In this episode, we interview special guest retired Army Colonel and founder of At Ease Orchards, Joe Ricker shares how his farm is dedicated to supporting veterans through hands-on experiences in farming and beekeeping.
Joe retired from the Army in June 2022 as an Army Colonel who specialized in Logistics and Information Management. His 30 years in the military brought him to Afghanistan, Iraq, and many other countries. He developed not only a drive to get the mission done, but a desire to help people. After two tours in the Pentagon and meeting the AgrAbility Veteran team in 2016 at a workshop he decided that agriculture was going to be his focus in retirement and helping Veterans is his passion.
He is the founder of At Ease Orchard, a non-profit that is focused on getting Veterans, First Responders and their family members into Beekeeping and other farm activities. Over the past two years At Ease Orchard has provided over 80 hives, mentorship, and training to their beneficiaries. He also manages his property with 250 apple trees as well as 5 beehives. At Ease Orchard helps support two primary Veteran training farms in Anderson and Danville Indiana.
Joe also founded Veterans IN Farming, a non-profit that supports Veterans and their families in Indiana to be successful in Farming, Ranching and Homesteading. Veterans in Farming has over 1300 members, and recently conducted a conference with over 50 Veterans attending.
At Ease Orchard has receives over $100K per year in grant funding which includes Natural Resource Conservation Service Partnership Grant, Indiana State Specialty Crop Grant, and Farm to School Grant. At Ease Orchard was awarded the non-profit partner for 2025 for the Indiana Department of Veterans Affairs.
Joe was recently awarded the inaugural Veteran Farmer of the Year in Nov 2024, where the nonprofits received over $10K in award money.
Joe is currently the Veteran Outreach Coordinator for AgrAbility where he mentors Veterans on Veteran specific resources and provides guidance to dozens of Veterans every month on pursuing their passion of getting into Agriculture.
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Resources:
At Ease Orchards: https://www.ateaseorchard.org/
AgrAbility: http://www.agrability.org/
Farm Stress Management in Idaho: https://www.uidaho.edu/extension/farm-stress