Veteran Farmer

Ryan Sullivan never thought he would be a farmer. When he left the military, he pursued a degree in social work but quickly switched to culinary school where he “learned about the importance of farming and sourcing locally grown ingredients to produce the best possible food.”

Rachel McKenna co-owns Stonewall Acres in Coventry with her husband, Ryan. Located on pastoral land, Stonewall Acres is a shared passion for working the land and hosting the community.

Guardians Farm is a first-generation dairy farm. David Buck and his wife Tamra have a mixed herd of Holsteins, Jerseys and Brown Swiss cows that provide the dairy to produce vat pasteurized whole milk, chocolate milk and butter.

Field Engineer Farm is a diversified farm growing mainly vegetables, blueberries, and keeping chickens for eggs. Farmer Veteran Jason Arico grew up around dairy farms and watched how those farmers cared for their animals and the land.

Farmer Veteran Mike Swanson and his wife Christian run Broad Brook Acres in Preston, CT, sharing most of the farm chores such as handling animals, hay, installing fences, etc. while focusing on their strengths.

Ahlberg Grassroots Farm is a family-run farm that has been actively growing veggies, fruits and other crops since the 1980s.

Chris Pacheco is a CT Farmer Veteran supplying top restaurants across the state, from Mystic’s Oyster Club to trendy spots in Hartford and Fairfield.

Lathrop Farmstead in Lebanon, CT is a restoration project that Mia Colasuonno and Andrew Lathrop began in 2020. Previously, the farm comprised about 300 acres of cropland and pasture, and was operated from 1817 until about 1940 as a homestead for Andrews’ ancestors.

Jacques Dufresne and Jody Ward started their farm in Pawcatuck, CT on land that’s been rooted in the community for decades.