Oct 23 2024 42 mins
Our guest on this episode, Jeff Jeffers, could pinpoint the exact moment he knew farming was the career for him following military service. It came after a retreat with the Farmer Veteran Coalition and in the car ride home, Jeff looked over at this soon-to-be co-founder, Steve, and said, “We’re gonna be freakin’ farmers”.
James “Jeff” Jeffers is the co-founder of a non-profit based in Dallas, TX called F.A.R.M. – Farmers Assisting Returning Military. Jeff and the team at FARM are dedicated to providing military veterans with internships, educational opportunities, and hands-in-the-dirt experience through a variety of agricultural settings.
Jeff grew up outside Indianapolis playing in the woods and eventually falling in love with the outdoors through hunting and fishing. After high school and a brief stint working in Florida, he fell victim to one of the Army’s 1990s “Be All You Can Be” television advertisements and literally signed up the next day.
This began a multi-year, multi-deployment experience in the US Army infantry starting before 9/11 and encompassing several deployments to Iraqi during the height of the fighting. After several close calls with enemy grenades and a car bomb, Jeff was medically retired with a traumatic brain injury and began the uncertain journey of building a life outside the Army.
This episode is all about that journey and Jeff’s passion today for helping veterans in agriculture. He provides some of the most practical and down-to-earth advice for military veterans looking to get involved in ag I’ve ever heard. If you’re interested in getting started in farming after the miliary, then this episode is a must listen!