the f.a.r.m

What the f.a.r.m does

Farmers Assisting Returning Military (F.A.R.M.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization founded in 2015 by Army combat veterans James Jeffers and Steve Smith, headquartered in Dallas, Texas. The organization delivers agricultural therapeutic rehabilitation and training to military veterans reintegrating into civilian life, structured around three pillars: Agricultural (Dirt Therapy peer-to-peer farm work), Living (recreational activities such as horseback riding, hiking, paddling, and farm-to-table events), and Alternative (holistic health services including acupuncture, massage, mindfulness meditation, yoga nidra, trauma resolution, and holistic health coaching). Core programs include The Internship (launched 2024), the North Texas FARM Success beginning-farmer workshop series co-delivered with Grow North Texas, and the foundational Eat The Yard closed-loop vegetable production and composting initiative started in 2012. The founding insight was the founders' personal experience that organic farming reduced their physical medication needs and provided purpose, regimen, and camaraderie analogous to military service.

F.A.R.M. operates with no proprietary technology; the underlying "platform" is on-farm programming in North Texas supported by agricultural expertise from Texas A&M AgriLife Extension and the Farmers Veteran Coalition. The technical stack is limited to a Weebly-hosted website (farmingveterans.org), a MailChimp email newsletter, and YouTube documentary content, with earned media coverage from WFAA, NBC 5 DFW, Dallas Observer, and Dallas Morning News.

The business model is donation-funded rather than revenue-generating. All services are provided free of charge to eligible veterans; the organization receives tax-deductible contributions from individuals, corporate sponsors (Kubota, Northrop Grumman, Accenture, Santander Consumer USA), and foundations (Mercury One, American Valor Foundation, Dew Foundation). Distribution is direct on-farm in the Dallas/North Texas region, with referrals channeled through partner Veteran Service Organizations (Cohen Veterans Network, 22Kill, Carry the Load, Veterans Community Project, Operation Tiny Home). The leadership team comprises co-founders Jeffers and Smith, Executive Director Hyiat El-Jundi, and a Founding Board of Trustees (Orlando Garcia, Jeff Morris, Charlie Erwin), all of whom served together in OIF 2004-2008.

Name

the f.a.r.m

Legal name

Farmers Assisting Returning Military

Website

https://farmingveterans.org

Company type

Private

Founded year

2015

Operating status

Operating

Short description

Farmers Assisting Returning Military (F.A.R.M.) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit founded in 2015 by Army combat veterans that provides free agricultural therapeutic rehabilitation, beginning-farmer training, and holistic health services to military veterans in the Dallas/North Texas region, funded by donations and corporate sponsorships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Veteran Therapeutic and Rehabilitation Services

NAICS

Farm Management Services (115116), Support Activities for Crop Production (1151)

SIC

Agricultural Services (700)

akta.pro primary industry

Sustainable/Regenerative Agriculture & Conservation Practices (EDAOAOAO)

Keywords

• Veteran agricultural therapy
• Therapeutic farming programs
• Veteran rehabilitation services
• Nonprofit veteran services
• Agricultural training programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Dallas

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Infrastructure, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Donations and Charitable Contributions: As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, F.A.R.M. operates entirely on donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. All donations are tax-deductible. Funds support housing, infrastructure, equipment, and staffing for agricultural training and multifaceted therapies.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

F.A.R.M. (Farmers Assisting Returning Military) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit veteran organization that delivers agricultural therapeutic rehabilitation and training to military veterans. It combines three therapeutic approaches — Agricultural (Dirt Therapy), Living (recreational and farm-to-table activities), and Alternative (holistic health services such as acupuncture, massage, and mindfulness meditation) — through programs including The Internship, North Texas FARM Success workshops, and the foundational Eat The Yard farming initiative. Services are offered free of charge to eligible veterans and funded through donations and corporate sponsorships.

Product overview

F.A.R.M. (Farmers Assisting Returning Military) is a 501(c)(3) non-profit veteran's organization founded in 2015 that provides agricultural therapeutic rehabilitation and training for veterans reintegrating into society. The organization offers a multi-faceted program portfolio centered around three therapeutic approaches: Agricultural (Dirt Therapy), Living (recreational activities and healthy lifestyles), and Alternative (holistic health and alternative medicine). Core programs include The Internship, North Texas FARM Success workshops in partnership with Grow North Texas, and the foundational Eat The Yard initiative. Services are delivered through an extensive network of veteran service organization partnerships, offering everything from farming training to trauma resolution and mindfulness meditation.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• The Internship Agricultural training internship program for veterans providing hands-on farming experience in a peer-to-peer environment; announced as coming in 2024.
• North Texas FARM Success Beginning farmer workshop and cohort series delivered in collaboration with Grow North Texas, designed to train veterans in agricultural skills and farm business development.
• Eat The Yard Closed-loop vegetable production, composting, and edible landscape farming business founded by F.A.R.M.'s co-founders in 2012 in Dallas, TX, serving local restaurants, grocers, and community members.
• Agricultural Therapy (Dirt Therapy) Therapeutic farming program where veterans work with the earth in a peer-to-peer environment, providing structure, regimen, physical and mental challenge, and camaraderie to aid reintegration into civilian life.
• Living Programs Healthy healing and lifestyle programs for veterans including horseback riding, hiking, camping, paddling, biking, hunting, fishing, climbing, repelling, diving, off-roading, and farm-to-table dinners and barbecues.
• Alternative/Holistic Health Services Holistic health and alternative medicine services including Yoga Nidra Meditation, Acupuncture, Bowen Therapy, Massage, Trauma Resolution, Mindfulness Meditation, and Holistic Health Coaching for veterans seeking to reset from physical and mental traumas.

