. 

Mr. Chairman, thank you for the opportunity to testify today. I 

would be happy to answer any questions. 

[The statement follows:] 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF LANON BACCAM

Mr. Chairman and members of the Subcommittee, thank you for this opportunity 

to provide information on the programs, accomplishments, and objectives of the U.S. 

Department of Agriculture (USDA) on behalf of our nation’s military veterans. 

As you know, I recently assumed the role of Deputy Under Secretary for Farm 

and Foreign 

Agricultural Services, overseeing the Farm Service Agency and Risk Management 

Agency. 

I also have the honor of serving as the USDA Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison, a position created in the 2014 Farm Bill to coordinate activities throughout the 

Department, as well as with other government agencies and nonprofits, so that 

USDA resources reach more active duty military service members and veterans, 

particularly those interested in exploring or entering agriculture as a profession 

upon their return to civilian life. 
6 

As I’m sure you would agree, our veterans’ military service illustrates the type 

of values held by those of us who grew up in rural America—love for our nation, 

respect for the land, belief in hard work, and the importance of investing in the freedoms that we are so fortunate to have in this country. 

That is certainly true with me. I was born and raised in Mount Pleasant, Iowa, 

population 8,600. My hometown is where my parents instilled in me that the United 

States of America offered the greatest possibilities of reaching one’s highest potential. It is where I learned the importance of giving back to my country, and it is 

why I enlisted and spent 8 years in the U.S. Army and Iowa National Guard. 

During my active duty service in 2004–2005, I served as a combat engineer during 

a 15-month mobilization and deployment in Kandahar, Afghanistan. I was stationed 

on a small provincial reconstruction team base and my responsibilities included 

working to improve our facilities and defenses, as well as explosive demolitions of 

unexploded ordinances, confiscation of drugs, and improvised explosive devices. 

Those who have served in the U.S. military, often from diverse backgrounds and 

with extensive training, leave the service with unique skills, experiences, and perspectives. These skills and experiences include leadership development, dedication 

to the mission, a culture of service, and technical know-how, which all translate and 

can have enormous benefits for farming and ranching. 

I am here today to discuss how USDA can serve veterans returning from their 

service who find themselves drawn to agriculture and to rural America. Providing 

assistance to returning military veterans is not a new activity for USDA; in fact, 

during the past 8 years, we’ve achieved some notable results. Since 2009, USDA has provided $466.8 million in farm loans to help 3,991 veterans purchase farmland, buy equipment and make repairs and upgrades. Of those 

loans, our direct operating microloan, which we started offering 3 years ago to meet 

the needs of beginning or smaller operations, is also popular with veterans, providing $25.8 million in support to help veterans start or grow their farming businesses. USDA has recently expanded its microloan program portfolio to include farm 

ownership as an eligible expense under this program, creating further opportunity. 

In 2014, to further support access to credit for beginning farmers who are veterans, 

USDA announced it would recognize leadership positions in the military as a way 

to satisfy experience requirements when applying for farm operation microloans. 

Since 2009, USDA has invested in housing, job training, and financial assistance 

for veterans, such as providing safe and sound housing through Rural Development’s Rural Housing Service by making and guaranteeing 12,368 loans and providing 1,769 grants to veterans. USDA has also invested in training and experience 

for over 850 veterans through the Veterans Fire Corps, many of which become permanent Forest Service employees. Including our staff located in communities across 

the U.S., there more than 11,000 veterans employed across USDA. 

As we work to expand upon these efforts, USDA is focused on three main goals. 

First, we are developing and deepening the pipeline that will create paths from military service to careers in agriculture, including careers at USDA. Second, we are 

meeting an increasing number of transitioning service members at the source (before they leave the military) by integrating agricultural information into transition 

activities in which active duty service members participate around the world. Lastly, we are working to strengthen and expand the network of support for veterans, 

including developing outreach resources, leveraging technology, and building strong 

partnerships with national and community-based veteran organizations. Since the 

establishment of the Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison position, we have made 

considerable progress towards these goalsUSDA has created new, user-friendly resources for transitioning service members and veterans to increase access to USDA 

programs, including a Veterans in Agriculture resource booklet, and a one-stop 

website—ww.usda.gov/veterans—that also provides resources for new farmers. This 

site directly partners with www.usda.gov/newfarmers, which provides new and beginning farmers and ranchers—many of whom are veterans—with one-stop access 

to the programs, technical assistance, and advice available via USDA, in service of 

their new and beginning farm businesses. 

We’ve been cultivating more Federal, State, local, and community partners to ensure that information about agriculture careers and USDA programs reach the 

widest audience of service members and veterans. For example, last fall we joined 

with the Department of Defense’s Transition Assistance Program so that USDA 

could reach an additional 200,000 military veterans and their families, providing information ranging from farm loans, risk management, and conservation programs, 

to business programs and technical assistance opportunities to the veterans interested in farming and ranching. 

In February, we entered into an agreement with Hiring Our Heroes (HOH), a program at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation that helps military veterans 
7 

and families find meaningful employment in the civilian workforce, so that these 

transitioning members can now have access to businesses in the agriculture industry, as well as USDA programs and resources. 

And just two weeks ago, I launched the first military-focused agricultural career 

workshophosted by USDA, at a HOH Transition Summit at Fort Bliss, Texas, where 

we introduced service members, preparing to transition from the military, to USDA 

program information and local staff expertise. USDA staff also participated in a hiring fair, and this Friday, Texas A&M Extension will be providing a local farm tour 

for those service members whose interest was piqued by the workshop. This is the 

first of many future agricultural workshops that will be hosted by USDA staff at 

these Transition Summits nationwide. 

The Department’s fiscal year 2017 budget request reflects our belief that veterans 

will help lead the next generation of agriculture and builds on the long standing 

work of this committee and the Department to support our veterans. The fiscal year 

17 budget includes approximately $246 million in mandatory and discretionary 

budget authority, an increase ofabout $46 million over the fiscal year 2016 enacted 

level for New and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers, including veterans. This level 

of funding will support a program level of more than $3.3 billion. The request includes an increase of about $12 million in discretionary budget authority specifically 

to support military veteran farmers and ranchers. This includes an increase of $9.2 

million in the Farm Service Agency (FSA) to support a program level of $208 million 

in direct operating loans, to an estimated 3,800 veteran farmers and ranchers, a 

guaranteed operating loan fee waiver for veterans, for an estimated $39 million in 

guaranteed loans, and a certified training program which will prequalify veterans 

for eligibility for FSA farm ownership loans. Further,the fiscal year 17 budget requests roughly an additional $20 million to support outreach and coordination activities for New and Beginning Farmers and Ranchers, including veterans. 

The budget also requests $2.5 million for a new competitive Food and Agriculture 

Resilience Program for Military Veterans (FARM-Vets) through the National Institute of Food and Agriculture. FARM-Vets funding will be used to promote competition for basic and applied research that explores career opportunities and pathways, 

therapeutic interventions, resource conservation, and related studies for the veteran 

population in the food and agriculture sector. Understanding why and how best to 

engage veterans in the agricultural sector is congruent with the critical need to 

identify a new generation of farmers, livestock producers, and entrepreneurs as an 

aging workforce transitions to retirement, especially in rural areas where shortages 

are acute. Similarly, there is a limited body of research that points to the therapeutic value of working the land in terms of psychological and behavioral health 

function and benefit. This funding will help us address these needs. 

CONCLUSION

Mr. Chairman, when service members return home, we want them to know that 

there are real and rewarding opportunities in U.S. agriculture, that rural America 

has a place for them, and that the U.S. Department of Agriculture has tools and 

resources to help them follow their dream of starting a farm or ranch business— 

no matter where they’re from. 

That is especially important to me because rural America had a place for my family, too. In1980 my parents and sisters settled in Mount Pleasant, Iowa after escaping from Laos and becoming political refugees in Thailand. 

Many of you will remember that the 1960s and 1970s was a period when Southeast Asia was struggling with unrest in the wake of the Vietnam conflict. Militias 

roamed the countryside fighting for territory and terrorizing families and towns 

caught in the middle of the conflict. With widespread food shortages and safety 

threats, hundreds of thousands of refugees fled, leaving behind everything they 

knew to escape tyranny and famine. 

Because America gave my parents a chance, I sit before you today as a proud 

Iowan and American who served his nation in wartime. That is what America is 

all about and it is reflected in the spirit of our rural communities. It is why I am 

honored to be in this position today, to do all that I can to help my fellow veterans 

secure opportunities and achieve their own personal versions of the American 

dream, while revitalizing rural America. 

Thank you Mr. Chairman, for the opportunity to testify today, and I’d be happy 

to answer anyquestions. 

Senator MORAN. Thank you so very much. Ms. Alison Perry. 
8 

STATEMENT OF ALISON PERRY, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CENTRAL OREGON VETERANS RANCH 

Ms. PERRY. Mr. Chairman and members of the subcommittee, 

thank you so much. It is an honor to be here today. 

My name is Alison Perry and I am here to speak to you today 

about some of the challenging realities facing our Nation’s combat 

veterans and how innovative programs like Central Oregon Veterans Ranch are integrating agriculture and changing veterans’ 

lives. 

I am a licensed professional counselor and family member of 

three combat veterans spanning World War II to Iraq, and the 

founder of the nonprofit Central Oregon Veterans Ranch. 

I began working for the Department of Veterans Affairs 2 years 

after my brother deployed for the invasion of Iraq as an Apache 

helicopter pilot. I worked for 6 years as a trauma therapist within 

the VA, treating primarily veterans diagnosed with post-traumatic 

stress in both urban and rural settings. 

It was those years of intensive clinical work that compelled me 

to influence our current methods of veteran health care by developing innovative ways that veterans can heal and continue to positively serve our Nation. 

By now you are aware of the unacceptable statistics of 22 veteran suicides a day, and the grim reality that we lose a veteran to 

suicide in this Nation every 19 minutes. Currently, our veterans 

come home from war, are discharged from the military, and face an 

existing healthcare system that deems them disabled, wounded, 

unable to work, and is limited in its scope of diagnosing and treating solely the symptoms of combat trauma. 

Based on these ongoing alarming statistics, in the years of direct 

clinical experience of therapists like myself, it is evident that we 

at a critical juncture in identifying innovative approaches that address the complex dimensions of combat trauma, including moral 

injury, identity issues, disillusionment, lack of meaning and purpose, and confusion about how to move forward. 

The New York Society for Ethical Culture states ‘‘Along side the 

renewed attention on complimentary therapies for post-traumatic 

stress, there is a growing understanding that treating acute trauma is only the first stage of treatment. Any effective intervention 

must also incorporate structures for reintegrating veterans back 

into their families, workplaces, and communities.’’ 

All across the United States today, priority is placed on agriculture, whether within urban settings or rural America. Emphasis 

is placed on utilizing land in ways that optimizes food production 

while enhancing our environmental health. 

I am here to tell you today that there is a third dimension to our 

focus on agriculture as a valuable tool to heal our combat veterans 

with post-traumatic stress, help them find peace, and help them to 

re-enter civilian life successfully. 

Agriculture is proving itself to be a viable therapeutic option for 

veterans, effectively assisting in their transition into civilian society. Veterans benefit from being outdoors, being engaged in physical activity, strengthening themselves through work with purpose 

and interacting with the natural world. 
9 

Growing and caring for living things is curative for those who 

have participated in war. The pace on a farm built around the 

growing seasons is a contrast of a high speed atmosphere of deployment. Completion of concrete tasks in agriculture is empowering 

and therapeutic. 

Additionally, agriculture provides a vehicle for meaning and purpose for veterans in the local community. It can be a means for veterans to contribute to their communities and environment as stewards of the land, while preserving one’s sense of autonomy and empowerment. 

Veterans are aligned with the military values of survival and self 

sufficiency that agriculture often requires. Self sufficiency is important in a veteran’s healing journey and can decrease dependence on 

outside help, lessening the need for continual therapy, interventions, and medication. 

U.S. soldiers are adapting and improvising, using existing skill 

sets from military training. To enlist veterans in successful agribusiness endeavors will strengthen our veterans, food systems, and 

local economies. 

Across America and in communities like Central Oregon, there 

is a growing interest in small scale agriculture, and how niche 

markets and value-added products can contribute to economic vitality. Veterans in our community are interested in these endeavors 

but lack the knowledge and awareness of the growing veteran 

farming movement and/or the USDA’s efforts and resources. 

I recently sat with an Iraq combat veteran in my office and had 

to clarify what the acronym ‘‘USDA’’ stood for, followed by his comment, ‘‘When I think of USDA, I think about meat.’’ 

Promoting veteran endeavors in agriculture is a means of increasing social capital as communities become safer and healthier, 

and dependency on social services is decreased. It is also a vehicle 

of therapy for those deemed unable to work by the VA, who are 

seeking purpose and health in their every day lives. 

Newer models of veteran healthcare are integrating agriculture 

as a means of bringing veterans together for education, purpose, 

and peer support, creating new opportunities and pathways of 

hope. 

