Sumter veteran awarded $1,000 to support his farm

STAFF REPORT

Veteran Kenzie James of Sumter was recently awarded $1,000 to support his farm, Relinoca Farms LLC, by Tractor Supply Co., the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, and the Farmer Veteran Coalition.

According to a news release, the grant is part of Tractor Supply's $100,000 donation to FVC's Fellowship Fund, which provides direct assistance to veterans in their beginning years of farming or ranching. James is one of 50 veterans to receive a $1,000 Tractor Supply gift card to purchase items crucial to supporting their farm business. The Tractor Supply Company Foundation has also awarded an additional $50,000 to FVC to benefit farmer veterans through grants and programming.

"Our longstanding support for veterans is rooted in our mission and values," said Marti Skold-Jordan, manager of the Tractor Supply Company Foundation, in the release. "Agriculture offers a sense of purpose and opportunity ideally suited for veterans beginning new careers. Through our donation to the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund, Tractor Supply is honored to support these new farmers by providing them with the supplies, equipment and materials that are critical to their success."

Relinoca Farms LLC is a small plant nursery owned by James and his wife, Charlotte James, which specializes in growing plant starts for herbs and vegetables and native and naturalized perennials and pollinator plants. With the money, the Jameses plan to finalize the purchase of more than 8 acres adjacent to their current plant nursery and to automate current operations by installing drip irrigation. Prior to launching Relinoca Farms LCC, Kenzie served in the United States Air Force for 18 years.

This is the sixth year Tractor Supply has partnered with FVC to assist farmer veterans from all branches of service as part of its ongoing commitment to veteran causes. Through the joint initiative, the company has provided more than $550,000 in gift cards and funding to FVC, assisting more than 350 farmer veterans nationwide.

"Agricultural start-ups can require the acquisition of substantial tools and equipment to become operational, so the continued support Tractor Supply provides is very much appreciated by our members and the communities they feed," said FVC executive director Jeanette Lombardo in the release. "TSC is not only a longtime supporter of the FVC, but daily they walk alongside our members as they grow and expand their operations. They have become an integral partner and assisting us in achieving our mission throughout the country."

Fellowship winners are chosen by a team of seasoned agriculture industry professionals. Applications are evaluated based on farm training, experience and/or transferable skills, level of personal investment in their farm business and ability to show how an award will help grow their farm business. Applicants were also asked to share their vision for how their business would support their communities.

To learn more about Tractor Supply's FVC partnership, visit TractorSupply.com/Military.

About Farmer Veteran Coalition

Farmer Veteran Coalition is the nation's largest nonprofit organization assisting veterans and active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces embarking on careers in agriculture. With the mission of mobilizing veterans to feed America, it provides education, resources and small grants and fosters the collaboration of the farming and military communities to cultivate a new generation of farmers and food leaders. FVC simultaneously offers veterans a new purpose on America's farms. Established in 2008, its in-house programs include the Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund small grant program, the nationally recognized Homegrown by Heroes label for veteran-grown products and national and regional conferences. FVC has been successful in getting millions of dollars of USDA funds appropriated for farmer veterans and the groups that support them. They have built an extended community of organizations that look to them for leadership and guidance as the pioneer in this military-to-agriculture movement. Learn more at www.farmvetco.org or follow on Facebook or Instagram at @FarmerVeteranCoalition and Twitter at @FarmVetCo.