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I had the opportunity to interview 2 extremely dedicated and super insipring people who are veterans, farmers, educators, PHd students, and mentors for so many veterans who are considering a career in farming. This is career #2 for both of them. But Why did they pick Farming?

With one-third of American farmers over the age of 60, there is a critical shortage of individuals entering the agriculture industry. At the same time, there is a record number of veterans experiencing unemployment, PTSD, suicide, and other challenges that naturally follow almost two decades of sustained war.​

Matthew and Kara Rutter, discuss their journey into farming post-military and why they are on a mission to increase the number of farmers while helping their fellow veterans.

Matt & Kara have created a few business models all focused on helping veterans get into farming and successfully stay in farming including Project Victory Gardens, Farms of the Brave, Farmer’s Bootcamp which is like a mini shark tank experience for wannabe farmers, Rutter’s ranch which is their own for profit farm business, and there are also projects that have been born out of their PHD pursuits in agriculture.

Matt & Kara are connected to Jeanette Lombardo from Farmer’s Veteran Coalition, the Global Agritorusim NEtwork and Will Culler from Clemson U who coordinates the ag and art tours in South Carolina. Join me as we learn more about how Matt & Kara are motivating our veterans to pursue all sorts of careers in farming.
Farms of the Brave
Rutters Ranch
Project Victory Gardens
Farmer Bootcamp
Farmers Veteran Coalition
South Carolina's Ag & Art Tour

Join us for an exciting 'm/cocktail hour' for chocolate lovers at Berkshire Farm Sanctuary! Start with a chocolate mocktail & some delicious charcuterie. Experience how chocolate is made from bean to bar. Savor the tastes of real chocolate from around the world and depart with some of your favorite chocolate bars. All proceeds support the rescued farm animals! Register @ Berkshire Farm Sanctuary.

Grounded in Maine Podcast hosted by Amy Fagan is an open conversation about being mindful about how we show up for the world. Amy is passionate about learning how we can be sustainable in all aspects of life.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to The Agri-Tourist Podcast, for supporting our inspirational guests, and for sharing my personal journey back to agriculture.

• Agri-Tourist.com
• HeartBeet Farms
• Instagram
• About Jen Ross, The Agri-Tourist Podcast Host
• Global Agritourism Network

Send us a text

On Agri-Tourist Episode #4 we hosted Shelby Watson-Hampton, author of Grace, Grit & Lipstick and co-owner of Robin Hill Farm & Vineyards in Maryland. I was heading down to South Carolina and my half way point was Maryland. I reached out to Shelby to see if she would be available to connect at her vineyard on a specific evening and, lucky for me, she was available, and so were 10 other local farm women and entrepreneurs. Shelby created an evening of wine, charcuterie, book discussion, connection and mini podcast interviews.

Part II of our visit to Robin Hill Farm & Vineyards begins with my interview with Jennifer Harris who manifested her way from a farm in Washington State to Washington DC. Jennifer has always asked, “what is behavior change and how does communications play a role in that? “ Hence, her career has been in Communications within the government sector focused on agriculture and the environment.

Next I interviewed Sydney Garner who grew up on a 3500 acre, generational, conventional family grain farm that grew corn, soybeans and wheat. These products are not direct to consumer products and get a bad rap at times. Sydney taught us about how her farm works to ensure that their farming and production doesn't impact the local Bays.

Caroline Trossbach was born and raised on a 4th generation Maryland farm. She is an Agricultural development specialist supporting farm businesses in her county. We had a great discussion about the evolution of farmers markets and ultimately why farmers are turning more to agritourism.

Lastly, I interviewed Shari Bryant. Shari’s love for horses started when she was a young girl. Shari built a career in accounting, but she knew her life would involve horses. She launched FoxFire Farm where they do horseback trail riding paired with wine tasting at the next door vineyard…this is such a creative agritourism venture.

Shelby’s Book - Grace Grit & Lipstick
Robin Hill Farm & Vineyards
Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission
FoxFire Farm

Join us for an exciting 'm/cocktail hour' for chocolate lovers at Berkshire Farm Sanctuary! Start with a chocolate mocktail & some delicious charcuterie. Experience how chocolate is made from bean to bar. Savor the tastes of real chocolate from around the world and depart with some of your favorite chocolate bars. All proceeds support the rescued farm animals! Register @ Berkshire Farm Sanctuary.

Grounded in Maine Podcast hosted by Amy Fagan is an open conversation about being mindful about how we show up for the world. Amy is passionate about learning how we can be sustainable in all aspects of life.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to The Agri-Tourist Podcast, for supporting our inspirational guests, and for sharing my personal journey back to agriculture.

• Agri-Tourist.com
• HeartBeet Farms
• Instagram
• About Jen Ross, The Agri-Tourist Podcast Host
• Global Agritourism Network

Send us a text

On the Agri-Tourist Episode #4 we hosted Shelby Watson-Hampton, author of Grace, Grit & Lipstick and co-owner of Robin Hill Farm & Vineyards. I was heading down to a wedding in SC and my 1st stop was Maryland. I always say that I want to visit and connect in person…and I really do mean it. I reached out to Shelby to see if she would be available to meet at her vineyard. She was available, and so were 10 other local farm women and entrepreneurs. Shelby created an evening of wine, charcuterie, book discussion, connection and mini podcast interviews. Next is a series of mini podcast interviews with some inspirational farm women.

• First up is Susan Watson White, co-owner of Robin Hill Farm & Vineyards and Shelby’s Aunt! During Shelby’s interview, we spoke a lot about her Aunt and the leadership role she took on at the farm when her father/Shelby’s grandfather suddenly passed away.
• Next up is Tasha Dickerson. She is new to Shelby’s farm group but not new to growing. Many will relate to her story, her desire to get into farming, and her practical thinking about how she needs to approach this passion and journey.
• Next you will meet with Mika Palmer who grew up in farming and now is part of her husband’s hay and straw business. We sometimes just say that someone grows hay…but we don’t stop to think about what that really means...it’s a lot more intricate than we make it out to be.
• Amy Crone is the next interview. Among the many things that Amy does, she is helping to feed Americans! The need for what she is doing and the impact of what she is doing is extraordinary!

Enjoy my conversations with each of these amazing women and check out next week's episode for Part II of my visit to Robin Hill Farm & Vineyards!

Shelby’s Book - Grace Grit & Lipstick
The Farmed Life
Robin Hill Farm & Vineyards
Palmer Farms LLC
Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission
Hops Scratch Farm
Marketlink.org
The Farmers Food Assistance Bureau

Join us for an exciting 'm/cocktail hour' for chocolate lovers at Berkshire Farm Sanctuary! Start with a chocolate mocktail & some delicious charcuterie. Experience how chocolate is made from bean to bar. Savor the tastes of real chocolate from around the world and depart with some of your favorite chocolate bars. All proceeds support the rescued farm animals! Register @ Berkshire Farm Sanctuary.

Grounded in Maine Podcast hosted by Amy Fagan is an open conversation about being mindful about how we show up for the world. Amy is passionate about learning how we can be sustainable in all aspects of life.

Thank you for taking the time to listen to The Agri-Tourist Podcast, for supporting our inspirational guests, and for sharing my personal journey back to agriculture.

• Agri-Tourist.com
• HeartBeet Farms
• Instagram
• About Jen Ross, The Agri-Tourist Podcast Host
• Global Agritourism Network