In Oregon, we are developing such an innovative model that is 

changing veterans’ lives. Central Oregon Veterans Ranch is a 

1,900-acre working ranch that implements agriculture for both vocational and therapeutic benefit. A unique component of our program will be the integration of specialized end of life care for up 

to five veterans and an adult foster home on the property. 

Thus far, the model’s success is rooted and is focused on peer 

support, intergenerational healing, and a system of strategic community partnerships. 

The ranch is currently run by an Iraq combat veteran, 100 percent medically retired from the military for post-traumatic stress. 

Because of the ranch’s mission to restore purpose and spirit to veterans of all ages, this veteran has committed 3 years of his life 

without pay to this project. 

Veterans coming out to work at the ranch find community and 

comradery that they treasured while serving in the military and re-
10 

lief from social isolation and the intrusive thoughts and images 

that often haunt them. 

Many veterans find meaning and purpose from contributing to 

the development and management of the ranch and its programs, 

including a female Air Force veteran who served as a combat flight 

nurse in Iraq, and is taking the lead on developing healthcare services for future residents. 

The ranch also serves as a hub, a safe haven, and a non-stigmatizing environment that provides support and resources for veterans who may not reach out directly for help. 

In the words of one veteran, a 38-year retired female Army Colonel with five deployments, ‘‘The ranch is a touchstone’’ and ‘‘Just 

knowing it is there is therapeutic.’’ Colonel Pam is spearheading a 

B project on the property and speaks of the sense of pride and ownership that veterans feel as they develop this agricultural land together. 

On a more striking note, I have heard from at least three veterans struggling with post-traumatic stress to traumatic brain injury and addictions that the ranch has saved their lives. 

The message I would like to impart to you today is that innovative programs like this that incorporate agriculture and provide 

veterans a hub where they can learn, work, grow and serve together are working to give them hope, healing, and new pathways. 

I am pleased to see that conversations about these types of initiatives are taking place at the national level, and I hope that we can 

work together to continue to develop and implement these types of 

programs. 

On behalf of the veterans I work with and serve, and as founder 

of the Central Oregon Veterans Ranch, thank you for this opportunity today. 

[The statement follows:] 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF ALISON PERRY

INTRODUCTION

My name is Alison Perry and I’m here today to speak to you about some of the 

challenging realities facing our nation’s combat veterans, and how innovative programs like Central Oregon Veterans Ranch are integrating agriculture and changing veterans’ lives. 

I am a Licensed Professional Counselor and family member of three combat veterans spanning WWII to Iraq, and the Founder of the nonprofit Central Oregon Veterans Ranch. I began working for the Department of Veterans Affairs 2 years after 

my brother deployed for the invasion of Iraq as an Apache helicopter pilot. I worked 

for 6 years as a trauma therapist within the VA, treating primarily veterans diagnosed with Post-Traumatic Stress, in both urban and rural settings. It was these 

years of intensive clinical work that compelled me to influence our current methods 

of veteran healthcare by developing innovative ways that veterans can heal and continue to positively serve our nation. 

GIVENS

By now you are aware of the unacceptable statistics of 22 veteran suicides a day, 

and the grim reality that we lose a veteran to suicide in this nation every 19 minutes. Currently our veterans come home from war, are discharged from the military, 

and face an existing healthcare system that deems them disabled, wounded, unable 

to work, and is limited in its scope of diagnosing and treating solely the symptoms 

of combat trauma. Based on these ongoing alarming statistics, and the years of direct clinical experience of therapists like myself, it is evident that we are at a critical juncture in identifying innovative approaches that address the complex dimensions of combat trauma, including moral injury, identity issues, disillusionment, 
11 

lack of meaning and purpose, and confusion about how to move forward. The New 

York Society for Ethical Culture states, ‘‘Alongside the renewed attention on complementary therapies for post-traumatic stress, there is a growing understanding 

that treating acute trauma is only the first stage of treatment. Any effective invention must also incorporate structures for reintegrating veterans back into their families, workplaces, and communities.’’ 

All across the US today, priority is placed on agriculture whether within urban 

settings or rural America. Emphasis is placed on utilizing land in ways that optimizes food production while enhancing our environmental health. I am here today 

to tell you that there is a third dimension to our focus on agriculture—as a valuable 

tool to heal our combat veterans with Post-Traumatic Stress, help them find peace, 

and help them to re- enter civilian life successfully. 

SOLUTIONS

VETERAN HEALTH BENEFIT

Agriculture is proving itself to be a viable therapeutic option for veterans, effectively assisting in their transition into civilian society. Veterans benefit from being 

outdoors, being engaged in physical activity, strengthening themselves through 

work with purpose, and interacting with the natural world. 

Growing and caring for living things is curative for those who have participated 

in war. The pace on a farm, built around the growing seasons, is a contrast to the 

high-speed atmosphere of deployment. The completion of concrete tasks in agriculture is be empowering and therapeutic. 

Additionally, agriculture provides a vehicle for meaning and purpose for veterans 

in the local community. Agriculture is a means for veterans to contribute to their 

communities and environment as stewards of the land. Agriculture can preserve 

one’s sense of autonomy and empowerment. Veterans are aligned with the military 

values of survival and self-sufficiency that agriculture requires. 

Agribusiness entrepreneurship supports veteran self-sufficiency and promises to 

help decrease dependence on outside help and lessens the need for continual therapy, interventions, and medications. Self-sufficiency is important in a veteran’s healing journey for strengthening internal resources and a healthy sense of autonomy. 

ECONOMIC/ENVIRONMENTAL BENEFIT

Veterans recognize that small businesses and entrepreneurship are important to 

the fabric and strength of small towns across the US. To many veterans, helping 

revitalize communities through local economic development is just as important a 

purpose as growing healthy food for the community. 

US soldiers are adept at adapting and improvising. Using existing skill sets from 

military training to enlist veterans into successful agribusiness endeavors will 

strengthen our veterans, food systems, and local economies. 

SOCIAL/COMMUNITY BENEFIT

Through the investment of veterans in agriculture, social capital is increased as 

communities become safer and healthier. The alarming rate of suicide, Post-Traumatic Stress, and related issues let us know that innovative community-based approaches must be in place. Reducing dependency on social services and providing 

realistic support to re- enter society through new models of care is critical. 

In Oregon we are developing an innovative model of healthcare that is changing 

veterans’ lives. Central Oregon Veterans Ranch is a 19-acre working ranch that implements agriculture for both vocational and therapeutic benefit. A unique component of our program will be the integration of specialized end of life care for up to 

five veterans in an Adult Foster Home on the property. Thus far, the model’s success is rooted in its focus on peer support, inter-generational healing, and a system 

of strategic community partnerships. Veterans coming out to work at the ranch find 

the community and camaraderie they treasured while serving in the military, and 

relief from social isolation and the intrusive thoughts and images that often haunt 

them. They find meaning and purpose through contributing to the development and 

management of a place that has become their own. The ranch also serves as a hub; 

a safe haven and non-stigmatizing environment that provides support and resources 

for veterans who may not reach out directly for help. In the words of one veteran, 

a 38-year retired female Army COL with five deployments, the ranch is a ‘‘touchstone’’, and ‘‘just knowing it is there istherapeutic’’. More strikingly, I have heard 

from at least three veterans, a female combat flight nurse, a six tour Marine veteran, and an Iraq combat veteran, that the ranch has ‘‘saved their life’’. The message I would like to impart to you today is that innovative programs like this, that 
12 

incorporate agriculture, are working to save and improve our veterans’ quality of life 

and our local communities. 

Thank you. 

Senator MORAN. Thank you for telling your story. I appreciate it 

very much. 

This is what you produce, Gary LaGrange, but it is not all of 

what you produce, and I am glad you are here to tell your story. 

You are the inspiration that caused me to have an interest in this 

topic and in conducting this hearing, so thank you very much for 

coming from Kansas, and we look forward to your testimony. 

STATEMENT OF GARY LaGRANGE, PRESIDENT, SOLDIER AGRICULTURAL VOCATION EDUCATION, MANHATTAN, KANSAS; 

ACCOMPANIED BY JOHN ULRICK, CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 4, U.S. 

ARMY 

Mr. LAGRANGE. Thank you for having me. I am deeply honored 

to be here today to represent our Nation’s veterans and 

transitioning military servicemembers, in particular, the large percentage of them who desire to enter agriculture and more specifically, farming. 

I wish to address two pressing national challenges and present 

potential solutions to them. Our Nation has 1,500,000 veterans and 

800,000 transitioning servicemembers soon to become veterans. According to the Department of Labor, a significant number of them, 

40 percent or more, desire and wish to find farming or farm related 

occupations, and a significant number of them suffer with visible 

and invisible wounds of war. 

I am one of them, having served multiple tours in Vietnam and 

Laos during the war there, and having come out several times on 

alert. My passion is to help them with programs now that did not 

exist at that point in time. They deserve it. 

Our Nation has a farm succession challenge with the average age 

of our farmers approaching 60, 40 percent of our farms owned and 

operated by farmers over 65, and 63 percent of our farms in the 

last generation. There is a need for a million new and younger 

farmers over the next 15 years, huge numbers, but there is a gap 

between these two challenges that should be bridged. 

How can these veterans and servicemembers become farmers? 

Given the scope and scale of the need, where can they go to learn 

to be farmers? How can they find the resources that will lead to 

farm ownership, how can they find the resources to purchase expensive land and equipment? Where do they go to learn? 

Since many of them possess visible and invisible wounds of war, 

how can they find therapy as they transition from one culture to 

another? 

The Service-member Agricultural Vocation Education, SAVE, 

Program addresses that gap by providing transition assistant, 

training, therapy, and succession assistance on a training farm. 

Veterans and servicemembers will be prepared to work on, manage, 

and one day own their own farm. 

Our vision and plan is to develop a model training farm that can 

be replicated on all land grant universities that will graduate hundreds of farmers each year. Veteran and servicemember students 

will learn a wide variety of farming skills in a relatively short period of time. 
13 

Those in need of clinical care, physically or psychologically, will 

have an on campus clinic to assist them in their transition. The 

students and family members can live on the farm campus for the 

full training cycle, and will also be matched with a mentor farmer 

who is interested in hiring or having a manager or selling his farm 

to them after graduation. 

That will enable those graduates to move into farming upon 

graduation and begin farming immediately, whether as a worker or 

as an owner, a fully integrated transition, training, therapy, and 

succession program. 

This program offers a critical bridge from the security and camaraderie of the military to the serenity and immersion offered by 

farming, avoiding what can be a most debilitating and often dangerous period following discharge. 

Most importantly, it offers an opportunity for multiple government agencies to coordinate for the betterment of servicemen and 

women. That is something that is lacking at this point. 

Well, that farm has been designed and a team of professionals 

are in the midst of developing its programs. The board of directors 

of Service-member Agricultural Vocation Education, which is now 

a public charitable 501(c)(3) educational organization, and professionals from Kansas State University are well on the way to making that farm a reality. 

Sixteen graduate students from the College of Architecture with 

the assistance from the College of Agriculture and a wide body of 

advisors, including the Veterans Administration, have worked together to design a 155-acre training farm contiguous to Fort Riley 

and a few short miles from the university. 

Sir, that is Marvin Hackmeister’s farm. You may be familiar 

with that person. 

The farm has full spectrum with orchards, produce gardens, bee 

colonies, training and research plots, and wheat, soybeans, corn, 

grains sorghum, and alfalfa. There will be cattle, sheep, goats, 

swine, horses, and a fleet of poultry, a shop to teach general mechanics, metal working, welding, and woodworking, a chapel, residences for 100 students and family members, classrooms, a greenhouse with three high tunnels, a dining facility with a commercial 

teaching kitchen, a commercial honey producing facility, and a public center where customers can pick their own produce and purchase other products of the farm. 

The farm includes a certified clinic, staffed with clinical psychologists and physical therapists capable of caring for 100 clients a 

week. Clients will consist of students on the farm program and 

other veterans from the general population. 

It is envisioned that with your support, the full class of 100 students and their family members could begin classes on the farm 

during January of 2018, and in 3 years, this farm should be able 

to reach self sufficiency. 

All of the students will be trained first as an apprentice level 

student, and then a journeyman level prior to farm placement, and 

during their studies, they will be teamed with a mentor and perhaps successor farmer where they will work immediately thereafter. 
14 

As a pilot study, 50 soldiers from Fort Riley’s Warrior Transition 

Battalion were taught beekeeping by me over the past 3 years, a 

niche agricultural endeavor, beekeeping is critical, of course, to the 

Nation’s food supply. 

Interest was very high with all soldiers completing the basic beekeeping course and 12 becoming trained at a commercial level. Further, these soldiers now have produced over 6,000 pounds of honey 

over the last 3 years, completely covering all costs and growing the 

operation from 12 to 58 colonies, showing that we can indeed even 

in that small niche become self sufficient. New classes are underway. 

The soldiers that engaged in the development of our business 

plan and the design, and we had a whole team of them, all with 

PTSD or brain injury, wanted an interim program so that we could 

bring them along also until this farm could come to fruition. 

