CityView Magazine - Fayetteville, NC
Issue link: http://www.epageflip.net/i/1304590
CityViewNC .com | 25 Excellence in ORTHOPAEDICS Serving Hoke and Cumberland Located on the campus of Moore Regional Hospital – Hoke in the Physician Offices and Specialty Center at 6322 Fayetteville Road in Raeford. (910) 878-6730 | www.firsthealth.org/ortho WARD S. OAKLEY, JR., M.D. JAMES T. MARINO, M.D. CHAD COLE, PA-C SCOTT OLSON, PA-C KRISTEN BLATZ, PA-C 1364-70-20 "A lot of the same things it takes to be a veteran, it takes to be a farmer as well," he said. " A lot of perseverance and being headstrong. A lot of getting up early and going to bed late. Doing what you have to do to accomplish the mission. It's the same thing as being in the military." A Franklin County native who grew up in a farming family, Elliott joined the Marines out of high school, serving for five years as an aircra mechanic. He found the transition back to civilian life devastatingly difficult until he did something unforeseen: he returned to farming. "Farming saved my life," he said. Today, Elliott owns Broad River Hemp Company in Fayetteville. And through Veteran's Farm of North Carolina and the Soldier to Agriculture Program at Fort Bragg, he teaches veterans basic agriculture skills. At a recent fundraiser, Boots to Roots, local veteran farmers provided the ingredients for a farm-to-table menu created by Brian Graybill, chef of Napkins, the restaurant at DirtBag Ales. e result was amazing food and a successful fundraiser. "Robert Elliott has taken on a cause that is rather crucial for North Carolina, and that is training veterans how to be farmers," said Jenny Bell, in her Impact Awards nomination of Elliott. "anks to Robert's innovative program, the Soldier to Agriculture Program, on Fort Bragg, veterans have been given hands-on training in the agriculture industry, helping them to transition from the military life into civilian life. He is a connector of resources and assistance and has helped countless farmers throughout North Carolina. "Additionally, his nonprofit organization, the Veteran's Farm of NC, is launching a brand new initiative called Veterans Agriculture Training and Education Program to offer veterans an even more in-depth training in agriculture basics," she said . Contact Robert Elliott at vetfarmofnc@gmail.com