University of Idaho Extension has launched a new program aimed at turning military veterans into working farmers, backed by a $744,000 federal grant and a partnership with the Farmer Veteran Coalition of Idaho and the city of Boise.
The program, called Harvest Heroes, is designed to prepare veterans for careers in small-scale agriculture through hands-on field instruction, online coursework, and monthly intensive workshops. It is based at Spaulding Ranch Park, a 20-acre historic homestead in Boise owned by Boise Parks and Recreation.
A Historic Site With a New Mission
Spaulding Ranch Park has deep roots in Idaho history. The land was originally homesteaded in 1896 by the family of Dr. Mary Spaulding, widely recognized as Boise’s first woman surgeon. Today, the site offers veterans access to an orchard, a beekeeping apiary, adaptive gardens, and a weekly on-site farmers market — resources that give participants a working introduction to nearly every facet of small farm operation.
Enrollment in the program is free and open on a continuous basis to veterans and their immediate families. Early in the program, participants work within community plots alongside fellow veterans. Those who complete that phase can advance to managing their own incubator plots, providing a practical bridge from training to independent farming.
Produce grown at the site is shared among participants and distributed to food-insecure veterans and other community members in need, giving the program a dual mission of workforce development and community service.
Boise Parks and Recreation official Lisa Duplessie noted the significance of hosting an agricultural training program within city limits. “We are becoming so urban we feel lucky to be able to provide this space at the heart of the city,” she said.
Grant Funding Expands the Program Statewide
UI Extension received the three-year USDA grant in March 2026. The funding will support hands-on agricultural training in northern Idaho as well as regional workshops, and is earmarked for equipment purchases including greenhouses, storage sheds, push tillers, and related tools.
The city of Boise is also investing in improvements at Spaulding Ranch Park under the expanded partnership, with plans for a new parking lot, restroom facilities, and a pack-and-wash station to make the site more functional for both training and production.
UI Extension’s formal relationship with Boise dates to 2020, when the two organizations signed a memorandum of understanding to collaborate on the site.
Ariel Agenbroad, the UI Extension professional leading the program, emphasized Idaho’s large veteran population as a driving factor behind the initiative. “Idaho ranks seventh in the nation in veteran population, and for some, agriculture is a good fit for their considerable skills and desire to continue serving their country,” she said. Over the three-year grant period, Agenbroad aims to serve a combined total of 45 veterans through the program.
Building on a Proven Curriculum
Harvest Heroes is not entirely new territory for UI Extension. A predecessor program operated in Nampa from 2019 to 2022 and provided a foundational model for the current effort. The curriculum also draws from UI Extension’s Cultivating Success Program, which has provided agricultural education across the region for more than two decades.
The combination of field experience, structured coursework, and a market-ready production environment sets Harvest Heroes apart from simpler introductory programs. Veterans leave with practical knowledge and a track record of real farming activity, not just classroom hours.
Idaho’s agricultural economy — anchored by crops like Palouse wheat, lentils, and a variety of specialty produce — offers real career pathways for veterans willing to make the transition. The Harvest Heroes framework is designed to lower the barriers to entry that often discourage new farmers, particularly those without a family farm background.
What Comes Next
With the USDA grant secured through a three-year cycle, UI Extension plans to ramp up both enrollment and geographic reach, extending training opportunities beyond the Boise site into northern Idaho. Park improvements at Spaulding Ranch are expected to proceed in coordination with the expanded programming. Veterans and their families interested in free enrollment can contact UI Extension directly for more information about joining the Harvest Heroes program.
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