ROCKY HILL — Jared McCool served in the Marine Corps from 2008 to 2014 and, now as a veteran, he has been the owner of Steadfast Farms in Bethlehem since January 2017.
A number of other veterans have turned to farming after their service, a move that was highlighted this week at the 2nd Annual Veteran Farmers Market that showcased items grown or made by veterans throughout Connecticut.
"My father was in the Marines. It was kind of like a right of passage for me," he said. "Selfless service and helping other people, those were just the values I grew up with."
He said there was a time when he wanted to be a law enforcement officer, and "going through the military was kind of like that first step". But when he returned from his service, he decided it wasn't a career he wanted to be a part of anymore.
"At that time in the world, based on what I had just experienced, and what I came back to, it's not something I wanted to pursue at that time anymore," he said. "I got a typical 9 to 5, I made tons of money and it was great, but I was bored, and I didn't have that same fulfillment, purpose that I had when I was in the military."
He got into farming while on a hunting trip with a friend.
"I saw a bird dog work, and I was hooked," he said. "It was so determined, and it knew its job, and I wanted everything to do with it."
McCool showcased some of the poultry from his farm at the 2nd Annual Veteran Farmers Market, held this year at the Department of Veteran Affairs Campus in Rocky Hill, which included both quail and chicken eggs.
The market was sponsored by Connecticut Veterans Affairs, the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs, Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development Area, the Connecticut Department of Agriculture and the Farmer Veteran Coalition.
The first market was held last summer at Guardians Farm in Southbury.
Since it was on a farm attendees were able to see animals, but this year's market included food trucks which last years did not have, as well as a second army band performing, said Sarah Layton, the agriculture programs coordinator for the Connecticut Resource Conservation & Development Area.
"It's a little bit more hopping this time," she said. "We're centralized as well, so hopefully we get more people out who can travel to a central part of the state rather than on either end, but both markets have been really successful."
She said the market is a way to support the farmer veterans in the state, and promote the Homegrown By Heroes, which signifies an item is made by a U.S. veteran and is overseen by the Farmer Veteran Coalition.
"That is a national brand that signifies that that is a veteran-produced product," she said "It's just a way that we're able to formalize support and get the word out there that we have a lot of veteran farmers in our state."
People want to support veteran farmers and the brand helps them do so, said Catherine Marx, director for the U.S. Small Business Administration's Connecticut district.
"They love finding them, they love hearing their stories, and there's nothing better than buying fresh produce, fresh milk, fresh eggs, fresh wine," Marx said. "Serving those who've served us is something we love to do at the SBA."
Another vendor at the market was Wilkinson Farm, located in Columbia, and owned by husband and wife, Mat and Cindy Wilkinson. The farm sells produce, flowers and maple syrup.
Mat served in the Army National Guard for 37 years, after enlisting when he was 17.
Being from Iowa, he said that his parents had a farm and he always loved farming and wanted to get back into it.
He and his wife started the farm in 2013, which he likened to being in the army.
"It doesn't matter whether it's raining or snowing, whatever, you still have to go out and do the job," he said. "You learn how to make a commitment, dedication."
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