FRONT ROYAL—Former U.S. Navy SEAL officer and combat leader Sean Glass moved to Warren County and tasted his first locally sourced beef from a neighboring farm. The meat was quickly consumed by his family of seven, and they purchased more. It was just as good.

“Phenomenal,” Glass recalled. “It really got my wheels turning. Most people … don’t have the access to put this on their plate every night. To me, that seemed almost un-American.”

To increase that access, and support military families, Glass and partners launched the e-commerce operation Primal Beef Co. in the Shenandoah Valley. For every box sold, one cut of beef is donated directly to a special operations force member’s household, in partnership with The C4 Foundation.

May is Military Appreciation Month, and the contributions of veteran and military farmers strengthen the state’s agriculture community, said Wayne F. Pryor, Virginia Farm Bureau Federation president.

“While they share a call to service, farmers and soldiers also share a strong work ethic, problem-solving skills and determination to persevere through difficulties,” Pryor said.

The recently released findings of the 2022 Census of Agriculture reported there are 7,679 farmers with military service operating on 1.2 million acres in Virginia. Over 4,000 of them average around age 68. Loudoun and Fauquier counties are home to the largest number of military farmers.

Virginia cattle typically is finished and processed in the Midwest, Glass noted. Now, the large-scale processing capacity offered by Primal Beef’s partner Seven Hills Foods Co. boosts the brand identity of Virginia beef.

The Lynchburg facility has become the state’s largest processor. President Dalton Mosser said his team designed their production model to accommodate every operation, “from farmers needing one head processed at a time, up to supporting major production for groups like Primal Beef Co. We look forward to supporting their growth for many years to come.”

Buying locally grown and processed beef not only supports American processing facilities and jobs, but also supports American farms, businesses and families with farm-raised beef. “And with ours, you’re also supporting SEALS and their families,” Glass added.

Farm Bureau and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services support the Farmer Veteran Coalition, offering training, resources and marketing initiatives like the Virginia Grown’s Homegrown by Heroes label. Those interested in joining the Virginia chapter of the FVC should contact John Fant at jsfant64@gmail.com or visit facebook.com/FVCofVA to learn more.

The Virginia Cooperative Extension Small Farm Outreach Program also serves veteran farmers. Contact Virginia State University’s SFOP office at 804-524-3292 or visit ext.vsu.edu/small-farm-outreach-program for information.

Media: Contact Glass at 903-851-3578, Mosser at 434-845-1100 or Fant at 276-768-9466.