So, last year we began a farm tour program and we visited with 

28 students, 22 different farms and 12 governmental and nine governmental farm agencies, granaries, COOPS, equipment sales and 

service organizations, including a two full-day session on farm 

planning, soil preparation, and produce operations. 

Each student was taken through a guide to business planning for 

the farm. Results were so successful that we have continued the 

program, and we just began our next round of tours on the 15th 

of March. 

This year, the Veterans Administration has included their clients 

with Wounded Warriors from Fort Riley. This year we have also 

added equipment manufacturers and the KSU Drone facility to our 

tour schedules, as well as several other high value farms. 

The SAVE farm with its integrated approach will enable research to be conducted in multiple areas. Agricultural research in 

that the farm is full spectrum and close to a major land grant university. Research regarding farming for those with physical disabilities can be accomplished partnering with AgrAbility and equipment manufacturers, we will find new and innovative modifications 

that can be tested to enable those with disabilities to function as 

farmers. 

Psychological research can more closely examine the therapeutic 

effects of farming expanding the sparse knowledge base extant 

today. 

Today, we have engaged 82 soldiers and veterans, nearly all are 

now farming, actively searching for a farm, enrolled in agricultural 

college courses, or engaged in farming career orientation. All of 

them suffer from physical or psychological wounds. They are good, 

disciplined, intelligent, skillful people that are ready and want to 

farm. 

I have worked beside them, shared our home with them, laughed 

with them, cried with them, prayed with them, and heard their stories, shared their ups and downs, and they have become my 

friends. 

The SAVE Program in building a bridge that will lead them to 

a full and purposeful life on the farm while addressing a critical 

farm succession program, as one of our SAVE soldiers, Chief Warrant Officer John Arthur Ulrick, a wounded warrior with two tours 
15 

in Iraq and two tours in Afghanistan, sitting beside me today, 

states ‘‘It is just the right thing to do.’’ 

Thousands of veterans, transitioning soldiers and farmers are 

aware of my testimony today. It is a little heavy, frankly. They are 

hopeful that you will give them hope that this project with your 

support can become a reality and a reality soon. They await the results of this testimony. 

Please help me to help them realize their dreams. We owe them 

programs of substance in dealing with all these huge numbers as 

they reintegrate into our farming communities. 

Thank you for hearing me this day. 

[The statement follows:] 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF GARY L. LAGRANGE

I am deeply honored to be here today to represent our nation’s veterans and 

transitioning military service-members, in particular the large percentage of them 

whom desire to enter agriculture and more specifically farming. 

I wish to address two pressing national challenges and present a solution to them. 

—Our nation has 1,500,000 veterans and 800,000 transitioning service-members 

soon to become veterans. According to the Department of Labor, a significant 

number of them wish to find farming or farm related occupations and a significant number of them suffer with visible and invisible wounds of war. I am one 

of them. 

—Our nation has a farm succession challenge. With the average age of our farmers approaching 60, 40 percent of our farms owned and operated by farmers 

over 65, and 63 percent of our farms in the last generation, there is a need for 

1,000,000 new and younger farmers over the next 15 years. 

There is a gap between the two challenges that must be bridged. How can these 

veterans and service-members become farmers? Given the scope and scale of the 

need, where can they go to learn to be farmers? How can they find the resources 

that will lead to farm ownership? How can they find the resources to purchase expensive land and equipment? Where do they go to learn, and since many of them 

possess visible and invisible wounds of war, how can they find therapy as they transition from one culture to another? 

The Service-member Agricultural Vocation Education (SAVE) program addresses 

the gap. By providing transition assistance, training, therapy and succession assistance on a training farm, veterans and service members will be prepared to work 

on, manage and one day own a farm of their own. Our vision and plan is to develop 

a model training farm that can be replicated on all land grant universities that will 

graduate hundreds of new farmers each year. Veteran and Service-member students 

will learn a wide variety of farming skills in a relatively short period of time. Those 

in need of clinical care, physically or psychologically, will have an on campus clinic 

to assist them in their transition. The students and family members can live on the 

farm campus for the full training cycle. They will also be matched with a mentor 

farmer who is interested in hiring a farm worker or selling his farm. That will enable the graduates to move into farming upon graduation and begin farming immediately, whether as a worker or as an owner; a fully integrated transition, training, 

therapy and succession program. 

This program offers a critical bridge from the security and comradery of the military to the serenity and immersion offered by farming, avoiding what can be a debilitating and oftendangerous period following discharge. Most importantly, it offers 

an opportunity for multiplegovernment agencies to coordinate for the betterment of 

servicemen and women. 

That farm has been designed and a team of professionals are in the midst of developing its programs. The Board of Directors of Service-member Agricultural Vocation Education (SAVE) Corp, a public charitable 501c3 educational organization, and 

professionals from Kansas State University (KSU) are well on the way to making 

the farm a reality. 16 graduate students from the College of Architecture with assistance from the College of Agriculture and a wide body of advisors including the 

Veterans Administration worked together to design a 155 acre farm contiguous to 

Fort Riley and a few short miles from the University. The farm is full spectrum with 

orchards, produce gardens, bee colonies, training and research plots of wheat, soy 

beans, corn, grain sorghum, and alfalfa. There will be cattle, sheep, goats, swine, 

horses and fleets of poultry; a shop to teach general mechanics, metal working, 
16 

welding and woodworking; a chapel, residences for 100 students and family members, classrooms, a greenhouse with 3 high tunnels, a dining facility with commercial teaching kitchen, a commercial honey producing facility, and a public center 

where customers can pick their own produce and purchase other products of the 

farm. The farm includes a certified clinic staffed with clinical psychologists and 

physical therapists capable of caring for 100 clients a week. Clients will consist of 

students in the farm program and other veterans from the general population. It 

is en visioned that, with your support, the first full class of 100 students and their 

family members could begin classes onthe farm during January of 2018 and in 3 

years this farm should be able to reach self-sufficiency. 

A PILOT STUDY

As a pilot study, 50 soldiers from Fort Riley’s Warrior Transition Battalion were 

taught beekeeping over the past 3 years. A niche agricultural endeavor, beekeeping 

is critical to the nation’s food supply. Interest was high with all soldiers completing 

basic beekeeping and 12 becoming trained to the commercial level. Further, these 

soldiers produced over 6000 pounds of honey completely covering all costs and growing the operation from 12 to 58 colonies. New classes are underway. 

FARM TOURS

The soldiers engaged in the development of the SAVE business plan asked if an 

interim agricultural program could be developed for them. A farm tour program was 

arranged and beginning with Agriculture Day of 2015, 28 students began touring 

farms of different types. Each Friday for the following 120 days, soldiers toured 20 

high value farms, 12 governmental and non-governmental farm agencies, granaries, 

COOPS, equipment sales and service organizations including 2 full day sessions on 

farm planning, soil preparation and produce operations. Each student was taken 

through a Guide to Business Planning for the farm. The results were so successful 

that the next round of tours began on 15 March 2016. The Veteran’s Administration 

includes regional clients with this round of tours. Equipment manufacturers andthe 

KSU Drone facility have been added to the tour schedules as well as several additional high value farms. 

RESEARCH

The SAVE Farm with its integrated approach will enable research to be conducted 

in multiple areas. Agricultural research in that the farm is full spectrum and close 

to a major university. Research regarding farming for those with physical disabilities can be accomplished. Partnering with AgrAbility and equipment manufacturers, new and innovative modifications can be tested to enable those with disabilities 

to function as farmers. Psychological research can more closely examine the therapeutic effects of farming expanding the sparse knowledge base extant today. To date 

we have engaged 82 soldiers and veterans. Nearly all are now farming, actively 

searching for a farm, enrolled in agricultural college courses, or engaged in farming 

career orientation. All of them suffer from physical or psychological wounds. They 

are good, disciplined, intelligent, skillful men and women who want to farm. I have 

worked beside them, shared our home with them, laughed and cried with them, 

heard their stories, shared their ups and downs and they have become my friends. 

The SAVE program, in building a bridge that will lead them to a full and purposeful life on the farm while addressing a critical farm succession program, is as one 

of our SAVE soldiers, CW4John Ulrick, sitting beside me here today states, ‘‘just 

the right thing to do’’. 

Thousands of veterans, transitioning soldiers and farmers are aware of my testimony today. They are hopeful that you will give them hope that this project, with 

your support, can become a reality and become a reality soon. They await the results of this testimony. Please help me to help them realize their dreams. We owe 

them programs of substance as they reintegrate into our farming communities. 

Thank you. www.thesavefarm.org 

Senator MORAN. Thank you for allowing us to hear you. I think 

it may be most sensitive to go to Mr. Ulrick next. Mr. Ulrick, welcome. My only concern is that you left Kansas. We are surprised 

that you decided to find another home in another State. We appreciate your service at Fort Riley. 
17 

STATEMENT OF JOHN ARTHUR ULRICK, CHIEF WARRANT OFFICER 4, 

U.S. ARMY 

Mr. ULRICK. Good afternoon, Senator, and subcommittee members. I want to personally thank Gary LaGrange for asking me to 

be here today. One of my lifelong dreams was an opportunity to 

come to Washington, DC, and speak to some of our government 

people, and I come here today with a very humble heart. 

I think we can and will through the SAVE farm help restore the 

American dream for many soldiers and veterans. Many soldiers 

have paid the price for the freedom, and they have done this in 

both direct and indirect, carrying scars that interfere with family, 

lives, and being productive in civilian life. 

I thought for a long time of how I could put into words how the 

soldiers feel. I could not put it into words. Excuse me. I thought 

for a long time of how I could put it into words how many of the 

soldiers feel after being exposed to war or stationed away from 

their families, and could not come up with the right words. 

If you have lost a child, you would know the loss. It stays with 

you every day, every minute, until you learn to accept and understand the loss. If you have never been in war, you would never be 

able to feel the emotions of these soldiers. As you know, many soldiers come back from deployment seeing the world in a different 

way. 

I was sent to Fort Riley with several medical issues from my four 

deployments with the United States Army. I injured my neck and 

could not lift my arms above my shoulders, had lung issues, and 

suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder, the stress of war. 

I had to have surgery and was deemed unfit for continued duty 

with the Army. Many of the thoughts I had was what am I going 

to do now, what is it going to be like without the military in my 

life. 

I met Gary LaGrange a few weeks after I arrived at Fort Riley. 

Gary had a class to learn and work with honey bees, and I thought 

to myself, I will try it, and found that the class helped me to think 

about something positive and learn something new. During this 

time, Gary started talking to me about how he wants to set up a 

farm for soldiers to learn farming. 

The more I thought about it, the more I thought it was a program that would rebuild healthy lives for people. After thinking 

about his program for several weeks, the light went off in my head. 

I could not think of a better thing for soldiers to do that would 

keep them in charge of their lives and operate a business that is 

a way of life. I started thinking about what classes he should have, 

and what types of machinery, livestock, and how the overall operation would work. 

The thoughts gave me a new outlook on the rest of my life and 

how I could use what I have learned to help others. I spent 32 

years, 10 months, 16 days of my life serving my country, and was 

forced to retire. For those years, I put the military at the top of 

my list, and I hate to say this, I put it before everything, always 

wanting to defend my country and our way of life. 

Yes, I worked hard during my life and own a farm in Minnesota, 

and now I am using my knowledge to help others leaving the military to live a healthy productive life. 
18 

I am looking forward to being the first farm manager. After all, 

farmers feed the world, and it takes people that can do all to be 

good farmers. If you do not help these people become farmers, who 

will feed the world in a few short years? I believe this is a good 

thing to do, and we must find a way to get it done. 

I would like to close with a quote from somebody that I admired 

when I was young and still do. ‘‘God’s work must surely be our 

own,’’ and I do believe this is God’s work. I welcome your questions. 

[The statement follows:] 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF JOHN ARTHUR ULRICK

Good afternoon, I would like to thank Gary LaGrange for asking me to be here 

today. One of my life long dreams was the opportunity to come to Washington D.C. 

for business and speak to members of our government. I come here today with a 

humble heart. 

I think we can and will, through the S.A.V.E farm, help restore the American 

dream for many soldiers and veterans. Many soldiers have paid the price for the 

freedom, they have done this both directly and indirectly, carrying scars that interfere with their family lives and being productive in civilian life. I thought for a long 

time of how I could put into words how many of the soldiers feel after being exposed 

to war or stationed away from their families and could not come up with the right 

words. If you have lost a child you would know that loss if you have not you just 

don’t know the loss, it stays with you every day and every minute until you learn 

to except and understand the loss. If you have never been in war you would not 

be able to feel the emotions of these soldiers. 

As you know many soldiers come back from deployments seeing the world in a 

different way. Many have deep depressions that keep them from entering back into 

society and fitting well and adjusted. We can see that many take their lives because 

of adjustment issues. I believe we can restore the basic thoughts and goals of the 

American Dream. Freedom includes the opportunity for prosperity, success and to 

achieve through hard work in a society with few barriers. 

Many soldiers do not make the change from being a soldier to being a civilian 

very well; many have struggles because they have been in positions of leadership, 

being in charge of many operational needs of the military that do not directly transfer to civilian jobs and life style. 

