Willie Robertson and Kubota Team Up to Give Back in Special Veterans Day Ceremony
GRAPEVINE, Texas, Nov. 10, 2022 /PRNewswire/ — In honor of those that served, Kubota Tractor Corporation in the present day introduced 5 new farmer veteran recipients of recent Kubota tools by its 2022 “Geared to Give” program in partnership with the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC). Every yr, one veteran from every of Kubota’s 5 working divisions is chosen to obtain new Kubota tools by the “Geared to Give” program, with awarded tools ranging in horsepower throughout agriculture tractors, utility and compact tractors, and utility automobiles. In addition to receiving the keys to their new tools, every recipient is being honored with a particular ceremony to acknowledge their army service and their continued service to their communities by farming, together with in the present day’s ceremony for U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force veteran Robert Bartleson who was handed the keys to his new MX Series utility tractor with TV persona and outdoorsman Willie Robertson on the Duck Commander Warehouse in West Monroe, Louisiana.
“At Kubota, we believe in giving back to those who served and the Geared to Give program is about providing critical support to veterans as they return home from serving our country to begin careers in farming,” stated Alex Woods, Kubota senior vice chairman of gross sales operations, provide chain and elements and a veteran of the Army National Guard. “Veterans play an important role in advancing American agriculture and strengthening our rural communities, and we are honored to help empower these men and women with the equipment they need to achieve their dreams.”
Since the “Geared to Give” program was established in 2015, Kubota has offered $800,000 to the Farmer Veteran Coalition within the type of organizational assist, grants to veterans and 36 items of donated Kubota tools to assist them take their farming operations to the subsequent stage. Additionally, Kubota gives unique reductions to members of the Farmer Veteran Coalition with prompt buyer rebates for buying choose Kubota tools in any respect 1,100 authorized-Kubota dealerships nationwide.
The 2022 “Geared to Give” program acquired greater than 400 functions by FVC’s Farmer Veteran Fellowship Fund, and ultimately, one recipient was chosen by and for every of Kubota’s 5 working divisions throughout the U.S. This yr’s recipients are:
- Western Division: Brian Gorman served greater than 9 years within the U.S. Army which included a deployment to Afghanistan the place he was awarded the Bronze Star Medal. Brian and his spouse, Karla, personal and function Blarney Heights Farm, a 200-acre grass-fed, grass-finished Dexter cattle operation in Trego, Montana. Kubota is awarding Brian a one-year lease on an M7 Series ag tractor with loader which he’ll use to feed his cattle and horses, transfer tools and provides, and conduct ranch enhancements. Brian, who’s supported by Kubota seller Johnson Distributing in Great Falls, Montana, was honored in a particular ceremony throughout Kubota’s annual seller assembly in October in Grapevine, Texas.
- Southeast Division: Robert Bartleson served greater than 26 years within the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force which included greater than 9 deployments in assist of Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Africa, and Operation Iraqi Freedom in Iraq. Robert’s a number of deployments with the nation’s most elite particular forces earned him a number of Bronze Star Medals together with the Bronze Star Medal with a “V” gadget for valor. Robert and his spouse, Kristie, personal and function BucknHam Farms, a 21-acre non-GMO natural regenerative farm in Crestview, Florida, the place they increase laying hens, goats and pigs. Kubota is awarding Robert an MX Series utility tractor with loader and a Land Pride field blade and forks, which he has already put to use unloading 15,000 lbs. of feed, shifting over 20 tons of filth together with 40 tons of crushed limestone for animal heavy-use areas. Robert is supported by his native Kubota seller, Coastal Machinery of Crestview, Inc., and he was honored in a particular ceremony in the present day with TV persona and outdoorsman Willie Robertson on the Duck Commander Warehouse in West Monroe, Louisiana.
