Veterans becoming cowboys: Grand Bay couple trains vets to start cattle operations

GRAND BAY, Ala. (WALA) - A retired Army veteran and his wife are training other veterans to start cattle operations as the nation’s cattle industry faces declining numbers driven by high beef prices, rising costs, and an aging farmer population.

Jeremy Clark and his wife Heather formed C-4 Farm Cattle Company in Grand Bay several years ago. What began on 3 acres with four head of cattle has grown to 132 acres and now includes lamb and 20 head of cattle.

“I’ve always wanted to get into agriculture. Always wanted cows since I was a little kid,” Jeremy Clark said.

A family need that grew into a mission

The Clarks said they entered the cattle business out of necessity.

“We got into cattle because our youngest son is very medically complex. We realized from a young age he couldn’t eat traditional food from the grocery store or anything with a lot of preservatives or additives,” Heather said.

Heather’s background in zoology has aided the operation. Demand for their product has outpaced supply, Jeremy Clark said.

“It goes as fast as we can get it ready. The demand is huge and people want to know where their food comes from and it’s hard to keep up,” he said.

The Clarks said one of the biggest factors impacting beef prices is the number of ranchers and farmers retiring with no one to take over their operations -- leading to a dwindling cattle population.

“It’s a huge concern — just from 2017 to 2020 Alabama lost about 8% of its cattle — the nation as a whole 7%,” Heather Clark said.

Vets to Cowboys, Inc.

To address the shortage, the Clarks formed the nonprofit Vets to Cowboys, Inc. In the last 12 months, the organization has helped five veterans start their own cattle operations.

Jeremy said the transition from military service to agriculture carries a familiar sense of purpose.

“The military was selfless service and I look at it and agriculture is still a continuation of selfless service. People don’t get into the ag business to get rich,” he said.

The program provides veterans with a framework to navigate the challenges of first-generation farming.

“Trying to develop a program — don’t have to struggle to start as we did. Kind of give them a cheat sheet or helping hand to navigate the problems you’re going to deal with as a first generational farmer,” Jeremy said.

The organization is also working to address mental health among veterans as they transition out of the military. Jeremy said the program is open to more participants.

“There’s help out there. You don’t have to do it by yourself. We need all the help we can get,” he said.

Click here for more information on Vets to Cowboys, Inc. or C-4 Cattle Company.