It has been proven that working with livestock is like having a service dog as a 

companion. People taking the courses at the S.A.V.E. farm will be able to learn a 

new way of life that uses all the things they have been taught about scheduling, 

planning, managing and being in charge of their lives. 

I was asked here today to explain how this program helped me during my time 

in the wounded warrior unit at Ft Riley, Kansas, during the years of 2014–2015. 

I was sent to Ft Riley with several medical issues from my four deployments with 

the US Army. I injured my neck and could not lift my arms above my shoulders, 

lung issues and was suffering from P.T.S.D., the stresses of war. I had to have surgery and was deemed unfit for continued duty with the Army. Many of the thoughts 

I had was what I am going to do now, what is it going to be like without the military in my life. I meet Gary LaGrange a few weeks after I arrived at Ft. Riley. Gary 

had a class to learn and work with Honey Bees, and I thought to myself, I will try 

it, and found that the class helped me to think about something positive and learn 

something new. During this time Gary started talking with me about how he wants 

to set up a farm for soldiers to learn farming. The more I thought about it the more 

I thought it was a program that would rebuild healthy lives for people. 

After thinking about his program for several weeks, the light went off in my head, 

and I could not think of a better thing for soldiers to do that would keep them in 

charge of their lives and operate a business that is a way of life. I started thinking 

about what classes he should have, what types of machinery, livestock and how the 

overall operation would work. The thoughts gave me a new outlook on the rest of 

my life and how I could use what I have learned to help others. 

I spent 32 years 10 months and 16 days of my life serving my country and was 

forced to retire. For those years I put the military at the top of my list and I hate 

to say before everything always wanting to defend my country and our way of life. 

Yes I worked hard during my life and own a farm in Minnesota, and now I am 

using my knowledge to help others leaving the military to live a healthy productive 

life. 

I am looking forward to being the first farm manager. 
19 

After all farmers feed the world and it takes people that can do it all to be good 

farmers? If we don’t help these people become farmers, who will feed the world in 

a few short years? 

I believe this is a good thing to do and we must find a way to get it done. 

I would like to close with a quote from John Fitzgerald Kennedy, ‘‘God’s work 

must surely be our own,’’ and I believe this is God’s work. 

I welcome your questions. 

Senator MORAN. Mr. Ulrick, thank you very much for your testimony. 

Mr. Kanning. 

STATEMENT OF PAUL KANNING, OWNER/OPERATOR, TOM TILDA 

FARM, FLAXVILLE, MONTANA 

Mr. KANNING. Thank you, chairman, members of the subcommittee for the opportunity to testify here today about military 

veteran benefits. 

Prior to my current career, I served as an Active Duty officer for 

20 years in the Air Force, retiring in 2013. My service included assignments to 10 military installations, five combat deployments to 

Southwest Asia, including an 1 year tour in Iraq with the Coalition 

Air Force advisory team. I was a squadron commander twice, a 

deputy commander of a fighter maintenance unit, and retired as 

the senior ranking sustainment officer for the F–22 program. 

I used to be somebody important. Today, I am a farmer. I am the 

owner and operator of Tom Tilda Farm in Daniels County, Montana. I am the fourth generation of my family to operate the farm, 

which is now 103 years old. 

I am often amazed that I own and operate this farm. As a young 

man, my sole ambition was to find a way off of it, and to find success out in the greater world. I decided I needed to go to college 

to achieve that goal, but because I could not afford to pay for college, I enrolled in and was awarded a scholarship by the Air Force 

Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) Program. Through ROTC, 

I obtained my degree at Montana State University and got commissioned as an Air Force officer. 

Approximately halfway through my military career, I began to 

think about what I would do after retiring from the military. In 

2003, during the initial campaign of Operation Iraqi Freedom, I 

suddenly realized my aspiration was to be a farmer. 

I then spent the next 10 years of my military career working as 

hard as I could to get back onto that place that I wanted to leave 

so desperately to begin with. 

Many of my fellow servicemembers were surprised to learn of my 

military to farming aspiration. However, there are numerous similarities between the two professions. Both are comprised of honest, 

reliable, trustworthy people who value integrity. Both professions 

entail service to a higher calling, either through defending our Nation or providing food for the same. Both have leadership as a key 

element to success. 

Both professions are meritocracies, offering great opportunities 

regardless of race, color, or creed. Both involve a great level of risk 

and adventure. Both require dedication, discipline, and a willingness to sacrifice for achieving success. Finally, mission accomplishment in both culminates in the production of a tangible and highly 

valued product, freedom and food. 
20 

Because of these similarities, it was only natural I would be 

drawn to agriculture following my military service. During my 

transition to my farming career, I faced obstacles which many beginning farmers confront. I also seized on many opportunities to alleviate those challenges. My status as a veteran afforded me benefits in some situations, while others were addressed through means 

available to any beginning farmer. 

I would be happy to talk about the many programs that I turned 

to, including the farm bill commodity titles, crop insurance, the Beginning Farmer/Rancher Development Program grants, and the 

outreach and assistance programs for socially disadvantaged farmers. 

In conclusion, I am honored to have the opportunity to farm in 

rural America. I am honored to provide high quality food to America. While I used to assist in preserving national security as a 

member of the military, today I assist in that same effort by providing food security for our citizens. 

I again thank the members for the honor of testifying about the 

benefits and programs available to military veterans in agriculture, 

and I am happy to answer any questions you may have. 

[The statement follows:] 

PREPARED STATEMENT OF PAUL KANNING

Thank you Chairman Moran, Ranking Member Merkley, and members of the Subcommittee on Agriculture, Rural Development, Food and Drug Administration, and 

Related Agencies for the opportunity to testify on the opportunities and benefits 

available to military veterans in agriculture. 

I am the owner and operator of TomTilda Farm in Daniels County, Montana. I 

am the fourth generation of my family to operate the farm, which is now 103 years 

old. The farm of just over 11,700 acres produces small grains (spring wheat), pulses 

(peas, lentils, faba beans), and oilseeds (flax, canola). I am in my fourth production 

year on the farm, having started in 2013. 

Prior to initiating my farm career, I served as an active duty officer for twenty 

(20) years inthe U.S. Air Force, retiring as a Lieutenant Colonel in 2013. My service 

included assignments to ten (10) military installations and five (5) combat deployments to Southwest Asia, including a 1- year tour in Iraq with the Coalition’s advisory team to the Iraqi Air Force. I was a squadron commander of two aircraft maintenance units, deputy commander of a fighter maintenance group, and the seniorranking sustainment officer for the F–22 program office. 

I am often amazed that I own and operate the farm which I grew up on. As a 

young man, my sole ambition was to find a way off of the farm and find success 

out in the larger world. I decided that attending college was the best means to 

achieve that goal. Because I could not afford to pay for college, I enrolled in and 

was awarded a scholarship by the Air Force Reserve Officer Training Corps (ROTC) 

program. Through ROTC, I was able to obtain my degree at Montana State University and get commissioned as an Air Force officer. 

Approximately half way through my military career, I began to think about what 

I would do after retiring from the military. Then in 2003, while engaged in the initial campaign of Operation Iraqi Freedom, I suddenly realized my aspiration was 

to be a farmer. I then spent the next ten (10) years of my military service working 

as hard as I could to become a farmer. 

Finally, in 2013, my dream was achieved and I have never been more content in 

my choice of profession. 

Many of my fellow service members were surprised to learn of my military-tofarming aspiration. However, there are numerous similarities between the two professions. Both are comprised of honest, reliable, and trustworthy people who place 

a high value on integrity. Both professions entail service to a higher calling, either 

through defending our nation or providing food for the same. Both have leadership 

as a keystone element to success. Both professions are meritocracies, offering great 

opportunities regardless of race, color, or creed. Both involve a great level of risk 

and adventure. Both professions require dedication, discipline, and a willingness to 

sacrifice personal goals in exchange for achieving success. And finally, mission ac-
21 

complishment in both culminates in the production of a tangible and highly valued 

product—freedom and food. Because of these professional similarities, it was only 

natural I would be drawn to agriculture following my military service. 

During my transition to my farming career, I faced obstacles which many beginning farmers confront. I also seized on many opportunities to alleviate those challenges. My status as a military veteran afforded me benefits in many situations, 

while others were addressed through means available to all beginning farmers. 

VETERAN-RELATED BENEFITS UTILIZED

Veteran Farmer/Rancher Recognition in the Agriculture Act of 2014 

Recognition of ‘‘Veteran Farmers’’ as a distinct class in the Agriculture Act of 2014 

(Farm Bill) provided numerous new benefits. While the definition is essentially the 

same as that for beginning farmers and ranchers, this new classification afforded 

additional USDA program priorities to veterans. 

Veteran Preference and Priorities 

The USDA is required to set aside a portion of the acres available for the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) for beginning and socially-disadvantaged 

farmers and ranchers. Under the 2014 Farm Bill, a preference must be given to veterans that fall within one of these set-aside categories. Veterans now receive points 

when applying for the program which are in addition to any points granted for being 

a beginning or socially-disadvantaged farmer. This preference allowed me to qualify 

and enroll TomTilda Farm in CSP in 2014. This significantly helped me to obtain 

additional farm revenue while also providing a great incentive to conserve my critical land resources. I encourage Congress to support the President’s request of no 

limitations on mandatory funding for Farm Bill conservation programs. 

Microloan Assistance 

The 2014 Farm Bill specifically excludes microloans used by veterans from the 

term limits applied to other USDA Direct Operating Loans. In addition, the legislation also allows veterans to choose between the microloan interest rate (set at 5 percent) or the regular interest rate for USDA operating loans. I am currently in the 

process of applying for a microloan to assist in the purchase of new capital equipment for TomTilda Farm. 

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program Grant 

The Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) provides 

grants to organizations providing training, education, outreach, and technical assistance to beginning farmers and ranchers. Under the 2014 Farm Bill, assistance for 

veterans is made a priority under the BFDRP by specifically including ‘‘agricultural 

rehabilitation and vocational training’’ as an eligible service and by providing a 5 

percent set-aside of BFRDP funding for programs serving veterans. 

I have benefited greatly from programs funded through BFRDP grants. For example, the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Program through Montana State University 

provided me training in commodity price risk management, farm income tax management, acquiring farm financial credit, and USDA program overviews. 

In addition, Montana State University partnered with Montana Grain Growers 

Association to provide additional training through the use of these grant funds. This 

allowed me to participate in an intermediate grain marketing strategy workshop, 

gain farm bill program training, and obtain membership in the Montana Grain 

Growers Association. 

Because of the significant training I have received through BFRDP grants, I 

encourageCongress to continue funding the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program. 

Outreach and Assistance Program for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and Ranchers 

The Outreach and Assistance Program for Socially Disadvantaged Farmers and 

Ranchers, commonly referred to as the 2501 Program, was expanded to include veterans. This allows the USDA to provide additional technical assistance to veterans 

focused on enabling farm ownership and operation as well as outreach to encourage 

participation in USDA programs. 

Specifically for me, this benefit was realized through the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC). The FVC has provided access to a large network of other veteran farmers, provided me with numerous training and education opportunities, and enabled 

my certification in the nation-wide ‘‘Homegrown By Heroes’’ agriculture marketing 

label program. I encourage Congress to meet the President’s request of $10 million 

in discretionary funding for the 2501 program in fiscal year 2017 in order to restore 
22 

total program funding to its previous total funding level of $20 million. This appropriation would restore total program funding to its historical level in order to meet 

the increased demand for outreach and technical assistance by veterans. 

Land Transition Incentives 

The Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) Transition Incentive Program (TIP) 

provides owners of land coming out of CRP with additional program payments if 

they lease or sell the land to a beginning farmers, including veterans. While I have 

not yet participated in this outstanding program, I am actively seeking an opportunity to do so. 

Military Retirement Income 

As a retired officer, I am blessed with an advantageous source of non-farm income 

through my military retirement. While many of my farming peers are forced to obtain a second job to assist in paying family living expenses, I am able to cover those 

expenses through my retirement pay. This allows me to focus solely on farm management and operations. 

Military Healthcare 

Likewise, I am also blessed with a healthcare plan as part of my military retirement which significantly reduces my living expenses. Although not a member of the 

Veterans Affairs healthcare system, I am enrolled in the military TRICARE Standard program which requires nopremium payment. Additionally, dental care is provided through the TRICARE Retiree DentalProgram at a significantly reduced premium. 

Department of Defense Transition Assistance Program 

The Transition Assistance Program (TAP) was established to meet the needs of 

separating service members during their period of transition into civilian life by offering job-search assistance and related services. Through TAP, I participated in the 

Entrepreneurial Module which provided outstanding training and assistance as I established my farm business. 

NON-VETERAN RELATED BENEFITS UTILIZED

USDA Conservation Programs 

In addition to enrollment in CSP as previously mentioned, my farm also has acres 

enrolled in the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). As stated previously, I encourage Congress to fully fund all USDA Conservation Programs. Through CRP, I have 

been able to keep environmentally-sensitive land out of agricultural production 

while planting valuable land cover to help improve water quality, prevent soil erosion, and reduce loss of wildlife habitat. However, the 2014 Farm Bill and sequestration have cut over $6 billion from conservation programs. 

