WASHINGTON, D.C. (RFD News) — Twenty-five years after the 9/11 attacks, rural America continues to feel the impact of the military response that followed.
Military recruitment increased in rural communities after the attacks, with Pew Research Center finding that rural youth enlisted at higher rates than those in urban areas.
The prolonged wars also brought significant losses to rural communities, along with veterans returning home with physical and psychological trauma.
Agriculture also saw major changes after 9/11 as the food supply became a national security concern. Policymakers recognized the potential threat of agroterrorism and introduced new protocols to protect livestock, crops and processing facilities.
The Farmer Veteran Coalition is marking the anniversary by recognizing the contributions veterans continue to make in rural America, including through agriculture.
Coalition CEO Jeanette Lombardo joined us on Friday’s Market Day Report to discuss the anniversary and why many veterans have found a new sense of purpose in farming after leaving the military.
In her conversation with RFD News, Lombardo said about 75% of the coalition’s members are post-9/11 veterans. For many, agriculture offers a new way to serve by helping strengthen the nation’s food supply.
The coalition helps veterans make that transition through training and mentorship, particularly those who did not grow up in agriculture. It has grown to nearly 60,000 members with chapters across 30 states.
As the country marks the anniversary, Lombardo encouraged Americans to remember those impacted by the attacks and reflect on the unity that followed.
