Veterans Finding Solace on the Farm

In Texas, veterans are finding that farming is a good way to happiness. Frank McCaffrey reports on how veterans are finding solace on Texas farms.

Enrique Gonzales served in the late 1960s and early 70s, seeing action in Vietnam. According to him, “I think that military training helps a lot in whatever field anybody goes into. If he is a veteran, I guarantee you, in my opinion, that helps a lot.”

Ricardo Pena says that U.S. military training in the field, in such places as Vietnam, helps with farming. He adds that it is beneficial for veterans who want to get over their combat experiences. He states, “They want to stay away from the people. So they decided, ‘you know what, we’re going to go, we’re going to work the land’... keep their mind off the PTSD.”

Pena says that any veteran who wants help with setting up a farm should call their county Veterans Office for guidance.

Related Stories
RFD NEWS correspondent Frank McCaffrey spoke with U.S. Congressmen Henry Cuellar (D-TX) and John Rose (R-TN), who say bipartisan cooperation will be key to getting the Farm Bill to the president’s desk.
Texas cowboy chef and host of RFD Network’s Twisted Skillet, Sean Koehler, shares an elote-style street corn dip just in time for Super Bowl Sunday. This skillet-cooked corn dish combines open-fire cooking and bold regional flavors for a delicious twist on Mexican Street Corn.
Representative Henry Cuellar (D-TX), who sits on the U.S. House Appropriations Committee, spoke exclusively with RFD NEWS about what Congress is doing to address screwworm concerns, including funding for a sterile fly production facility in Mexico.
Student volunteers at the Fort Worth Stock Show & Rodeo are teaching visitors about agriculture through the FFA Children’s Barnyard ahead of the Junior Sale of Champions.
Quick to prep and packed with flavor, this dish is a bold way to kick up any weekend spread.
The Fort Worth Stock Show and Rodeo continues through Saturday, showcasing livestock, youth involvement, and agricultural talent, with the Junior Sale of Champions serving as the culmination of the 23-day event.

Rural Lifestyle & Entertainment Shows
In the harsh Australian Outback, water drillers Danyelle and Anthony Haigh give up their nomadic life of searching for water for cattle ranches, to offer their two sons, Heath and Theo, a more settled life. They swap water drilling for something they’ve never done before – farming.
Hosted by Agriculture Broadcaster Brian Baxter, RFD Network’s popular series “Classic Tractor Fever” is a must-see for any tractor enthusiast. It’s the place to find the history, stories, and passion of collectors who preserve these beautiful and amazing pieces of our agricultural past.
SharkFarmer TV is the brainchild of Rob Sharkey, a 5th-generation farmer from Illinois. He shares the stories of incredible people in agriculture—both their successes and perhaps a few blunders along the way. You’ll see aerial footage of the field just as the drone crashes into a barn—and hear the story behind it all.
This half-hour program showcases the finest traditional country music that America has to offer. Recorded live at the four-acre Circle T Arena in Hamilton, Texas, each episode of TruCountry features live performances by some of the nation’s most authentic country music artists, playing good-time songs to a jam-packed dance floor.
The Presley Family built Branson’s Original Show on the Strip. “Presleys’ Country Jubilee” was a smash hit, and people from across the country lined up every night for a chance to hear the country music and comedy the Presley Family loved to perform.