USDA Agricultural Risk Coverage Program 

TomTilda Farm is enrolled in the Agriculture Risk Coverage (ARC) Program. I encourage Congress to fully fund staffing requirements of local USDA offices for management of Farm Bill programs. The benefits of the ARC program are critical to my 

continued farming operation. This safety net provides revenue loss coverage in years 

when I may be unable to pay all of my operating expenses due to weather-related 

crop failures or commodity price deflation. In addition to management of ARC, local 

USDA offices provide outstanding advice to veteran farmers such as me. This critical service must continue. 

In addition, I am certain USDA will seek to reduce and/or consolidate local offices 

in the future. Proponents will advocate the use of technology as a replacement for 

local USDA officials. However, the lack of broadband Internet service in rural America, the many elderly farmers who are not proficient in utilizing computer services, 

and the lack of personal interaction with USDA officials will undoubtedly lead to 

lack of service and missed opportunities. I encourage Congress to resist any future 

attempts to reduce and/or consolidate local community USDA offices. 

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Benefits for Federal Crop Insurance 

Beginning farmers are eligible for additional Federal Crop Insurance benefits 

under the 2014Farm Bill. Because of this, I was able to obtain an additional ten 

(10) percentage points of premium subsidy for my multi-peril crop insurance. This 

is a significant cost reduction in one of the programs that is the most critical to my 

continued success as a farmer. Without affordable crop insurance, I will be unable 

to obtain an operating loan and unable to pay my expenses in disaster years. Therefore, in addition to sustaining this benefit to beginning farmers, I further encourage 
23 

Congress to fully fund crop insurance programs and to restore the President’s proposed $18 billion cut to crop insurance. 

Additional Training and Education Programs 

Through the National Farmers Union, I was able to participate in the Beginning 

Farmer Institute which includes educational seminars, farm and cooperative tours, 

meetings with USDA and Congressional staff personnel, and opportunities to participate in Farmers Union activities. The program is funded by the National Farmers Union Foundation, Farm Credit Council, Cenex Harvest States Foundation, 

CoBank, and Farmers Union Industries Foundation. While I do not know specifically why my application to this program was successful, I am inclined to believe 

my status as a military veteran was a significant influence. 

USDA Rural Development Grants 

A significant factor in enticing veterans into agriculture is the viability of rural 

communities. Specifically, the families of veterans want to live in communities with 

a strong school system, reliable healthcare delivery, adequate business services, and 

sufficient recreational opportunities. USDA Rural Development Grants are crucial 

to ensuring the continued viability of each of these. I encourage Congress to fully 

fund staffing all state Rural Development offices. Specifically in Montana, the staffing of these offices has been reduced from 58 to 43 personnel in recent years. The 

closest office to my community is located 350 miles away in Billings, Montana. 

Simply put, the combination of insufficient staffing and a large coverage area 

leads to reduced program effectiveness for communities such as mine. 

Agriculture Research Programs 

Because of outstanding past research in agriculture research, I have been able to 

grow high- yielding crops which are resistant to pest pressures. Continued research 

is critical to continuing to improve yields and ensuring food security for America. 

Specifically, I encourage Congress to provide the full $10 million of funding for the 

US Wheat and Barley Scab Initiative in order to help fight scab pressures which 

have extended into Montana. In addition, I encourage Congressional oversight to ensure USDA continues to prioritize research into crop pests at research facilities such 

as that at the Northern Plains Agriculture Research Lab in Sidney, Montana. 

ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS

USDA Farm Loan Programs 

Through Direct Farm Ownership Loans, beginning farmers are able to obtain lowinterest loans to purchase farmland, construct buildings, and make farm improvements. Currently the maximum loan amount is $300,000. However, with recent 

price increases in farm real estate, this amount is often insufficient. Therefore, I encourage Congress to increase the limit to assist beginning farmers and ranchers in 

purchasing land in areas with high real estate values. In addition, I encourage Congress to increase funding for Direct Operating Loans from $1.25 billion to $1.46 billion, in line with the President’s request, so that future veteran farmers can access 

capital critical to their farm operations. 

Outreach Services Supporting New, Beginning, and Veteran Farmers and Ranchers 

The President proposed $5 million for USDA enhanced outreach to beginning, 

women, and military veteran farmers. This funding would be provided to the Office 

of the Secretary, but could be transferred to other agencies in USDA as needed. 

New, Beginning, and Veteran Farmer and Ranch Initiatives 

The President proposed $3.9 million for targeted outreach by USDA to those interested in getting into farming. It will include a certification program to help veteran 

farmers prequalify for loans, 25 new full-time staff devoted to providing outreach, 

a pilot new farmer mentoring network that includes stipends for 200 mentors, and 

funding for cooperative agreements which support organizations in providing assistance and outreach. 

Beginning Farmer and Rancher Individual Development Account Pilot Program 

In addition to loans, the Administration’s beginning farmer proposals include 

first-time funding of $1.5 million for the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Individual 

Development Account (IDA) Program. The IDA program has not received an appropriation in years past and thus has not yet been launched as directed in the last 

two Farm Bills. 

In conclusion, I am honored to have the opportunity to farm in rural America, providing high- quality food. While I used to assist in preserving national security as 

a member of the military, today I assist in that same effort by providing food secu-
24 

rity for our citizens. I again thank the members for the honor of testifying about 

the benefits and programs available to military veterans in agriculture. 

Senator MORAN. Thank you very much, Mr. Kanning. Let me 

start with Mr. Baccam. Mr. Secretary, could you outline for us 

what programs are available at the Department of Agriculture that 

might assist the folks that you just heard testify, assist them, assist veterans? If you would like to highlight provisions of the President’s budget request that would alter or enhance those opportunities, I would like for the subcommittee to hear that. 

Mr. BACCAM. Senator, thank you for that question. Within this 

space, USDA has really taken off in recent years, and that is 

thanks to the military veterans agricultural liaison position that 

was created in the 2014 farm bill. With our agencies all across the 

Department, we have an ability to direct our resources to be able 

to have a stronger focus on supporting veterans. 

Through many of our agencies, we have programs to do exactly 

that. The Beginning Farmer/Rancher Development Program in our 

National Institute of Food and Agriculture is a grant program that 

helps provide funding for organizations that will do outreach, education, and training for veterans. 

There is a [5 percent] set-aside within that program for any organization that has all or in part states that will assist veterans, so 

the Beginning Farmer/Rancher Development Program is key for us. 

For folks who are interested in getting into farming and ranching 

starting off, the Farm Service Agency (FSA) is one of the key places 

we go. First off, the Farm Service Agency has a footprint that 

spans across the United States. We have over 2,100 offices, and we 

can provide in-person service to the veterans who are out there in 

the rural communities. 

With our Loans Program, we have over $465 million in farm 

loans that we have put out there since 2009 that have helped almost 7,000 veterans. We think this is really impressive, and $25 

million of those dollars were through the Micro, a direct operating 

microloan program, which is good for the new beginning farmers 

who are just starting off. For Mr. Kanning who has a large operation, he has the opportunity to apply for these programs as well. 

The Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) has programs in the Environmental Quality Incentives Program (EQIP) 

and the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP) that have priority preferences for veterans. 

These are just a few of the many, many programs and support 

we have through our agencies within USDA. 

As for the President’s budget, there is one thing in particular I 

would like to highlight, and that is the FARM-Vets proposal, and 

the Food and Agriculture Resilience Program for Military Veterans. 

It is a $2.5 million proposal for an education and training program 

that will assist veterans in helping them gain the skills needed to 

get into farming and ranching. 

Beyond that, as Ms. Perry has noted in her organization, there 

is a therapeutic aspect to it as well. FARM-Vets will do some research into the therapeutic value of farming and ranching, psychologically, behaviorally, which is a limited space in terms of research 

that exists currently. We would like it done. 
25 

Lastly, the Office of Advocacy and Outreach has a proposal for an additional $10 million for outreach programs that we believe 

will continue to assist veterans. 

Mr. Kanning, I think, knows about the 2501 Program, which we 

believe has been very successful. If 2014 and 2015 are indications, 

over 50 percent of the grants each year have gone to organizations 

that have helped veterans. 

If we are able to get the additional funding, we believe we can 

double the assistance out there. 

Senator MORAN. I want to highlight or question the point because I think in the first part of your answer to my question, it was 

individual farmers who could be helped with USDA programs, and 

if you would again indicate to me and to the subcommittee what 

assistance can the USDA provide to organizations trying to help 

farmers, individuals become farmers? 

Mr. BACCAM. Senator, thank you for that question. It is the Beginning Farmer/Rancher Development Program, which provides 

grants to community organizations, organizations of higher education, universities, as well as the cooperative agreements that we 

have with many veteran services organizations, like the Farmer 

Veteran Coalition. 

I think a lot of the folks up here are familiar with that, and you 

may be as well. We provide these cooperative agreements to be able 

to do risk management training, business planning, for veterans. 

The organizations will execute those types of educational programs 

for us. 

Senator MORAN. Thank you for your answer. Before I lose any of 

my members, I am going to next call on the ranking member, but 

I wanted to highlight a Senate bill that I introduced and Senator 

Tester is a sponsor of, it is Senate bill 1870 entitled ‘‘Veterans Entrepreneur Transition Act.’’ 

This bill was passed by the Small Business Committee last year, 

and we are anxious for it to be considered and anxious for any of 

my colleagues who are supportive of this concept to join us in sponsoring this bill. 

It is a 3-year pilot program through the Small Business Administration (SBA) for 250 veterans to pursue the opportunity to start 

a business, to be an entrepreneur, utilizing their G.I. Bill of Rights. 

This requires some training through the SBA in entrepreneurship 

and helps them phase in that training by offering collateral to 

launch their business through the G.I. benefits. Again, it would 

have application in agriculture if given the opportunity, but another avenue that we are actively pursuing. 

Let me now turn to Senator Merkley. 

Senator MERKLEY. Thank you, Mr. Chair. I want to apologize 

now that I will have to leave at 3:30, so this will be the only round 

of questions I will be able to be a part of. 

Ms. Perry, have you currently benefited from any of the veterans 

programs or farming programs that Mr. Baccam has mentioned? 

Ms. PERRY. Thank you for the question. I am sad to say the answer is no. We are in close communication with our local USDA office. We have had several meetings talking about the Farm Service 

Agency and actually the Beginning Farmer/Rancher Program, 

where we have run into issues that we are an organization, we are 
26 

not an individual veteran, so we have actually sat in meetings 

where somebody said well, maybe one of your veterans could apply 

for a loan and buy the property. 

We just sort of have not found the avenues, and perhaps that is 

simply because it is a bureaucracy, but we are really looking for 

ways that we can work together and be supported as an organization because we would like to be a hub. We would like to be a resource hub. We would like to be that sort of front entry for veterans who may have an interest either vocationally or who are 

drawn out to the ranch because of the therapeutic aspect and the 

comradery, so we really view agriculture as a vehicle. 

We are still working on ways that USDA can help us. 

Senator MERKLEY. Mr. Baccam, I will not take the time now but 

can you follow up with us in terms of brainstorming about that 

particular obstacle and how groups which are really leveraging 

their resources to help many veterans might be eligible for some 

of these programs? 

Mr. BACCAM. Yes, Mr. Ranking Member, I would be happy to do 

that. 

[The information follows:] 

USDA has been promoting a three pillar approach to helping veterans who are 

interested in the business of agriculture which include: help veterans who are interested in farming and ranching; imbue veterans with the knowledge of farming and 

ranching and the agricultural industry; and help veterans when they are in need. 

Becoming Farmers and Ranchers 

Several USDA agencies provide access to land, capital, and opportunities to veterans who are interested in becoming farmers and ranchers. 

The Farm Service Agency (FSA) assists veterans with a two-pronged approach to 

becoming a farmer or rancher. FSA programs focus on the loans that make it possible for veterans to begin the work of farming and ranching as well as programs 

to promote the ownership of land. Since 2009 FSA has helped to provide $466 million in farm loans to veterans through Direct and Guaranteed Loans. Utilizing the 

direct loan programs and promoting their availability to veterans ensure that veterans are able to successfully enter the farming and ranching business. The fiscal 

year 2017 budget proposal requested an increase of $208 million for the direct operating loan program to be targeted for veteran farmers for a portion of the fiscal year 

to fund loans for approximately 3,800 veterans. Additionally, the fiscal year 2017 

Budget proposes a fee waiver for the guaranteed operating loan program as well as 

a $90,000 increase for new, beginning and veteran farmers and ranchers to support 

a certified training program to pre-qualify for all veterans to be pre-qualified for the 

FSA direct ownership loans upon completion of a program. 

FSA also helps with making land available for ownership. FSA implements the 

Transition Incentives Program (TIP) which is part of the Conservation Reserve Program (CRP). TIP is designed to help beginning farmers and ranchers—including veterans—find access to land. Retiring farmers with expiring CRP contracts can receive 

2 years’ worth of additional rental payments for leasing or selling land to beginning 

farmers and ranchers which is inclusive of veterans. In addition, the CRP Grasslands program allots additional ranking points for veterans, when determining 

which grasslands to accept into CRP. 

