Nonprofit supporting veterans transitioning into agriculture begins presence in nation’s capital for greater access to policymakers and federal agencies

PUBLISHED ON March 5, 2025

WACO, Texas — The Farmer Veteran Coalition has launched a virtual office in Washington, D.C., which will enable the nonprofit greater access to policymakers and federal agencies to better serve its members.

Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting Veterans transitioning into agriculture. It has more than 52,000 members nationwide.

“By establishing a presence in Washington, D.C., FVC aims to strengthen its engagement with lawmakers, federal agencies, and other national organizations that influence agricultural and Veterans’ policies,” said FVC Chief Executive Officer Jeanette Lombardo.

“This office will more effectively facilitate our active involvement in legislative discussions, ensuring that the needs of Farmer Veterans are considered in agricultural and Veteran affairs policies. This will help FVC advocate more effectively for funding, training programs, and resources that empower our members.”

Lombardo said this exposure will facilitate stronger partnerships, increase awareness of the challenges faced by Farmer Veterans, and provide greater opportunities to influence policy changes that promote economic stability and success for Veterans entering the agricultural sector.

Through its office, FVC will actively participate in discussions regarding agricultural funding, access to land and capital, behavioral health resources, ag careers, food insecurity in military communities, and business development programs, she said.

It will also provide a platform for Farmer Veterans to share their experiences and insights with key decision makers, ensuring that policies reflect the real-world challenges and needs of beginning farmers and ranchers. Lombardo was appointed recently to the U.S. Department of Agriculture National Institute of Food and Agriculture Beginning Farmer and Rancher Advisory Board.

Lombardo noted that Washington, D.C., is home to numerous nonprofit organizations, advocacy groups, and industry leaders that align with FVC’s mission of mobilizing Veterans to feed America.

“This new office will enable FVC to forge stronger alliances with organizations such as the National Farmers Union, American Farm Bureau Federation, Farm Credit and other Veteran support groups,” she said. “By working collaboratively, FVC can create a united front in advocating for policies that benefit both the agricultural and Veteran communities.”
Beyond policy advocacy, the office will serve as a hub for connecting Farmer Veterans with valuable resources, she said, including grant opportunities for their farms, business training, and mentorship programs.

The launch of FVC’s office in Washington, D.C., represents a new chapter in the organization’s mission to empower Farmer Veterans, Lombardo said. By bridging the gap between grassroots efforts and national policy, FVC is positioned to create lasting change that benefits Veteran farmers, their families, and the broader agricultural community.

Based in Waco, Texas, Farmer Veteran Coalition’s mission is to assist service members and Veterans transitioning out of military service into careers in the agriculture sector or assist them with starting their own farms or ranches. Established in 2009, FVC’s in-house programs include the Farmer Veteran Coalition Fellowship Fund small grant program, the nationally recognized Homegrown By Heroes label for Veteran-grown products, and national and regional conferences.

As the nation’s largest nonprofit assisting veterans and active-duty members of the U.S. Armed Forces embark on careers in agriculture, FVC works to develop a new generation of farmers and food leaders. This is done through expanding viable employment and career opportunities with support and collaboration of the farming and military communities. For more information, visit www.farmvetco.org or follow them on Facebook and Instagram at @FarmerVeteranCoalition and on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/@farmvetcoalition/videos.

–Farmer Veteran Coalition

CHICAGO (WLS) — Mayor Brandon Johnson is in Washington D.C. where he is expected to testify before a congressional committee on Chicago’s sanctuary city policy.

He and the mayors of New York City, Denver and Boston face tough questions over sanctuary city policies from Republican lawmakers.

Ahead of the hearing, sources say Johnson hired a DC law firm that specializes in preparing people for congressional hearings.

The House Oversight Committee is made up of both Republicans and Democrats who will take turns asking questions to the four mayors.

Sanctuary city laws have been put on the spotlight because they limit local police from cooperating with ICE on immigration matters.

President Donald Trump and his allies have made it clear that cities that embrace sanctuary laws will be targeted by immigration enforcement.

Johnson has repeatedly defended Chicago’s welcoming ordinance.

Political Analyst Laura Washington describes what we can expect today.

“He is going to have to balance his argument that he wants to be humane and just to provide support for immigrants at a very pivotal time with the idea that some of these immigrants are committing crimes and need to go and that is going to be a very difficult balancing act,” political analyst Laura Washington said.

Wednesday’s hearing begins at 9 a.m. and could last all day.

The Trump administration has threatened to cut federal funding from states and cities that support sanctuary polices.

WASHINGTON (AP) — The nation’s capital city will remove the large painting of the words “Black Lives Matter” on a street one block from the White House as Washington Mayor Muriel Bowser struggles to fend off threats of encroachment from both President Donald Trump and the Republican-controlled Congress.

Bowser pointed to the change on the social platform X on Tuesday, writing: “The mural inspired millions of people and helped our city through a painful period, but now we can’t afford to be distracted by meaningless congressional interference. The devastating impacts of the federal job cuts must be our number one concern.”

The move shows Bowser’s striking shift in tone toward Trump and congressional Republicans since the president’s first term in office. Bowser, a Democrat, ordered the painting and renamed the intersection Black Lives Matter Plaza as a public act of defiance in June 2020. It came after days of chaotic protests at that location over police brutality following the killing of George Floyd by a Minneapolis police officer.

Her approach to the protests brought her into direct conflict with Trump. The president at the time accused Bowser of losing control of her city and threatened to invoke his power to take over the Metropolitan Police Department. He didn’t follow through but declared his own multiagency lockdown that included helicopters flying at low altitudes to intimidate protesters.

In Trump’s second stint in the White House, Bowser has worked to avoid conflict and downplay any points of contention. She traveled to Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate to meet with president after his election and has publicly emphasized their points of agreement, such as a mutual desire to return federal workers back to their offices full time.

Trump recently revived a frequent campaign talking point about wanting a federal “takeover” of the nation’s capital, describing Washington as riddled with crime, graffiti and homeless encampments. Bowser has refused to comment on reports that the White House was preparing an executive order targeting Washington; she publicly said that the greatest threat to the so-called Home Rule autonomy was “some of the people in Congress.”

Republicans, who control both chambers of Congress, have repeatedly threatened to interfere in city affairs in large and small ways. A measure currently before Congress, named the BOWSER Act, seeks to completely revoke the Home Rule Act of 1973 that grants the capital city limited autonomy.

That would be a deeply controversial, likely testing the strength of the three-seat GOP House majority. Some representatives have used budget riders to target Washington policies ranging from marijuana legalization to whether right turns on red lights should be legal. And some in Congress have spoken publicly of their disdain for the Black Lives Matter street painting.

While Bowser and Trump agreed on returning federal workers to their offices, Trump’s push to slash the federal workforce is already roiling city finances. A report last week from the city’s chief financial officer predicted a $1 billion budget shortfall over the next three years due to the loss of thousands of workers from the federal government.

Bowser publicly siding with Black Lives Matter activists in 2020 didn’t earn her much credibility with them at the time. The local Black Lives Matter affiliate dismissed the move as “performative wokeness” and decried Bowser as overwhelmingly biased toward police. The same activists heaped scorn on Bowser on Tuesday following her reversal.

Nee Nee Taylor, a founding member of the D.C. Black Lives Matter affiliate, addressed Bowser on X on Tuesday, saying, “You never cared about Black Lives Mattering. You painting those words were performative.”