Learn about Spokane Conservation District's solution to help fill the largest gap in American history of agriculture — Operation New Mission: Vets on the Farm. A new generation of soldiers are separating from their military life and looking for work in something fulfilling. Many face an overwhelming transition from military life to civilian life, especially those with war and conflict-related injuries. Vets on the Farm gives veterans access to farming, ranching, and other agricultural-based employment.
Established in the 1890s and donated to Washington State University in 2020, Vetter Farm is jointly managed by the Stevens County Conservation District and WSU Extension. This 158-acre property serves as a working demonstration farm, supporting soil health research, agroforestry trials, and educational field days that bring local producers together to share ideas and test new approaches.
In the glacial valleys of Stevens County, the Hagen family partners with the Stevens County Conservation District to advance voluntary conservation on their registered Black Angus and Hereford operation. Through programs like VSP and Floodplains by Design, they’re improving soil health, managing manure responsibly, and maintaining productive irrigated pastures.
Jefferson County CD partnered with Spring Rain Farm to install multistory riparian buffers that protect wetlands while keeping the farm productive. It’s a working example of how restoration and agriculture can thrive together.