Another FSA program is Non-insured Crop Disaster Assistance Program (NAP), 

which provides financial assistance to producers of non-insurable crops when low 

yields, loss of inventory, or prevented planting occurs due to natural disasters. FSA 

waives the application fee for the NAP for applicants with limited resources, or beginning, or socially-disadvantaged, farmers, and ranchers, including veterans. FSA 

also reduces premiums on NAP buy-up coverage for limited resource, beginning, and 

socially-disadvantaged farmers and ranchers, including veterans. 

USDA’s Natural Resources Conservation Services (NRCS) administers the Agricultural Management Assistance Program (AMA), Environmental Quality Incentives 

Program (EQIP), and Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). Each program 

gives specific preference to eligible veteran farmers and ranchers, and EQIP and 

CSP provide specific prioritization of veteran farmers and ranchers within the beginning farmer and rancher special funding pools. AMA and EQIP provide specific 
27 

benefits for a veteran farmer or rancher to allow them to be eligible to receive a 

higher payment rate. Since 2014, NRCS has funded nearly 3,300 contracts and provided over $54.6 million to veterans through AMA, EQIP, and CSP. 

Through Rural Development (RD), veterans can access Value Added Producer 

Grants which support producers in ventures that will increase the return on their 

agriculture commodities through value-added projects. This program is designed to 

assist expansion of business at all stages. 

Obtaining Training and Knowledge 

USDA’s funding and support is key to the training programs for veterans who are 

interested in farming and ranching, giving them a network and support system to 

make their ideas a reality. 

Key to veterans in agriculture is programs that help train veterans to be successful in an agricultural business. Rural Development, USDA’s Office of Advocacy and 

Outreach, and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture have created programs to ensure the success of helping veterans train for jobs in the agricultural 

industry. 

The National Center for Appropriate Technology, through funding from USDA, 

runs the Armed to Farm program, which is veteran-specific training, consisting of 

a week long program. This program consistently receives high marks from veterans 

who have completed the training. The program connects veterans with USDA and 

extension services which are essential for any beginning farmers or ranchers. The 

skills that are taught in the Armed to Farm program are key to giving veterans a 

strong foundation in farming and the basic principles of ranching. The program 

touches upon everything from the creation of business plans and financial management to marketing assistance and making each veteran farmer’s goals a defined reality. 

Two other key programs for veteran training is the Beginning Farmer and Rancher Development Program (BFRDP) and AgrAbility. BFRDP provides grants to organizations for education training and technical assistance that is designed to help 

new farmers and those looking to begin farming. BFRDP has received $20 million 

annually in discretionary funding and has a 5 percent set aside for organizations 

that all or in part serve veterans. AgrAbility is focused on education and assistance 

to eliminate or minimize the challenges that disabled farmers and ranchers face. 

This is essential for veterans who have an interest in farming and ranching but may 

need special assistance due to injuries sustained during their time in the military. 

AgrAbility makes grants to organizations that provide assistance to those with disabilities. 

Getting Help 

USDA’s mission to help veteran includes housing and food assistance through the 

Rural Housing Service (RHS) and Food and Nutrition Service (FNS). 

RHS is a strong loan provider for veterans and their families. With more than 

12,000 direct and guaranteed loans to purchase single family homes and more than 

1,700 grants for making home repairs since 2009, RHS provides veterans with the 

loans necessary to purchase their first homes and make necessary improvements. 

In addition, repair grants have helped with accessibility enhancements at their 

homes that otherwise would shut them out of the farming and ranching community. 

With over $1.3 billion in obligations for Single Family Housing for veterans since 

2009, RHS has provided important loan abilities for veterans in rural communities. 

In addition to housing services, USDA also supports veterans through FNS food 

assistance programs. When a veteran is food insecure, FNS has programs such as 

Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program or Women, Infant, and Children, which 

veterans can access. FNS, along with MAZON, an anti-hunger organization, provided an accredited continuing education seminar for more than 12,000 Veterans 

Administration social workers and dietitians regarding the purpose of SNAP, the 

eligibility requirements, and application process. In funding initiatives like this, 

USDA is ensuring that veterans gain the most benefit from services and programs 

that are available to them. 

USDA Veterans Initiatives are key to providing access, education, and help to veterans who want to be in the farming and ranching business. The agricultural industry will continue to grow, and with veterans skills, discipline and desire to continue 

to serve their country, it is an industry where they will be welcomed with open 

arms. 

Senator MERKLEY. Thank you. Ms. Perry, you mentioned several 

elements of how the farming or ranching experience is relevant to 

our veterans in terms of the structure. You mentioned outdoors 
28 

work, physical work, completion of concrete tasks, caring for living 

things. 

I am imagining that another element might be that you are also 

in the proximity of other veterans who have shared your experience. Have you seen these items—do those observations come out 

of the experience of on the ground observations of working with 

veterans or has the ranch confirmed the theory that those things 

are important in the healing process? Let me put it that way. 

Ms. PERRY. Absolutely. We are seeing it on the ground. I feel like 

we are just at the tip of the iceberg as well because as I mentioned, 

agriculture is a vehicle. We send an e-mail every week to veterans 

in the community. My particular passion is combat veterans, so we 

actually are working on outreach to those difficult to engage veterans. 

So, we identify projects that we are working on and tasks that 

need to be done on the property. They come out together every 

week. On St. Patrick’s Day, we had 17 vets out, and they are 

spreading seed in the pasture, they are building shelters for the 

animals, trimming the trees for safety, fireproofing the property. 

So, it is coming through anecdotally right now. As Mr. Baccam 

mentioned earlier, I think there is a rich area for research to be 

done on how this is actually benefitting the vets. Right now, we are 

seeing it and hearing it. 

As I mentioned in my testimony, I have had several vets say the 

ranch has saved their lives. They have a reason to get up and get 

out of their house and get out of their head. We are starting to see 

more and more glue, so to speak, among vets with each other. 

Senator MERKLEY. Mr. LaGrange, as he described his operation, 

I think you are training veterans to be farmers. Ms. Perry, I think 

your operation has a little bit of a different angle and is providing 

an immediate kind of productive engagement, healing engagement 

for veterans. 

Are those two things closely associated or are they kind of different ways of being of assistance to veterans? 

Ms. PERRY. Thank you. I would say we have short-term goals 

and long-term goals. I think our long-term goal would be to provide 

more actual vocational opportunities. We are working very closely 

with the Extension Service, so we have had members of the Extension Service come out, do classes and tutorials. It has been rather 

informal. 

We are a start-up, so our big effort right now is building capacity. That is where we could most use assistance. We would like to 

see a more formalized vocational aspect. I am not sure if you have 

heard of Archi’s Acres down in California that is run by a Marine 

combat veteran. We are also in communication with Growing Veterans, which is an organic farm up in Bellingham, Washington, 

that is a functional, and I believe profitable, organic farm that is 

also doing a peer support program. 

Our goal is to increase the vocational component, but right now, 

in our start-up phase, what we are focused on and what we are 

seeing results with is the therapeutic component. 

Senator MERKLEY. Great. Mr. Chairman, again, thank you very 

much for holding this hearing. I think it raises interesting issues 
29 

for this subcommittee to work on. I applaud all of you for your 

work. 

I have felt that it is so hard for veterans to come back, they have 

been engaged with high responsibility and high risk, high adrenalin, they come back home and if they do not have kind of a job 

structure to fit into, that transition can become enormously difficult, and there are many ways to provide opportunity, and I think 

particularly you all are involved in an element that has quite a few 

very, very positive features for engagement and healing, and well 

done, and thank you. 

Senator MORAN. Senator Merkley, thank you for your cooperation 

in being able to have this hearing today. I now turn to the Senator 

from Montana, Senator Daines. 

Senator DAINES. Thank you, Chairman Moran, Ranking Member 

Merkley. Thank you for a very thoughtful and heartfelt discussion 

today, the testimony was excellent. I want to thank you for the 

service. There is a lot of years serving in the military here on this 

panel. 

Colonel Kanning, it is great to have Montanans here. I had a 

chance to go to a lot of these hearings as one of my proud Montanan moments to hear your story, see what you do with F–15s, F– 

16s, F–22s, F–117s, and my only correction would be you are still 

a somebody when you are back as a farmer in Flaxville, Montana. 

To quote your witness to your left, Mr. Ulrick, I think you are 

doing God’s work now back in Montana. You protected our country 

in the United States Air Force for 20 years. You are securing our 

country now by feeding it, and I thank you for that. 

Agriculture is our number one industry in Montana, and I am 

saying this to another Bobcat here, Bobcat to Bobcat. We are also 

home to 100,000 veterans. Typically, when we look at surveys, 

Montana has one of the highest per capita vet population in the 

United States. We are usually in the top two to four. 

One of our challenges is veteran unemployment, which has been 

a persistent issue in Montana and around the country. It is a top 

priority of mine to ensure that those who have served our country 

are able to effectively transition to civilian life and continue to 

apply the skills and the traits that are learned in the military so 

they can then benefit their communities. 

That is why I strongly believe that agriculture can provide significant opportunities for vets who bring invaluable leadership and 

knowledge to the workforce. 

Mr. Baccam, I am going to start with you. I was pleased to see 

the USDA reached an agreement with the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation earlier this year to provide more opportunities 

and tools for veterans to seek employment in ag or start their own 

farms by connecting the USDA’s Bridges to Opportunity Program 

with the Chamber’s Hiring Our Heroes Initiative. I think that is 

a great bridge. 

Unfortunately, this Bridges to Opportunity, which currently operates in 20 States, is not active in Montana. I sent a letter to Secretary Vilsack earlier this year urging the USDA to expand this 

program into Montana to ensure that Montana vets interested in 

ag have access to every tool available, including Bridges to Opportunity. 
30 

What would it take to expand this program into Montana and 

perhaps other States across the country? 

Mr. BACCAM. Senator, thank you for that question. At the USDA, 

we were very excited to sign the memorandum of understanding 

(MOU) with Hiring Our Heroes. That allowed us access to military 

bases to talk directly with veterans, to encourage them to get into 

farming or ranching. I will be looking forward to engaging with 

them moving forward. 

The Bridges to Opportunity Program is a very interesting way in 

which we can help veterans find resources, not just in the Farm 

Service Agency, but across the USDA as well. We are implementing 

this initiative, this service. We want it to be effective. We want to 

phase it in properly. I know we should expect a nationwide expansion hopefully by the end of this year. 

Senator DAINES. Is that saying we could expect that in Montana 

by the end of the calendar year? 

Mr. BACCAM. Senator, I believe we are working towards launching this nationwide very soon. 

Senator DAINES. Okay. I look forward to working further on that, 

I would love to add Montana as the 21st State if that is possible 

this year. Thanks for supporting that program. I would like to see 

it certainly expanded in our State as well. 

I want to switch over to Colonel Kanning. In your testimony, you 

highlight several programs within the USDA that were helpful in 

your own personal transition as a fourth generation farmer to civilian life after your time in the Air Force, 20 years outside of Montana coming home. 

How did you learn of these programs and what in your view 

could be done to ensure that other veterans in Montana and 

around the country are aware of the opportunities that agriculture 

can provide? 

Mr. KANNING. Thank you, Senator. I had a lot of training and 

education I needed when I went back to the farm because I did not 

intend to be a farmer as a young man. I did not get any farming 

education in college. I had no experience in farm management. 

One of the first places that I went to, Senator, was the local 

Farm Service Agency office in Daniels County. As Mr. Baccam has 

previously said, they are a great resource to any beginning farmer, 

whether they be a veteran or not. They have great programs that 

they will talk anybody through. 

I do want to highlight one organization that has helped me immensely, the Farmer Veteran Coalition. I am here today with a few 

other members of the Farmer Veteran Coalition who made trips 

from West Virginia and Virginia to sit in on this hearing. 

The Farmer Veteran Coalition gains funding through the 2501 

Program, and they do miracles with it, Senator. They really spread 

the word on all of the resources that are available to veterans, 

whether they be USDA programs or commercially available programs. It is an outstanding organization that really carries the 

banner for all veterans who are getting established in agriculture. 

I would encourage this body to continue to support the 2501 Program and I would encourage this body to fully fund and provide 

more funding to that program because it has made a big difference 

for me and thousands of veterans across the United States. 
31 

Senator DAINES. Thank you, Colonel Kanning. 

Senator MORAN. The Senator from Montana, Senator Tester. 

Senator TESTER. Yes, thank you, Mr. Chairman, and thanks for 

plugging our bill. Hopefully, we can get some more co-sponsors on 

that bad boy. 

I want to thank you all for being here, thank you for your testimony. Ms. Perry, I would love to have just a separate hearing with 

you, we could talk about PTSD and what we can do utilizing agriculture to help those folks because it is curable. It is like a broken 

arm. We just have to make sure the resources are out there. 

Mr. LaGrange, it is very good to have you here, especially considering you were a University of Montana student at one point in 

time in your life. 

Mr. LAGRANGE. Right now. 

