Joseph Koch is a dedicated veteran, agriculturist and the co-founder of Greensprouts Farm, a non-profit organization based in Carbondale, Illinois, committed to training military veterans and their families in sustainable farming. Joe’s passion for agriculture began in childhood, rooted in his grandfather’s greenhouse and hands-on experience working local farms. His foundational understanding of plant science was further nurtured by his mother, a professional in the horticulture industry. Joe deferred his agricultural pursuits to serve his country, spending seven years in the U.S. Army.
Following his military service, Joe transitioned into aviation logistics, studying airline management with a focus on air cargo operations at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. He later pivoted into technology, establishing a successful 20-year career as a network engineer. Throughout his corporate tech career, Joe maintained his commitment to the land by building his own farm in Woodville, Wisconsin. To deepen his operational expertise, he completed the Farm Business Production Management program at Chippewa Valley Technical College. Joe and a core team of veterans co-founded the Farmer Veteran Coalition of Wisconsin. His leadership in the sector led to an appointment to the USDA Farm Service Agency (FSA) board for four years, where he served as Chairman of the Board for two years. Identifying an acute need for localized veteran support and agricultural education in Southern Illinois, Joe and his team established Greensprouts Farm. Operating out of Carbondale, Illinois, the non-profit provides comprehensive, practical training to empower veterans and their families to build economically viable, self-sustaining careers in agriculture.