University of Idaho Extension, working alongside the Farmer Veteran Coalition of Idaho and the city of Boise, has launched a new program designed to help military veterans build careers in agriculture — offering hands-on training, free enrollment, and access to working farmland in the heart of Idaho’s capital city.
The initiative, called Harvest Heroes, is based at Spaulding Ranch Park, a 20-acre historic property managed by Boise Parks and Recreation. The site carries a notable history — the land was homesteaded in 1896 by the family of Dr. Mary Spaulding, who became Boise’s first woman surgeon. Today, that same ground is being put to work preparing a new generation of farmer-veterans.
Free Training, Federal Backing
The program carries no cost for veterans and their families. Enrollment is open on a continuous basis, and participants gain access to an orchard, a beekeeping apiary, accessible gardens, and a weekly on-site farmers market throughout the growing season. After completing an initial season working in shared community plots, graduates earn the opportunity to manage their own incubator plots.
Instruction comes from University of Idaho Extension specialists, guest presenters, and experienced veteran farmers who serve as mentors. The curriculum combines flexible online coursework with intensive monthly workshops held on-site, making the program accessible to veterans at varying stages of life and career transition.
The effort is backed by a three-year USDA grant totaling $744,000, which UI Extension received in March. Identified under award number 2025-48804-45405, the funding supports hands-on training in northern Idaho, regional workshops, and the development of military-friendly online tools and decision resources. Grant dollars will also go toward physical infrastructure — including greenhouses, sheds, and equipment such as push tillers. The city of Boise is contributing its own improvements to Spaulding Ranch Park, including a new parking lot, restroom facilities, and a pack-and-wash station.
Ariel Agenbroad, the grant’s principal investigator, noted that Idaho holds a significant stake in veteran success. “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,” Agenbroad said.
Produce grown through the program will be shared among participants and donated to organizations that serve food-insecure veterans and community members.
Building on Past Success, Expanding Reach
Harvest Heroes is not a new concept for Idaho. The program’s curriculum draws from a prior version that operated in Nampa from 2019 to 2022, as well as from the Cultivating Success Program, which has been running for more than two decades. The Boise iteration represents a broader and better-resourced expansion of that work.
Connie May, who represents the Farmer Veteran Coalition’s Idaho chapter and is herself a retired U.S. Air Force member, is among the key partners helping guide the program. Other collaborators include Iris Mayes, a University of Idaho Extension educator based in Latah County; Jeffrey Mason, an assistive technology consultant; the Idaho Veterans Chamber of Commerce; and the Idaho State Department of Agriculture’s Idaho Preferred Program.
The partnership between UI Extension and the city of Boise dates to a memorandum of understanding signed in 2020, and that long-standing relationship helped make the Spaulding Ranch location possible. Lisa Duplessie, speaking on behalf of the city’s role, said officials feel fortunate to offer a working agricultural space within an increasingly developed urban environment. “We are becoming so urban we feel lucky to be able to provide this space at the heart of the city,” Duplessie said.
Over the three-year grant period, the program aims to enroll 45 veterans in total.
What Comes Next
With enrollment open on a rolling basis, Harvest Heroes is positioned to begin connecting veterans with agricultural training throughout the current growing season and into future years. Infrastructure improvements at Spaulding Ranch Park are also underway, meaning the physical capabilities of the site will continue to grow alongside the program itself. UI Extension and its partners will track participant outcomes over the grant period, with the ultimate goal of helping Idaho veterans transition successfully into farming and food production careers. For those interested in learning more, the University of Idaho Extension office and the Idaho Farmers network can provide additional resources on agricultural programs across the state.