Vet First Inc.

What Vet First Inc. does

Vet First Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2020 by Michael and Cierra Weatherly during the COVID pandemic and headquartered in Virginia Beach, Virginia. The organization operates two Virginia farm locations — Skyline Meadows Farm/Ecco Adesso Vineyards in Rockbridge County (the original site) and Wessex Hundred Farm in Williamsburg, a 300+ acre historic property hosting greenhouses, an apiary, and an agricultural education hub. Its core program employs U.S. military veterans from the USMC, Army, Navy, and USCG to cultivate organic, regenerative, no-spray produce and harvest honey, with the bulk of output donated to regional food banks including the Blue Ridge Area Foodbank, Foodbank of Virginia Peninsula, and Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern Shore. To date the farms have produced over 7,000 pounds of fresh produce, against a stated mission of 1 billion pounds by 2032.

The organization's product surface layers several programs on top of the farm operation: an official DoD SkillBridge internship program for transitioning service members, the AgVets agricultural technology training initiative, a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription program sold via Square checkout, honey retail at partner winery locations (The Williamsburg Winery and Ecco Adesso Vineyards), and a volunteer program. A planned Wellness Retreat at the Williamsburg site — featuring free Veteran Retreat Cabins and recreation on 350+ acres — is on the roadmap. No proprietary software, AI, or digital platform is described; the underlying technology stack is limited to regenerative agriculture practices, Square payment processing, and standard web/Instagram channels. Revenue mechanics are non-commercial by structure: individual and corporate donations, a 10% sales tithe from the founders' consulting company C5BDI, annual golf-tournament fundraising, CSA subscriptions, and honey sales fund operations.

Go-to-market is community- and event-led. The organization reaches veteran beneficiaries through SkillBridge and AgVets pipelines, an extensive partner network (V3, Farmer Veteran Coalition of Virginia, Hives for Heroes, USDA, SBA, Department of Labor VETS, FEAST Virginia, multiple Virginia community colleges and universities, regional workforce councils), social channels (@vetfirstinc on Instagram), and the annual golf tournament, with volunteer recruitment handled through the corporate website. The customer segments are horizontal: U.S. military veterans (primary beneficiaries of employment, training, and therapeutic programming), food-insecure individuals and families (recipients via food bank donations), and food banks/pantries themselves (distribution partners).

Name

Vet First Inc.

Legal name

Vet First, Inc.

Website

https://vetfirstinc.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Vet First Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates two Virginia farms employing U.S. military veterans in regenerative organic agriculture, donating the harvested produce to regional food banks while running CSA shares, DoD SkillBridge internships, and veteran training programs.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Virginia Beach

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Fundraising: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, Vet First Inc. relies on donations from individuals, corporations, and events such as golf tournaments to fund operations and programs. The founding company C5BDI donates 10% of annual sales back to the community.
2. Honey Sales: The organization sells honey harvested from their Williamsburg farm apiary at partner locations including The Williamsburg Winery and Ecco Adesso Vineyards, with proceeds reinvested into Vet First Inc.
3. CSA (Community Supported Agriculture): Vet First Inc. offers CSA shares for purchase, allowing community members to buy seasonal produce from their farm operations.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Vet First Inc. is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that operates veteran-led organic farms in Virginia (Skyline Meadows Farm in Fairfield and Wessex Hundred Farm in Williamsburg), employing U.S. military veterans to cultivate produce and manage an apiary, with harvests donated to local food banks. The organization supplements its mission with a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) subscription program, honey sales at partner winery locations, the DoD SkillBridge internship program, the AgVets agricultural training program, and volunteer engagement.

Product overview

Vet First Inc. is a veteran-led nonprofit organization offering a unified portfolio of agricultural programs and community initiatives. The core offering is the Farm Garden and Apiary Program, which employs Veterans to grow organic produce and manage beehives for food bank donations. This is supported by the CSA Program for community-supported agriculture subscriptions, the DoD SkillBridge Internship providing agricultural training to transitioning service members, the AgVets Program for veteran ag-tech education, and a Volunteer Program for community participation. Future plans include wellness retreat facilities and expanded veteran farming training programs. All offerings are interconnected through the mission to address veteran employment and food insecurity through sustainable agriculture.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Farm Garden and Apiary Program Veteran-led organic farming operation that cultivates produce and manages beehives, employing U.S. Veterans from multiple branches (USMC, Army, Navy, USCG) to grow fresh food for donation to local food banks. Over 7,000 pounds of fresh, organically grown produce have been cultivated and donated to food banks.
• Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) Program A CSA program where community members purchase produce shares to support Vet First's farming operations and receive fresh, organically grown seasonal produce. Purchases are processed through Square checkout.
• DoD SkillBridge Internship Program Department of Defense-sponsored internship program offering transitioning active duty and reserve U.S. service members hands-on experience in end-to-end agriculture and farm management, covering farm, land, and livestock management, agribusiness, and crop production.
• AgVets Program Agricultural technology training program for military veterans that creates sustainable agricultural ventures and workforce opportunities through modern ag-technology, research collaborations, and mission-driven partnerships. Directed by the Chief AR&T officer.
• Honey Sales Honey harvested from the Williamsburg farm apiary by veteran beekeeper Deb Harman, sold at partner winery locations including The Williamsburg Winery and Ecco Adesso Vineyards. Proceeds are reinvested into Vet First Inc.
• Veterans Farming and Agriculture Training

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 7,000 pounds of fresh organically grown produce cultivated and donated to local food banks
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration1 record

Partnerships

33 partnerships are on record, tiered core, major and minor.

