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
Texas A&M economist John Robinson says speculative buying helped push ICE cotton futures sharply higher.
NRCS leadership affects how conservation dollars, technical assistance and working-lands priorities reach farmers and ranchers.
Ag Commissioner Sid Miller and Rep. Henry Cuellar say rising costs and generational shifts are making it harder to keep young producers in the industry.
Texas Farm Bureau takes us behind the scenes at USDA’s sterile fly facility, considered a first line of defense against New World Screwworm, a fight Texas Ag Commissioner Sid Miller fears is “futile.”

Rural Lifestyle & Entertainment Shows
Experts from the University of Nebraska Medical Center discuss health and how it impacts farmers, ranchers, and rural Americans on this special LIVE call-in show.
Discover the untold stories of farm families across the United States as they face tough decisions, adapt in unexpected ways, and fight to secure a future — for the next generation to carry on the farm. This unscripted documentary-style TV show follows the lives of ambitious farmers from diverse backgrounds across the US, highlighting the challenges, triumphs, and unique stories of these farmers as they navigate the world of agriculture.
“Positively Paula,” is a nationally-syndicated lifestyle/food show that invites viewers to share a moment with their friend: Paula Deen, who we know and love.
“Small Town, Big Deal” follows hosts Rodney Miller and Jann Carl across the country as they scour rural America for the best stories of faith, hope, patriotism, and good common sense that our small towns and farming communities have to offer.
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.