Quantifiable outcome

• Founders reported improved physical health and decreased prescription medication needs after adopting organic farming practices

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

13 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Farmers Veteran CoalitioncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNational organization supporting farmers who are veterans. F.A.R.M. was founded with assistance from the Farmers Veteran Coalition and participates in their programs including Homegrown By Heroes certification.
• Grow North TexascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborates with F.A.R.M. on the North Texas FARM Success beginning farmer workshop and cohort series. Provides agricultural education resources and local food system expertise.
• Texas A&M AgriLife ExtensionminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProvides agricultural research-based education and resources to support F.A.R.M.'s farming programs and veteran training.
• 22KillminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization addressing veteran suicide awareness. F.A.R.M. was motivated by the 22 a day campaign to create programming that helps prevent veteran suicides through therapeutic farming.
• Carry the LoadminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerVeteran-focused nonprofit organization dedicated to honoring and supporting military personnel, first responders, and their families.
• Cohen Veterans NetworkminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork providing mental health resources and support services to veterans and their families.
• United Way of Greater DallasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerCommunity services organization supporting local nonprofits and community initiatives.
• AgriAbilityminorImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerProgram providing assistance to farmers with disabilities to continue farming careers.
• Veterans Community ProjectminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing housing and support services to homeless veterans.
• Operation Tiny HomeminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization providing tiny homes for veterans in need of housing support.
• EquestminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEquine therapy organization offering therapeutic horseback riding services to veterans through F.A.R.M.'s partnership.
• Dallas Farmers MarketminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLocal farmers market where F.A.R.M. sells produce and connects with the community.
• Junior League of DallasminorGTM or Marketing PartnerWomen's volunteer organization supporting community service initiatives.

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Farmer Veteran Coalition: National nonprofit connecting veterans to agricultural careers and supporting veteran farmers through programs like Homegrown By Heroes. F.A.R.M. was founded with FVC assistance and participates in their certification program, making them the closest direct peer in mission and member base.
• Archi's Acres: California-based veteran-founded agricultural training organization providing hands-on farming internships to returning service members. Directly comparable as a small nonprofit using controlled-environment agriculture (hydroponics) as a vehicle for veteran reintegration and career training.
• Growing Warriors: Kentucky-based nonprofit that teaches veterans to farm using sustainable practices and provides therapeutic agricultural programming. Comparable in size and rural-agriculture-based veteran rehabilitation mission.
• Heroic Food: Connecticut-based nonprofit providing residential agricultural training for military veterans transitioning to civilian life. Directly comparable as a small nonprofit operating a working farm as both therapeutic and vocational training environment.
• Veterans Farm: Florida-based nonprofit operating a working farm that provides vocational training and therapeutic programs for combat veterans. Directly comparable in offering agriculture-based rehabilitation and skill-building for post-9/11 veterans.
• Veterans Community Project: National nonprofit focused on veteran homelessness, transitional housing, and community-based support services. Listed as a F.A.R.M. partner organization; comparable as a peer-sized veteran-services nonprofit in the same regional ecosystem.

Broad incumbents

• Team Rubicon: Large veteran-services nonprofit that mobilizes veterans for disaster response and community service. Comparable as a veteran-led nonprofit serving the same donor ecosystem, though focused on disaster relief rather than agriculture-based therapy.
• Hope For The Warriors: National nonprofit supporting post-9/11 veterans with comprehensive reintegration services including mental health, career, and physical康复 programming. Comparable as a major player in the same veteran-support funding landscape, though with a much broader clinical and advocacy portfolio.
• Wounded Warrior Project: One of the largest and most recognized US veteran-services nonprofits, providing mental health, physical康复, and career transition programs. Competes for many of the same corporate sponsorships and individual donors as F.A.R.M., though at vastly greater scale.
• Hire Heroes USA: National nonprofit providing personalized career transition assistance to US military veterans and their spouses. Relevant peer for the career-pathway component of F.A.R.M.'s programming, though specialized in white-collar job placement rather than agriculture.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/watch?v=Yj_EiBpyWlg

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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M&A

Investments

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

Frequently asked questions about the f.a.r.m