Staff Report
HAYS COUNTY — Tractor Supply Company, the largest rural lifestyle retailer in the United States, and the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC), have awarded veteran Chris LaRocque in Buda and veteran Daniel Legereit in Driftwood $1,000 each to support their farms, Rustic Rabbit and Ella Grace Farms, respectively.
The grant is part of Tractor Supply’s $100,000 donation to FVC’s Fellowship Fund, which provides direct assistance to veterans in their beginning years of farming or ranching. LaRocque and Legreit are two of 50 veterans to receive a $1,000 Tractor Supply gift card to purchase items crucial to supporting their farm business.
“At Tractor Supply, our ability to serve our nation’s veterans who live and live Life Out Here is due in large part to their sacrifice,” said Colin Yankee, executive vice president and chief supply chain officer at Tractor Supply and former U.S. Army captain. “It is our honor to support them as they navigate their next chapter as civilians, especially when it comes to farming and ranching. Whether it’s helping them get the tools and equipment needed to get their operation off the ground, funding a FVC training session or providing some friendly advice, Tractor Supply and its team members are thrilled to help.”
Rustic Rabbit raises and supplies customers with fresh rabbit meat, including making weekly deliveries to local restaurants. With these funds, LaRocque plans to continue growing his breeding program to meet the ordering needs of the restaurants he supplies. Prior to launching Rustic Rabbits, he served in the National Guard and Reserves.
Ella Grace Farms is a small-scale farm dedicated to regenerative and organic farming practices. They focus on maintaining soil health and promoting biodiversity while providing high-quality, nutrient-dense produce. With these funds, Legereit plans to continue his farming education and expand his ability to support the local community by sourcing labor locally and engaging in community-building activities. Prior to launching Ella Grace Farms, Legereit served as an officer in the Army.
This is the seventh year Tractor Supply has partnered with FVC to assist farmer veterans from all branches of service as part of its ongoing commitment to veteran causes. Through the joint initiative, the company has provided more than $650,000 in gift cards and funding to FVC, assisting more than 400 farmer veterans nationwide.
“Agricultural start-ups can require the acquisition of substantial tools and equipment to become operational, so the continued support Tractor Supply provides is very much appreciated by our members and the communities they feed,” said FVC Executive Director Jeanette Lombardo. “[Tractor Supply] is not only a longtime supporter of the FVC, but daily they walk alongside our members as they grow and expand their operations. They have become an integral partner and [are] assisting us in achieving our mission throughout the country.”
Fellowship winners are selected by a team of seasoned agriculture industry professionals. Applications were evaluated based on farm training, experience and/or transferable skills, level of personal investment in their farm business and ability to show how an award will help grow their farm business. Applicants were also asked to share their vision for how their business would support their communities.
This year’s $100,000 donation to FVC was part of a larger $1 million total donation from Tractor Supply to 10 different charity organizations committed to supporting the nation’s military service members, veterans and first responders. Each organization received $100,000, including FVC, 9/11 Day, Bob Woodruff Foundation, Folds of Honor, K9s For Warriors, National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Foundation, National Police Dog Foundation, National Volunteer Firefighters Council, Operation Homefront and Team Rubicon.
