Something historic is starting, and you have the chance to be part of it from the very beginning. The Veterans & Young Farmers Alliance (VYFA)  is a bold new nonprofit organization with a mission unlike anything else in the country: to end veteran foreclosures and open the door for the next generation of American farmers . This is a moment where action, advocacy, and innovation intersect—and the need has never been greater. Why We Exist Our veterans sacrificed for our country

Every day, the dream of homeownership — long a symbol of stability, family security, and the American Dream — is slipping through the fingers of the people who defended this country. While most of us go about our daily lives, thousands of veteran families are on the brink of losing the roofs over their heads . This is not a distant problem. It’s here. It’s now. And it matters to every community in this nation. Veterans Still Own Homes at Much Higher Rates Than Most Americans

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (OBBBA)  — officially signed into law on July 4, 2025  — goes well beyond delivering more federal payments to farmers. While higher program support and crop-insurance changes are critical, the legislation also includes major tax reforms and incentives that could reshape farm business structures, planning, and risk management . ✨ Key Agricultural & Tax Provisions 1. Expanded Safety Net & Commodity Support The bill improves safety-net programs suc

The U.S. economy is showing increasing signs of stress in both the housing and agricultural sectors. Rising mortgage delinquencies across many loan types, growing foreclosure starts — particularly in government-backed portfolios — and a marked uptick in family farm bankruptcies reveal financial pressures on households, veterans, and rural communities nationwide. This blog post walks through the most recent data and what it means for struggling borrowers, including veterans an

Some days, farming feels like hope with dirt under its nails.Other days, it feels like standing in the middle of uncertainty, wondering if the ground beneath you will hold. For many veterans and young farmers, today is one of those days. We are navigating rising costs, shrinking programs, limited access to land, and systems that were never built with our realities in mind. We’re told to be resilient, adaptable, resourceful — but too often we’re left without the tools, trainin

This year, I turn 51—and I’m choosing to celebrate it differently. Life has thrown challenges my way that I never imagined, and yet here I am, ready to embrace a fresh start  with courage, resilience, and hope. Instead of gifts for me, I’m inviting you to be part of something bigger. For my 51st birthday , we’re hosting an online auction, a special giveaway, and a fundraiser  to support my journey toward a new chapter in life—and to inspire others to do the same. Here’s what’

Change is never easy — especially when life pushes us into unfamiliar territory. But it is often through the very challenge of the unknown that we discover our greatest strength. Today, VYFA is honored to introduce a powerful new chapter in the journey of Amy Tilley , a changemaker many of you know as the founder of the Keep Our Vets Housed (KOVH) Foundation  and a tireless advocate for veteran families facing housing insecurity. Now, Amy is stepping forward with a deeply per

On February 11th, I turn 51. I’ve restarted my life more times than I ever planned to—not because I was chasing reinvention, but because sometimes survival demands change. What I know now is this: starting over isn’t weakness. It’s wisdom earned in real time. I’ve learned that grit alone doesn’t protect your finances, your housing, or your future. What does help is learning, adapting, and being willing to try again—differently—when something no longer works. I haven’t farmed

Money stress is one of the quietest crises people face — and one of the most isolating. If you’ve ever: Felt overwhelmed just opening your bank app Avoided checking your balance because of anxiety Lived paycheck to paycheck while working nonstop Been told you “should know this by now” This workshop was built for you. The Financial Survival & Stability Workshop  was created to meet people where they are — not where financial gurus think they should be. This is not about shame,

Hello friends, We want to personally welcome you to Veterans & Young Farmers Alliance. VYFA was created because we kept seeing the same pattern: veterans and young farmers stepping into agriculture with passion and commitment—but without the practical support needed to survive once they got there. Too many are encouraged to “take the leap” without being given the financial education, guidance, or community support that makes long-term success possible. Instead of tools, they’

For many veterans and young farmers, agriculture represents more than a career.It represents purpose, stability, and a chance to build something lasting. But too often, the path into farming is paved with encouragement and inspiration— not with the practical financial tools needed to survive . That is why Veterans & Young Farmers Alliance (VYFA) is launching our first workshop: Finance & Budgeting for Farm Survival . The Reality Facing Veteran & Young Farmers Veterans enteri

Agriculture isn’t just an industry — it’s the backbone of our nation’s food security, rural economies, and community resilience. Yet today, American farming is facing deep structural challenges: an aging producer population, barriers to land access, rising operating costs, and a shortage of new farmers ready to take the reins. Amid these pressures, the Veterans & Young Farmers Alliance (VYFA)  represents a powerful force for renewal — connecting service members, young entrepr

Agriculture isn’t just a rural issue — it’s a national economic and food security foundation , and recent federal policy developments demonstrate just how much is at stake for everyday Americans, farmers, and especially veteran and young producers  connected through the Veterans & Young Farmers Alliance (VYFA) . Here’s what you need to know — and why it matters. 1. Major Federal Support for Farmers Continues In late 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)  rolled out

In late 2025, the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA)  announced a major federal support initiative designed to help American farms navigate ongoing economic stress. Through the Farmer Bridge Assistance (FBA) Program , roughly $11 billion in one-time bridge payments will be directed to row crop producers , with an additional $1 billion set aside for specialty crops and sugar operations . Payments are expected to begin by February 28, 2026 . For established growers and those

America’s farmers are being asked to survive unprecedented economic pressure without the federal support systems designed to protect them. As Congress advances continuing resolutions and delays a new Farm Bill, critical farm aid has been left out , creating real and immediate consequences for farm families, rural economies, and food security. This moment demands action on three fronts — and it underscores why community-based nonprofits like the Veterans & Young Farmers Allian

American farmers are facing one of the most unstable economic periods in decades — and federal leadership is falling short at the exact moment support is most needed. Recent congressional funding bills moved forward without additional farm aid , leaving family farms, veteran farmers, and young producers exposed to rising costs, falling income, and growing uncertainty. While lawmakers debate timelines and budgets, rural communities are absorbing the consequences in real time.

For first‑generation farmers — those without inherited land or family farm legacy — the journey into agriculture is often filled with uphill battles: high land prices, limited access to capital, and competitive markets stacked against newcomers. But across the country, policy‑supported programs, community initiatives, and targeted advocacy are helping these farmers not only get on the land , but stay on it and thrive . Below are inspiring examples and lessons that demonstrate

Across the U.S. and around the world, access to productive land  is a foundational determinant of both food security  and economic vitality  in rural communities. When land is difficult to obtain — whether because of rising prices, fragmentation, competing land uses, or exclusionary policies — the consequences extend far beyond individual farmers. They ripple outward to affect entire food systems, local jobs, economic resilience, and community well‑being. 🌾 Land Scarcity Thr

Across the United States, aspiring new and young farmers face a daunting reality: despite growing enthusiasm, access to land and capital remains out of reach for many. Recent data reveals deep structural barriers that threaten not just individual farm dreams, but the future of U.S. agriculture, rural economies, and food security. 📊 A Demographic Shift — But Not Enough Opportunity According to the 2022 USDA Census of Agriculture , there were just over 1 million beginning farm

American family farms are much more than parcels of land — they are the backbone of our food system , rural economies, and cultural heritage. Today, these farms still make up the vast majority of operations in the United States, but beneath that dominance lies an agricultural sector under strain and in flux. Advocacy efforts like VYFA  are critical to ensure family farms don’t just survive, but thrive. A Sector Defined by Family Ownership — but Shrinking According to the late