• Ecco Adesso VineyardscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship farm location operating at Ecco Adesso Vineyards property in Rockbridge County, VA where the original Vet First garden began. Joint venture includes Skyline Meadows Farm, and honey products are sold at their winery location.
• The Williamsburg WinerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerSecond farm location operating at Wessex Hundred Farm - over 300 acres of historic farmland. Honey products are sold at their onsite winery location.
• Virginia Values Veterans (V3)majorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVet First Inc. is a Virginia Values Veterans (V3) certified organization, participating in the V3 FV Coalition.
• Farmer Veteran Coalition of VirginiamajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVet First Inc. is an affiliate of the Farmer Veteran Coalition of Virginia, supporting agricultural careers for veterans.
• DoD SkillBridge Internship ProgrammajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOfficial DoD SkillBridge program host offering internship opportunities for transitioning active duty and reserve U.S. service members interested in agriculture careers at both farm locations.
• Hives for HeroesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeteran beekeeper Deb Harman trained under the Hives for Heroes program to support the Williamsburg farm apiary.
• Blue Ridge Area FoodbankminorOthersRecipient of fresh produce donations near the Fairfield, VA farm location.
• Foodbank of Virginia PeninsulaminorOthersRecipient of fresh produce donations near the Williamsburg, VA farm location.
• Foodbank of Southeastern Virginia and the Eastern ShoreminorOthersRecipient of fresh produce donations serving the Hampton Roads region.
• Skyline Meadows FarmcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerFlagship farm operation alongside Ecco Adesso Vineyards in Rockbridge County, VA.
• Virginia Farm Service Agency (FSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing agricultural support services near both farm locations.
• Virginia Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerGovernment partner providing conservation and sustainable agriculture support near both farm locations.
• Virginia Department of Veteran ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState government partner supporting veteran-focused programs and services.
• USDA Rural Development - VirginiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFederal government partner providing rural development support for Virginia agricultural operations.
• Department of Veterans Affairs Veterans Employment ToolkitminorGTM or Marketing PartnerGovernment resource partner providing employment support resources for veterans.
• SBA Office of Veterans Business DevelopmentminorGTM or Marketing PartnerSmall Business Administration partner providing veteran entrepreneurship resources.
• SBA Veterans Business Outreach Center (VBOC)minorGTM or Marketing PartnerSBA program partner supporting veteran business development.
• Department of Labor VETSminorGTM or Marketing PartnerDepartment of Labor partner providing veteran employment and training services.
• Piedmont Virginia Community College Veterans ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing veteran services near the Fairfield, VA farm location.
• Virginia Tech Office of Veteran ServicesminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing veteran services near the Fairfield, VA farm location.
• Tidewater Community College Center for Military and Veterans EducationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner providing veteran education services near the Williamsburg farm location.
• ODU Institute for Innovation and EntrepreneurshipminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partner supporting innovation and entrepreneurship near the Williamsburg farm location.
• Hampton Roads Workforce CouncilminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerWorkforce development partner serving the Hampton Roads region.
• Hampton Roads Small Business Development CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSBDC partner providing small business support in the Hampton Roads region.
• Virginia Cooperative ExtensionminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAgricultural extension partner providing research-based education and support.
• Virginia Economic Development Partnership (VEDP)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerState economic development partner supporting business growth in Virginia.
• FEAST VirginiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerFood, Education, Access, Support, Together (FEAST) Virginia coalition partner.
• Mid-Atlantic Fleet and Family Support CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerMilitary family support partner near the Williamsburg farm location.
• Hive Business CenterminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerBusiness support partner near the Williamsburg farm location.
• Bridge to Hope Food PantryminorOthersRecipient of produce donations near the Fairfield, VA farm location.
• Natural Bridge-Glasgow Food PantryminorOthersRecipient of produce donations near the Fairfield, VA farm location.
• Operation Hope of FairfieldminorOthersRecipient of produce donations near the Fairfield, VA farm location.
• Williamsburg House of MercyminorOthersRecipient of produce donations near the Williamsburg, VA farm location.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Team Rubicon: Large veteran-led disaster response nonprofit employing veterans in service operations. Broader scope than Vet First but shares the veteran-employment-into-mission framework and access to major donor and grant channels.
• Feeding America: Nationwide hunger-relief organization and parent network of food banks including three of Vet First's donation partners. Sets the broader context and category scale for Vet First's food security mission.

Direct peers

• Growing Veterans: Washington-state nonprofit combining peer-support mental health programs with sustainable agriculture to empower veterans. Operates a similar therapy-through-farming nonprofit structure with employment outcomes.
• Veterans to Farmers: Colorado-based nonprofit providing agricultural training programs to veterans, including controlled environment agriculture and traditional farming. Comparable training and veteran-employment mission focus.
• Hives for Heroes: National nonprofit connecting veteran beekeepers with mentors and apiaries. Vet First is an active partner, and its Williamsburg apiary (bee keeper Deb Harman trained under Hives for Heroes) directly mirrors this beekeeping-focused veteran model.
• Archi's Acres: California-based veteran-led organic farming operation offering agriculture training and SkillBridge internships to transitioning service members. The closest operational analog to Vet First's farm-training model.
• Farmer Veteran Coalition: National nonprofit supporting military veterans entering agriculture through training, mentorship, and resources. Vet First is an affiliate of its Virginia chapter and operates a comparable veteran-farming-employment model.

Others

• Blue Ridge Area Foodbank: Regional Feeding America affiliate food bank serving western Virginia and a current Vet First produce donation recipient. Represents the downstream beneficiary/customer in Vet First's food donation channel.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Instagraminstagram.com/vetfirstinc_lex
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/vetfirstinc

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Vet First Inc.