Joe Ricker - Farming advocate for veterans' success

Oct 23, 2024
By Farms.com

AgrAbility and at ease orchard guide veteran farming

Joe Ricker, with a rich history as a colonel and a veteran outreach advocate, has seamlessly transitioned into agriculture to support veterans integrating back into civilian life. His collaboration with the USDA underscores a significant effort to provide veterans with practical and therapeutic agricultural opportunities. “Make a plan, stick to the plan, and USDA will have your back and help you,” Ricker assures those interested in this path.

His work with AgrAbility has been instrumental in aiding disabled farmers to continue their agricultural pursuits despite their challenges. This is bolstered by the invaluable support from Monshi “Ram” Ramdass, the USDA Military Veterans Agricultural Liaison, who assists in connecting veterans with necessary agricultural resources.

Ricker's dedication also shines through his nonprofit, At Ease Orchard. Established to engage veterans in beekeeping and farming, the organization extends a variety of services including educational workshops and mentorship programs, all designed to foster an environment of growth and sustainability.

The benefits of such initiatives are manifold. They not only provide veterans with a sense of purpose but also promote sustainable agricultural practices.

Ricker’s endeavors highlight the role of agriculture in healing and growth for those who have served their country, aiming to fill their lives with new meaning and community involvement through farming.

Ricker’s philosophy encapsulates the essence of service, extending beyond military duties to nurturing growth and resilience in everyday life through agriculture.

Video: Evolution of Beef Cattle Farming

The Clear Conversations podcast took to the road for a special episode recorded in Nashville during CattleCon, bringing listeners straight into the heart of the cattle industry. Host Tracy Sellers welcomed rancher Steve Wooten of Beatty Canyon Ranch in Colorado for a wide-ranging discussion that blended family history and sustainability, particularly as it relates to the future of beef production.

Sustainability emerged as a central theme of the conversation, a word that Wooten acknowledges can mean very different things depending on who you ask. For him, sustainability starts with the soil. Healthy soil produces healthy grass, which supports efficient cattle capable of producing year after year with minimal external inputs. It’s an approach that equally considers vegetation, animal efficiency, and long-term profitability.

That philosophy aligned naturally with Wooten’s involvement in the U.S. Roundtable for Sustainable Beef, where he served as a representative for the Colorado Cattlemen’s Association. The roundtable brings together the entire beef supply chain—from producers to retailers—along with universities, NGOs, and allied industries. Its goal is not regulation, Wooten emphasized, but collaboration, shared learning, and continuous improvement.