Retired Army Col. Gary LaGrange is eager to help Soldiers and Veterans get their hands dirty.
After 28 years in the military, the former Fort Riley, Kan. Garrison Commander became a master beekeeper in Manhattan Kan., with he focuses on helping wounded, ill and injured Veterans cultivate their future in the varied fields of Agriculture.
LaGrange along with his daughter Shari LaGrange-Aulich, founded S.A.V.E: Service Member Agricultural Vocation Education Corp, a not-for-profit full spectrum farm training program with beekeeping as one of the core subjects.
Established in 2013, and located on approximately 320 acres of land near Manhattan, the program works closely with the Warrior Transition Battalion at Fort Riley and the Veterans Administration to introduce Soldiers in transition and Veterans to a year-long training and residency internship program where they can learn about Agribusiness. Kansas State University partners with SAVE. The farm was designed by the College of Architecture and the curriculum is the responsibility of the College of Agriculture.
"Combat is a tough thing. As a multi-tour Vietnam veteran, I know what these servicemen and women are going though and what they're facing. It's not just physical and mental but their experiences reside deep in their soul," LaGrange said. "I'm doing this in response to a national need as well. We know that Soldiers sometimes struggle with the transition to civilian life and working on the farm will actually provide them the tools and a new skill set to help them thrive. Sixty three percent of farms of all types in this country are in the last generation and so there is a great need for new and younger farmers," he added.
The training farm offers all types of farming including produce, orchards, row crops, cattle, sheep, goats, hogs, horses, poultry and bees. The commercial kitchen was added to teach Soldiers how to process and prepare foods for consumption and sale. Soldiers will live on the farm with their families as they study and apply their learnings over the course of a year. Students are then assigned to a farm and location of their choice.
LaGrange-Aulich is a clinical psychologist and oversees the health and wellness aspect of the Soldiers. She says the program fosters growth and a new life.
"I have a number of friends who are in the military or who are married to someone in the military and so we became aware of the many issues that they deal with. There's a great deal of emphasis on holistic care of the Soldier here," LaGrange-Aulich said. "When they get to the farm, you see the brotherhood and camaraderie. They saw war and destruction and now they're dealing with planting seeds and watching a new life happen," she said.
With nearly 20 years in the military and many deployments behind him, Army Staff Sgt. Tim Heiman is familiar with the effects of war.
'I lost quite a few Soldiers during those deployments and I always kept my emotions bottled up. It all hit me at one time. I was dealing with some mental health issues and a knee injury that led to suicidal thoughts," Heiman said.
While the South Dakota native was assigned to Fort Riley's Warrior Transition Battalion, he was introduced to LaGrange and the SAVE program, shortly thereafter he began working on the farm.
"It has been the most calming experience I've ever had. I'm able to work with other Veterans, and this program has given me a fresh new outlook on life."
Soldiers nearing the transition phase are exposed to 25 different farming types through a program of farm tours. Over 100 days, soldiers and veterans visit many different farms and they receive briefings from all governmental and non-governmental organizations that support farming.
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