- Central Division: Joy Hughes served 4 years within the U.S. Army as a logistics specialist and deployed to Iraq in assist of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Joy and her husband, J.D., personal and function Beggs Pasture Raised Chickens and Eggs, a 40-acre pastured poultry operation in Beggs, Oklahoma. Kubota is awarding Joy an L02 Series compact tractor with loader and a Land Pride brush hog and grapple, which she has put to use to transport feed, clear thick brush on her property, and transfer her cell poultry coop onto recent pasture every day. Joy is supported by her native Kubota seller, Stewart Martin Equipment in Okmulgee, Oklahoma, and is being honored in a particular ceremony on Tuesday on the Farmer Veteran Stakeholders Conference in Oklahoma City.
- Midwest Division: Lieutenant Colonel John Lord has been serving within the U.S. Army since 1999 and is at present the Director of Simulation Education on the Army University in Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. During his time in service, John deployed twice in assist of Operation Iraqi Freedom and as soon as in assist of Operation Enduring Freedom. John owns and operates Eco-Cattle LLC, an 80-acre grass-fed and completed beef operation, in Oskaloosa, Kansas. Kubota is awarding John an M60 Series utility tractor with loader that he’ll put to use on his ranch to mow and clear pastures and forested areas, in addition to transfer and unroll hay bales for winter cattle feeding. John is supported by his native Kubota seller, McConnell Machinery Co. in Lawrence, Kansas, and he might be honored later this month in a particular ceremony on the Ok River Campground in Moyers, Oklahoma, with Kubota accomplice and YouTube creator Adam Sandoval.
- Northern Division: Larry Daugherty served a mixed 18 years within the Pennsylvania and West Virginia Army National Guard, which included a deployment in assist of Operation Iraqi Freedom, earlier than being medically retired due to accidents sustained in Iraq. Larry and his spouse, Anita, personal and function Heritage Farms, a 40-acre farm the place he focuses on elevating heritage breeds of cattle and hogs, in McClellandtown, Pennsylvania. Kubota is awarding Larry an RTV-XG850 Sidekick utility car that permits him to overcome his mobility points to navigate his property and deal with every day chores on the farm. Larry is supported by his native Kubota seller, Murphy Family Inc., in Smock, Pennsylvania, and he might be honored later this month in a particular ceremony on the property of Kubota accomplice and YouTube creator Outdoors with the Morgans.
“The Geared to Give program is one of my favorite times of the year when we get to call each of these veterans on the phone and hear their reaction when they find out they’re being awarded new Kubota equipment,” stated Jeanette Lombardo, govt director of FVC. “These veterans have given so much for our country and the Geared to Give program truly impacts their lives by giving them much needed equipment and a well-deserved boost to their farming operations.”
Each yr, farmer veterans can apply to the FVC Fellowship Fund to be thought-about for donated Kubota tools by the “Geared to Give” program. For extra info on FVC’s 2023 utility course of, go to Farmvetco.org. For extra info on the “Geared to Give” program, go to Kubota Cares.
About Kubota Tractor Corporation
Kubota Tractor Corporation, Grapevine, Texas, is the U.S. marketer and distributor of Kubota-engineered and manufactured equipment and tools, together with an entire line of tractors of up to 200 Gross hp, performance-matched implements, hay instruments, compact building tools, shopper garden and backyard tools, industrial turf merchandise and utility automobiles. For product literature or seller places, contact: Kubota Tractor Corporation, 1000 Kubota Drive, Grapevine, TX 76051, (888) 4-KUBOTA [(888) 458-2682], Ext. 900, or go to KubotaUSA.com.
About Farmer Veteran Coalition
Based in Woodland, Calif., Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) mission is mobilizing veterans to feed America. FVC works to develop a brand new era of farmers and meals leaders and increase viable employment and profession alternatives by the collaboration of the farming and army communities. Through mentorship, peer assist and profession counseling, FVC helps veterans returning to or starting careers within the meals and farming business. For extra info, go to farmvetco.org.
SOURCE Kubota Tractor Corporation