Senator TESTER. Right now. That is good. The other thing is I 

would love to visit with you about pollinators and what is going on 

in that world. There are some pretty alarming statistics out there. 

I would be interested to know if you share the same. 

Mr. Kanning, thank you for being here. You talked about the 

2501 Program, Mr. Kanning. I guess the question is since that is 

a program that works, that you endorse, are there other programs 

out there that you endorse? Are there programs out there that do 

not work that we are putting money into that we should not be? 

Mr. KANNING. Senator, Mr. Baccam mentioned the Beginning 

Farmer/Rancher Development Program. That is a fantastic program also. Montana State University used some of that money to 

put together a program for beginning farmers. They delivered it 

during the Montana Grain Growers Convention, and it is absolutely fantastic. 

The benefits to all beginning farmers under the crop insurance 

title are fantastic also, and I think they are great. 

Are there programs that do not work? I believe there is a program that is rapidly and very soon will not work, and that is the 

Direct Operating Loan Program through USDA. I, personally, did 

not qualify for that. You have to get rejected twice by commercial 

lenders. I will tell you, in the military, it is very hard to develop 

bad credit in some aspects because the military flat out will not let 

you do it. They are not going to let you run around town bouncing 

checks. 

When you get out, you are going to have some kind of decent 

credit. I did not qualify for direct operating loans through USDA. 

The reason I say I think it is at risk is because as commodity prices 

drop, more and more banks are no longer approving loans for people like me, and there is going to be more and more of us who are 

now back into the direct operating loan bucket, and I believe USDA 

is going to run out of money pretty soon here on funds available 

for direct operating loans. 

Senator TESTER. In your written testimony, Mr. Kanning, you 

talked about the importance of rural development in making vibrant rural communities and attracting veterans back home. You 

talked a little bit about staffing, not only of the FSA office but also 

in Rural Development offices. 

Can you just talk to me about your experience? We as appropriators on this subcommittee on agriculture, and we are the ones 
32 

that see what that budget is going to be like, whether it is for that 

FSA office or whether it is for Rural Development, can you talk 

about what your experience has been in that regard? 

Mr. KANNING. Yes, Senator. Thank you. I am very passionate 

about rural America, rural Montana. In rural Montana, we provide 

a lot of great resources to Americans. Ranking Member Merkley 

mentioned, about 40 percent of military veterans are from rural 

America. 

Unfortunately, we send all these great assets out into the world 

and we get very little back. I believe one of the greatest ways for 

us to recruit talent back into our small rural communities is by focusing on the families. 

I believe spouses and children and servicemembers themselves 

want to come back to a community that has a strong, healthy 

school system. They want to come back to a community that has 

accessible healthcare in their town. 

We want to have a business. I am concerned about who is going 

to bury me when I die in the community I live in because there 

are not people coming back in to take over those businesses. 

We need to invest in some infrastructure in rural communities, 

and we need to have some type of recreation. I think having resources available to us through the Rural Development Grant Program are critical to recruiting talent back. 

For me, my local office is in Billings, Montana. It is 350 miles 

away. That is my closest office. We are currently trying to get a 

grant through them on a project at our fairgrounds, but it is 350 

miles away, my chances of getting somebody up to look at it are 

very difficult. 

I know that is not directly tangible, tying into why I farm and 

why I enjoy farming and why I am there farming, but it is something that factors into recruiting talent back into rural America. 

Senator TESTER. I agree with you 100 percent. I appreciate that 

perspective. Mr. Chairman, I have a statement that I want to make 

on Armed to Farm that the National Center for Appropriate Technology (NCAT) does. I will put it in as written, if you would do 

that. 

Senator MORAN. Without objection, so ordered. 

Senator TESTER. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I want to thank you 

all for your testimony. I wish I had an opportunity to visit with you 

all, but I do not. 

Just one correction, and I can say this because I farm about the 

same as Mr. Kanning does in Montana, I would love to say Mr. 

Kanning and I have big operations, but they are not by Montana 

standards, not at all. So, 1,700 acres is a lot in Central Illinois. It 

is not all that big in Montana, but that does not mean that it cannot be successful and an economic unit that supports a family, and 

sometimes even more than that. 

So, thank you all very much. 

Senator MORAN. Senator Tester, thank you very much. We will 

have another round of questions. I would like to direct this to Mr. 

LaGrange. I know you worked closely with the VA in Kansas, and 

I know you are working hard to get your SAVE Program well on 

its way to meet the needs of veterans with PTSD and traumatic 

brain injuries. 
33 

What is the estimate by the VA for people that could be served 

by your program, and what is your sense of how many people are 

now not receiving the care and treatment they need as a result of 

having those injuries? 

Mr. LAGRANGE. Well, as I mentioned, we have had several VA 

representatives working with us to design this farm. We have designed it for 100 students and their family members. I guess the 

short answer is they believe our farm is about 25 percent of the 

need. Their recommendation is that we expand the clinic and the 

farm to handle at least four times the number of members that we 

have designed it for. 

Again, I would like to express the numbers, 1,500,000 vets, 

800,000 transitioning military, the need for a million new farmers. 

It is going to take a pretty bold program to address that need. 

Therefore, we have designed this again as one farm on one land 

grant university. 

This Nation has a beautiful array of, I think, 78 land grant universities, and ideally, if every one of those farms had such a program, we could begin to address those numbers. 

At large, bold efforts like that will only make marginal differences until such time as we deal with the big numbers, and the 

fact that our farm probably only meets 25 percent of the need in 

a small area in Kansas is symptomatic of the fact that we probably 

are going to have to look to other land grants to adopt programs 

like this in order to take on the huge demand for new and younger 

farmers in the future. 

What a beautiful body to take them from, young, disciplined folks 

that can fly F–16s or F–17s or M–1 tanks. Last year, when we visited an equipment sales facility, the manufacturer was telling us 

how difficult it was to drive a combine today because it is so sophisticated. So, said one of our soldiers, let me give it a try. Within 

10 minutes, he drove that combine around that facility, because he 

had the skills to do so. 

Furthermore, most of these soldiers come with a retirement of 

some sort, disability or otherwise. They come with medical care. So, 

they have a leg up on others who would start farming because they 

have those resources that others might not have. They have real 

desire, firm desire, to farm. 

So, it is a tremendous opportunity but to deal with the kinds of 

numbers that are demanded here, it is going to take a large, bold 

effort in order to meet them. 

Senator MORAN. Tell me the role that the land grant colleges 

play, will you re-describe that for me? 

Mr. LAGRANGE. Yes. Programmatically, in our case, the Office of 

Extension develops the programs for this farm. Incremental programs that are all encompassing, so in addition to the hands on 

cattle and crops, it will learn farm economics, it will learn the role 

of FSA and NRCS, EQIP, and all the governmental and non-governmental organizations and how they come knit together as a 

quilt of agriculture. So, extension will be the primary program driver. 

The instructors will come from extension also, a full spectrum 

view of farming. The College of Architecture is most interested in 

making sure that this design is functional, innovative, and can 
34 

teach these farmers the best ways to build things and make things 

work. The College of Agriculture is quite interested in teaching the 

most modern methods. 

So, the number of 63 percent of our farms in the last generation 

is every type of farm, it is a 2,000 or 5,000 wheat farm and it is 

a 35-acre self-sustaining farm. No matter what type of farm it is, 

they are in their last generation. Beekeepers of the country cannot 

find folks to take over their large operations. 

So, the scope and scale of this problem is significant, and requires bold action. 

Senator MORAN. Thank you. Mr. Ulrick, why were you able to access this program? Was it just happenstance that you met Mr. LaGrange, and what does that mean to other servicemen and women, 

veterans, in the circumstance that you found yourself in? What is 

your sense of the demand for the kind of opportunity that you were 

provided? 

Mr. ULRICK. Senator, to answer your question, I met Gary LaGrange through the farm program they were trying to put together 

during the Wounded Warrior unit that was at Fort Riley, Kansas, 

which I was a part of the unit. 

I have to kind of confess one thing, I missed one page of my testimony which explained all of that. 

Senator MORAN. I am glad I asked the question. 

Mr. ULRICK. Yes. If you would like me to read my page, I will 

answer your questions for you. 

Senator MORAN. That would be just fine. There is no member of 

the Senate who does not understand the opportunity to speak a little longer. You are doing it well. 

Mr. ULRICK. All right. What I did is I missed the second page 

of my first part. This is my first chance here, so I am actually really kind of excited. I am not quite as nervous as I was before. 

As you know, many soldiers come back from deployments seeing 

the world in a different way. Many have deep depressions that 

keep them from entering back into society and fitting in well and 

adjusted. We can see that many take their lives because of the adjustment issues, just like the one we had at Kent State just the 

other night. 

I believe we can restore the basic thoughts and the goals of the 

American dream, freedom includes the opportunity of prosperity, 

success, and achieving through hard work in a society with few 

barriers. Many soldiers do not make the change from being a soldier to being a civilian very well. Many have struggles because 

they have been in positions of leadership, being in charge of many 

operational needs of the military that do not directly transfer to the 

civilian jobs or lifestyle. 

It has been proven that working with livestock is like having a 

service dog as a companion. People taking a course at the SAVE 

farm will be able to learn a new way of life that uses the things 

they have been taught about scheduling, planning, managing, and 

being in charge of their lives. Basically, all that stuff that we have 

been taught in the military about doing operational things, doing 

different mission accomplishment stuff, will come back and can fit 

some of that stuff directly back into the farm programs where you 

cannot in normal civilian jobs at factories and that type of thing. 
35 

So, actually, it still leaves them in those positions of leadership. 

It is actually a family value thing. Farming is actually a family 

way of life. That is the only way I can explain it, and that is why 

I was talking about God’s work. 

I have owned a farm since I was 18 years old. I went in the military to fly helicopters after a bad divorce. People have been there. 

The thing is I have always kept my farm. I was in a special operations unit and then I came back and I bought another farm when 

I got married. My wife and I raised 10 kids. There is not a better 

place to raise children than on a farm. I am speaking from the hip. 

The thing is if we do not help these soldiers become farmers, 

pretty soon there is going to be big corporate farms and pretty soon 

we will be punching a timecard going to work, and it is not going 

to be owned by families. It is going to be owned by large corporations. 

If we can get it back to the lower levels where the families can 

own these, this is what we really need to push for. 

Anyway, thank you for letting me testify, and I hope I answered 

your questions, and I welcome more of them. 

Senator MORAN. Thank you very much. 

Senator Daines. 

Senator DAINES. Thank you, Mr. Chairman. I just have a couple 

of follow up questions for Colonel Kanning. You mentioned the similarities between the characteristics that are common among both 

veterans as well as farmers, including the critical importance of 

being dedicated, disciplined, and willing to sacrifice. 

How can ag assist veterans in transitioning to civilian life even 

for those where farming may not have been something they grew 

up with or a life long dream as it was for you? 

Mr. KANNING. Thank you, Senator. For me, personally, ag has 

helped out because he gave me a mission again, and in the military, we get used to having missions all the time, going out to accomplish a specific task, and then look back and de-brief and see 

what we did right and what we did wrong. 

We can do that with agriculture. At the end, we produce a tangible result. We are not sitting in an office answering a phone 

every single day. We are producing a result. I think that is very 

helpful to a veteran. 

I think the risks and rewards are fantastic also. It gives you a 

sense of adventure again. It gives you a reason to get going in the 

morning, because you do not know what the risks are going to be 

or what the rewards are going to be each and every day. There are 

new challenges. 

I think the team work and comradery that we get in the military 

is also very apparent every single day. It is on my farm. I am a 

farmer of one. I get the team work and comradery from working 

with my neighbors, working with my community on projects. When 

my neighbor has a problem with a tractor or needs some help pulling a calf, he calls me. 

So, we develop great team work and comradery out there. 

So, I think there are a lot of ways that ag can benefit veterans. 

I believe there are a lot of ways that veterans can benefit ag as 

well, and ag communities. 
36 

Senator DAINES. Kind of following up on that, as you look back 

at your own 20 years of service in the Air Force, what has been 

particularly useful from the skills learned or valuable to you as you 

transitioned from military service to farming? 

Mr. KANNING. Senator, we spend a lot of time in training in the 

military. I mean I got trained one time how to walk up and walk 

down a ladder. It does not matter what it is you think you are 

going to do, you are going to get training for it, whether you want 

it or need it or not. 

I think that was instilled in me over and over in the military and 

it has really been beneficial to me in my transition because it 

forced me to go seek training and education opportunities, like 

those you can get through the Farmer Veteran Coalition, like all 

the great programs that Farm Credit puts on all across America, 

training and education programs. 

Leadership development is very important also in my transition. 

Obviously, it does not matter whether you are an E–3 or an O–10, 

the military is always going to continue to develop your leadership 

skills. That is something that we greatly need out in rural America. There is fantastic leadership opportunities out there, and there 

are plenty of opportunities to use those leadership skills that are 

developed in the military. 

So, I think those are some of the primary ones, Senator. 

Senator DAINES. We met earlier today. You brought up the steep 

learning curve that you dealt with when you returned back to the 

farm, and such challenges can be obstacles to veterans or other individuals who have an interest in starting up a farm or perhaps 

a ranch. 

