About Us
Our Vision
Greensprouts Farm wants to train veterans to be the next generation of farmers. With the majority of active farmers reaching retirement soon, we want to teach new veteran farmers how to combat global warming with sustainable, successful, and regenerative agriculture practices. The leadership team at Greensprouts Farm recognizes the need to keep ownership within the farm community, be on-guard for food security, and help veterans provide for their own communities.
Our Mission
Greensprouts Farm exists to help veterans heal the land by providing them with tools to successfully farm, earn a living, and build a future in sustainable agriculture. We want to partner with veterans who want to provide their communities with fresh, local, and nutritious food.
Our People
The Greensprouts Farm’s leadership team will always be guided by those who understand and care about veteran issues. Training will be for veterans by veterans with additional farmers brought in for the best possible training experience. Veterans are well-suited for farming because they took a vow to honor and protect the United States when called upon, and farming is one of those callings. Veterans are still dedicated to their mission and are willing to help their communities in other ways such as food production agriculture. This is where Greensprouts Farm comes in.
Building the FTX (Field Training Exercise)
Greensprouts Farms has a 40-acre training farm available in St. Croix County, Wisconsin that will be used as an incubator farm. We will use both classroom education and field exercises to teach animal husbandry; high-tunnel and hydroponic farming techniques; how to incorporate renewable energy applications; how to used unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) on farms; and how to manage a barn, pasture, and apiary! Our facility has proven clean water and soil that qualifies for organic certification.
Greensprouts Farms is currently seeking funding to acquire technical equipment, set up outdoor classrooms, and craft a strong curriculum. We have already begun work on our existing plots which will be assigned to participants after they complete our business planning and farm production courses.
Our Leadership Team
Joseph Koch
Joseph (Joe) Koch operates a Farm Ranch near Wilson, Wisconsin where they raise cattle, hay, vegetables, apples, and horses. Horticulture is where Joe first got his hands dirty while helping his grandfather raise plants and shrubs in a year-round greenhouse operation. This was ideal to learn about the symbiotic relationship of soil health, water, and plants. Joe completed the Farm Business Planning class through Chippewa Valley Tech College, attended Embry-Riddle University in the Bachelor of Science program for Aviation Management, received his Certificate for studies in Aquaculture as sponsored by the USDA at UW-Stevens Point, and completed a cattle production apprenticeship program through Scheel Angus Ranch. Joe then started farming by building his own farm business and cattle ranch in Wisconsin, which he operates to this day. Joe is a staunch regenerative farming advocate and manages his ranch by using Silvopasture methods along with rotational grazing management.
Daniel Healy
Daniel Healy resides in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. Healy has been working in greenhouse sales and marketing for Zimmerman’s Welding for the last 12 years. He previously worked in sales and marketing for Healy Mfg (family-run awards business) as well as a gardener for Milwaukee County Parks, Como Park Conservatory and also worked for various farms and greenhouses. Mr. Healy received a Bachelor’s degree in Community Education from UW-Milwaukee and earned a diploma in Agricultural Technology from Detroit Lakes Vo-Tech in MN, later he attended the Univ of MN studying Soil Science and Horticulture. Healy helped in the start-up of Farm City Link (non-profit urban agriculture program) which later became Growing Power. Healy stated that he has always been interested in Sustainability in farming and renewable energy and wanted to set up a model for this as a means for expanding regenerative farming along with renewable energy in an effort to reduce and sequester as much carbon as possible.
Lee Niven
Lee Niven was raised on his family’s dairy farm in Dunbar, WI. Lee is a husband and father that has served on the local school board as an elected member and on his church board. He continues to live in Dunbar, WI as a goat, poultry, vegetable and honey farmer. Lee would like to work in the mentorship program and could mentor others with his experience from building his own farm business from nothing. Lee stated that his farm is a small operation, but it brings him joy as it is something he is able and to do as a fully and permanently disabled veteran. Lee has eighteen years of honorable service in the US Army, both as enlisted and commissioned officer. Lee is a decorated Combat Veteran with a combat tour in Iraq. Lee has served in South Korea, Iraq, and numerous Army Forts and Camps throughout the United States. Lee has a Bachelor’s Degree in Agriculture from UW-Madison. Lee believes that these experiences will make him a unique asset to this organization.