Since 2015, Kubota Tractor Corporation has partnered with Farmer Veteran Coalition on the “Geared to Give” program, which matches military veterans’ needs with donated Kubota equipment. This year, Kubota partnered with country music singer and songwriter Brantley Gilbert to honor the 2020 recipients with a special event at his farm on National Farmer’s Day.
Through the “Geared to Give” program, each year a total of five farmer veterans—one for each of Kubota’s five operating divisions—are selected from applicants to the FVC Fellowship Fund. To date, the “Geared to Give” program has provided equipment and grants to 36 farmer veterans.
The 2020 Geared to Give recipients are:
- Midwest Division: U.S. Army veteran Cody Miller of Thayer, Iowa, who was awarded a 250-hour lease on a Kubota M7 ag tractor with loader and baler. To learn more about Cody Miller and Full Moon Farms, visit his www.facebook.com/Full-Moon-Farms-107260121126562/.
- Northern Division: U.S. Marine Corps veteran and current West Virginia Air National Guard pilot Joshua Nelson of Ripley, West Virginia, who was awarded a Kubota MX Series tractor. To learn more about Joshua and Nelson Family Farms, please visit www.instagram.com/theflyingrancher/.
- Southeast Division: Retired U.S. Army veteran Kara Rutter of Aiken, South Carolina, who was awarded a Kubota LX Series tractor. To learn more about Kara and Project Victory Gardens, please visit www.projectvictorygardens.org.
- Western Division: U.S. Navy veteran Bodhi Anderson of Honomu, Hawaii, who was awarded a Kubota Sidekick utility vehicle and a $10,000 grant. To learn more about Bodhi and Sugar Hill Farmstead, please visit www.sugarhillfarmstead.com.
- Central Division: U.S. Marine Corps veteran Andrew Edelen of Alice, Texas, who was awarded a Kubota L Series tractor. To learn more about Andrew and Edelen Farms, please visit www.edelenfarms.com.
Gilbert, a strong supporter of efforts to honor active duty military and veterans’ organizations, wanted to get involved and invited this year’s honorees to his farm in Alabama for a special ceremony and private performance in celebration of National Farmer’s Day. Due to COVID-19 travel restrictions, two of the recipients were able to attend the event in person, while the other three joined via web cam.
Each year, farmer veterans can apply to the FVC Fellowship Fund in order to be considered for donated Kubota equipment through the “Geared to Give” program. For more information on FVC’s 2020 application process, visit www.farmvetco.org. For more information on the “Geared to Give” program, visit Kubota Cares.
Check out the video from the event at Brantley’s farm honoring our 2020 “Geared to Give” recipients here: