Bridging Gaps for U.S. Military Veteran Farmers

In September 2025, Autumn Stoll, a former master’s student in the Food Safety Human Factor Lab supervised by Dr. Feng, published a paper titled "Bridging the Gap by Listening to the Needs: A Multi-State Survey and Interview Study for Military Veteran Farmers in the United States.” The Study combined both qualitative and quantitative methods to explore the on-farm food safety practices and resource needs of U.S. military veterans who are farmers. An online survey was distributed through the Farmer Veteran Coalition in March 2023, and in-person interviews were conducted with veteran farmers at regional and national agricultural conferences across multiple states.

Through these efforts, the research identified key barriers to accessing food safety training, including limited time, lack of information, and restricted access to technology. The findings also highlighted preferred learning formats for this niche group, including email, in-person workshops, and online videos. These insights will help guide the development of tailored food safety educational materials for military veteran farmers.

Interested in learning more about this study? Visit this link to read more about bridging the gap with veteran farmers.

Explore the Research

Featured Stories

Jared Trask sits with brown and white chickens in a grass field
Of mice, birds and men: Purdue researcher builds a simulation of how wild birds and rodents affect the spread of avian flu on farms

Trask is writing a new narrative about rats, birds and people as he pursues his doctorate in...

Read More
Facade of Pfendler Hall
FNR Celebrates Awards, Honors from Spring, Summer 2026

Several Forestry and Natural Resources students, staff and recent alumni have been recognized for...

Read More
Scientist uses 3D water sensor near water.
Purdue Researchers Use 3D Printing to Make Open-Source Alternative to Costly Groundwater Sensors

A plume of contamination spreads underground. A building's foundation weakens. A wetland...

Read More
Jarred Brooke holds a flapper in front a field that is smoking after a prescribed burn.
Jarred Brooke Receives Early Career Award for Prescribed Fire Work

Jarred Brooke, Extension wildlife specialist, was honored with a Career Achievement Award at the...

Read More
A landscape image of a mountainside town in Norway.
FNR Field Report: Brett Cox Recaps Week 2 of Sweden Study Abroad Trip

Sophomore forestry major Brett Cox recaps week 2 of the Sustainable Natural Resources study...

Read More
Three students chosen for study abroad scholarshipss.
From Sweden to Norway to Turks and Caicos

Morgan Hamilton, a rising senior majoring in aquatic sciences, has had an...

Read More