Led by faculty in Appalachian State's Goodnight Family Sustainable Development and Communication Departments, Frontline to Farm held its forth annual veteran farmer training program June 9-13, 2025, at Appalachian State University. Frontline to Farm offers sustainable agriculture training programs for military veterans and beginning farmers. This year, 18 new and 12 returning veterans attended a week-long “boot camp,” with morning class time on farming topics, including woodland medicinals production, forestry for farmers, and financing, among others, and afternoon farm tours, including visits to New Life Farm, Browns Farm Ridge, and Heritage Homestead. Trainees are encouraged to return each year to connect with each other and to work with farm consultants in the Southern Appalachian region. A highlight each summer is a farm dinner at the Shipley Farm, and this year, Chancellor Heather Norris joined the event and spoke with attendees about community and resilience. Drs. Anne Fanatico and Lynn Gibbard co-founded the Frontline to Farm program in 2020 and operate it with the help of students. Fanatico said, "It is exciting to see the university and town come together in community-based agriculture and to support new farmer veterans."
Frontline to Farm logo
Frontline to Farm logo