We talked about the declining rural communities. They are facing declining populations, changing the demographics. Flaxville 

used to have a high school. They do not any more. It is now Scobey. 

What can be done to reverse or mitigate that trend and reduce 

the number of obstacles that younger generations face in trying to 

start in agriculture? 

Mr. KANNING. Well, Senator, I think there are a lot of great programs out there. To get young, out of high school, young 20-yearolds, maybe straight out of college families back into agriculture, 

there are a lot of great programs to get older folks back into agriculture after a career in the military or any other business sector, 

to draw them back in. 

I do strongly believe we need to invest in rural America through 

rural development programs because if the family does not want to 

come back to a place like Scobey, Montana, then you are never 

going to get a farmer like me back there. We have to entice them 

through having good healthcare and strong schools and a vibrant 

business community, great economy. 

I think it is important for us to invest in programs like I mentioned previously, the 2501 Program, and the Beginning Farmer/ 

Rancher Development Grants, so that we can help spread the word 

among veterans, so we can provide them training and education, so 

they can find—if we give them a list or knowledge or awareness 

of the programs that are out there, Senator, the veterans will find 

a way to overcome the challenges they face. 
37 

That is what we do. That is what we did for however long we 

served. We came into a challenge and we figured out how to solve 

it. If we invest in training and education, the veterans will figure 

out how to overcome those challenges. 

Senator DAINES. Thanks, Colonel Kanning. 

Senator MORAN. Mr. LaGrange, Senator Merkley asked Ms. 

Perry about whether her program was accessing the programs described by the Secretary. I would ask you the same question. Is 

there something at the Department of Agriculture that is advantageous to you and your mission? 

Mr. LAGRANGE. I have been working with Lanon Baccam now for 

some while, and he has been most supportive of what we are doing. 

I think he is right along beside us as we move along. I cannot 

speak for him, of course. 

We are finding ways that can work. USDA is engaged with us 

in our farm tour program. We spend a day with them, as I mentioned earlier, on each farm tour. We are exploring opportunities 

through the rural initiatives to help us out. As of today, we have 

not taken advantage of any, but we are working together to figure 

that out. 

One of the hurdles, I guess you could say, is that again with 

numbers this big, it is going to take the Veterans Administration 

and the Department of Defense and others working side by side to 

solve a problem of this magnitude. 

So, we are exploring ways to try to bring them into this. I met 

with leaders of the Army for Life Program and others, too, and 

there are some hurdles for us to get through. 

It is difficult for a young soldier transitioning to find the time or 

be given the time to participate in programs like SAVE or any of 

the others that have been talked about here because during the 

last 180 days, they must engage in apprenticeships that are only 

governmental in nature. They cannot participate in a program like 

Kansas State University, they cannot participate with SAVE. They 

would like to be able to, but they are prohibited from doing so by 

DOD regulation and by different acts. 

Given the number of folks that we have that want to engage in 

agriculture, that is a stumbling block. We would have many more 

in our program if we could figure out ways to get beyond those bureaucratic hurdles. 

So, Secretary Baccam is working with us to try to figure out how 

we can do that. After all, this program is for all services. So far, 

we have worked with the United States Army and regional Veterans Administration. We have not been able to touch any of the 

other services yet because of some of the DOD hurdles we cannot 

get over. 

So, a coalition of sorts or some sort of interagency approach to 

solving a problem of this magnitude is really necessary if any of 

these programs are going to work. 

Senator MORAN. Secretary Baccam or Colonel LaGrange, do you 

have any sense that somebody at the Department of Defense is the 

right person, the right office, in which these issues could be resolved or at least attempted to be resolved? Is there somebody at 

DOD that cares about this and is working on it? 
38 

Mr. BACCAM. Absolutely, Mr. Chairman. The Transition to Veterans Program office in the Office of the Secretary of Defense is a 

close partner with us at the USDA. We have been working with 

them to make sure that USDA is at the table when we discuss agriculture as an option for veterans. 

As Mr. LaGrange has noted, we can with our connections now, 

with the Military Veterans Agriculture Liaison position at the 

USDA, put Mr. LaGrange in contact with the right folks at DOD 

or SBA or Department of Labor, or VA, as we hear things. I have 

done that in the past, as I have met with folks. 

With our partnership with SAVE, I believe we can work together 

a lot stronger, because there are ways, I believe, in which we can 

take a look at the Rural Development Office and see if there are 

programs that can help with Mr. LaGrange’s program, and the rest 

of the programs at the USDA will be beneficial when these veterans complete these courses, when they start to become farmers 

or ranchers, we can be there to help them and catch them on their 

way out to assist them with purchasing farm land and getting 

homes and helping revitalize these rural communities, as Mr. 

Kanning has focused on as well. 

Senator MORAN. Thank you. Let me see if any of you have anything you would like to make certain is said today that you have 

not been given the opportunity to say. 

Ms. Perry. 

Ms. PERRY. Thank you, Senator. This is coming from the voice 

of some veterans back home. I have not met one veteran in my 

community, and as I mentioned, we have 20,000 veterans in Central Oregon, who was aware of USDA resources or knew where to 

go to find anything out about farming and ranching programs. It 

was sort of like completely novel and new to them. 

So, I think you mentioned, Mr. Baccam mentioned outreach programs. I think it is important to assist the USDA in getting the 

word out to more veterans, increasing the awareness in education, 

and that might look like more communication between USDA and 

VA, and more information in vet centers and VA clinics for veterans to become more aware. 

Also, I think there is a challenge with veterans having difficulty 

particularly if they are struggling with post-traumatic stress and 

traumatic brain injury and different conditions in navigating bureaucracy. So, I had a vet in my office last week making phone 

calls for him with the VA to help him out because it was completely overwhelming to him and he ends up getting frustrated and 

hanging up the phone. 

So, to streamline or simplify some of those entry level access to 

USDA programs for vets so that they are going from one system 

where they are completely overwhelmed. I think the VA has done 

a good job of trying with the Transitions Program, the OAF Program, of implementing programs that help take the veteran by the 

hand and guide them through the bureaucracy, so perhaps the 

USDA might have something similar where there is a very specific, 

hey, I am the veterans’ outreach person, I am here to help you 

navigate all these programs and find which one is a fit for you. 

Senator MORAN. That is a good point, and I would say the USDA 

has an FSA office in nearly every county in the country where it 
39 

is accessible. I do not know if those offices would be promoting or 

finding ways to have a veterans’ fair, for example, to tell veterans 

in the area about those opportunities. 

I would guess that normally we think that falls to the VA, which 

does not have an office in every county in the country, and while 

we have traveling veteran representatives, there are lots of issues 

that our veterans face that the VA is involved in. This may not be 

something that is highlighted in those conversations. 

Mr. LaGrange, in response to what Ms. Perry said, the individuals that are participating in your SAVE program, they know 

about it because? 

Mr. LAGRANGE. We are changing our culture, I think. When I 

first began this program over 3 years ago, I met with counselors 

on the Department of Defense side, the Veterans Administration 

side, the Tuition Assistance Program folks. I went to job fairs. 

Not once was agriculture ever mentioned. It was not in the vocabulary of VA or DOD. It clearly was not. There just was not a 

program there. In fact, in the initial meetings that I went to, the 

myth that exists out there that farming is a dead end career was 

brought up on several occasions. 

I was asked in the midst of a bunch of veterans who wanted to 

get into farming why on earth I would ever want to lead them into 

farming because it is a dead end career. I debunked that right 

away by asking her, in this case, a her, and in another case, a him, 

whether there was a business plan for the farm that they grew up 

on. 

I told them that our tours were to high value farms where they 

could learn how to farm properly and correctly. It was not easy but 

they would be shown farms where success was the byword. 

So, I think we began to change and still have to change that 

myth out there. It was hard to get the word out. The VA folks we 

worked with finally saw the virtues of this program, the merits of 

it, and began to put the word out to veterans in their area that we 

had this program. The Wounded Warrior Battalion Commander 

saw it at Fort Riley and others, occupational specialists saw this 

as having merit, and began to grow the program. 

There is still a lot of work that has to be done in getting the 

word out that this is a viable way to pursue life, and a good rich 

way to pursue life. 

That is the part of it that I mentioned before, getting the upper 

levels of those stovepipes to understand that there is value in this, 

and to take a coalition, an interagency approach to making sure 

that agriculture is properly represented as a viable career choice, 

lifestyle choice. 

It was mostly found out about through word of mouth through 

a few counselors at Fort Riley that wished to investigate this, so 

it is growing, I think. I think the word is getting out. Advocacy at 

all levels is clearly required to represent agriculture as something 

good and wholesome and valuable. 

Senator MORAN. My guess is the answer to that question is your 

tenacity is what caused people to learn about the program. 

Mr. Secretary, I asked you about the Department of Defense and 

you indicated who there would be most responsible for helping address some of the issues that were talked about. What would be the 
40 

companion at the Department of Veterans Affairs? Where in the 

VA is this highlighted and focused on? 

Mr. BACCAM. Mr. Chairman, thank you for the question. There 

is an Office of Training and Employment that we work with closely 

at the VA to make sure the programs that we have are available 

to veterans. 

I would like to real quickly touch on some of the challenges that 

Ms. Perry and Mr. LaGrange have highlighted. It is true, USDA 

has not had a chance to really sell agriculture at the national level 

with veterans. Just late last year, our former Deputy Secretary 

Krysta Harden, signed an agreement with DOD to incorporate information about USDA and agriculture into the packet of information all veterans or all servicemembers are required to take at the 

Transition Assistance Program (TAP). 

This is really key because it is really difficult to find veterans 

who are interested in farming after they get out, in the sense that 

if they are in the military currently and they are still a 

servicemember, they have a commanding officer who can compel 

them, you need to go take this training, or you need to go through 

this course. 

So, with TAP and with USDA being incorporated into the information packet, that is a first touch. With our recent signing of the 

memorandum of understanding with Hiring Our Heroes, this is 

huge for us because we now have an opportunity to introduce agriculture face to face with veterans all across the country. 

The transition summits that Hiring Our Heroes coordinates on 

with DOD, they put on these, what I think, are the premiere employment summits for veterans, and we can talk to them when 

they are still in the service so they can start thinking about what 

they are going to do when they get out. 

We launched an ag workshop just two weeks ago in Fort Bliss, 

in El Paso, Texas, the first time we ever had a chance to do this. 

We had no idea how many people would show up. It was standing 

room only in a room like this. People were lined up outside the 

door trying to get in to see our presentation. 

Our workshop was the second most well attended workshop only 

to law enforcement. That tells me there is huge interest, huge opportunity here for us to continue to talk about the opportunities in 

farming or ranching, in agriculture, in rural America, because veterans really want it, and we are going to continue work over the 

next several months this year to make sure we attend more of 

these transition summits, launch more of these workshops, and 

talk to as many veterans as possible. 

Senator MORAN. Mr. Secretary, you seem very committed, and I 

appreciate that attitude and approach. Thank you very much. Perhaps our hearing today will be of assistance in informing and getting attention to an opportunity that we hope exists for many, 

many veterans. 

Therefore, unless anybody else has—— 

Mr. Ulrick. 

Mr. ULRICK. I would like to comment on what Gary was talking 

about, people being negative and saying they cannot do it. We were 

told the sound barrier could not be broke. Years ago when I was 

a kid, everybody said, oh, it cannot be done, you cannot start farm-
41 

ing, you just cannot do it. It can be done and I have proved it. I 

got 280 acres in Minnesota, and I do not have a big monster mansion I live in or anything like that, and I piecemealed it together, 

and I worked a couple of jobs and I supported it and did those 

kinds of things. 

These young guys and gals need to learn, and I believe they will 

learn this at the SAVE farm, how to manage money, how to keep 

their values in check, also how to keep their vision in check. It is 

part of that American dream, if they overspend, they are going to 

put themselves in a burden where they are not going to be happy. 

I think we can also help them learn how to be happy, manage 

their lives, and be productive and do what they need to do. Thank 

you, Senator. 

Senator MORAN. Thank you very much. I appreciate each and 

every one of you being here today and thank you for spending the 

time you have spent with me and my colleagues on this subcommittee, and the Agriculture Appropriations Subcommittee will 

have a budget to work and an appropriation bill to work that will 

include the potential of dealing with the issues in the President’s 

budget or issues that members of the subcommittee want to raise 

in regard to appropriations to USDA. 

I again thank you all for being here. I thank you for your service. 

There is no group of people I hold in higher regard than those who 

served our country with perhaps the exception of those who served 

our country who now serve others who served our country. Many 

of you are certainly in that circumstance, and I am grateful for 

that. 

Thanks for caring. I am of the view we change the world one 

soul, one person at a time, and your programs, your own lives, and 

your own families had the opportunity to do that. 

SUBCOMMITTEE RECESS

Senator MORAN. I thank again everyone for their attendance, 

and our hearing is adjourned. 

[Whereupon, at 4:11 p.m., Tuesday, April 5, the subcommittee 

was recessed, to reconvene subject to the call of the chair.] 

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