VETERAN FARMER, WIPED OUT FROM HURRICANE MICHAEL RECEIVES TRACTOR FROM WORK VESSELS FOR VETS, INC.

MYSTIC, CT  CDR Scott “Barney” Barnes, USN (ret) retired from the Navy in 2006 to establish Happy Homestead Farm in Florida’s panhandle only to have Hurricane Michael destroy his fields and farm equipment in 2018. Work Vessels for Vets, headquartered in Mystic, CT was particularly connected with this veteran who had been stationed at the nearby US Navy Submarine Base in Groton.  It took nearly six months of searching to find an affordable tractor with implements to get Barney’s farm up and running again.   At last, the long search was fruitful with a $7000 grant from WVFV, a personal contribution from Barnes, and the generous discount from the retiring local owner.   Happy Homestead Farms will soon be back at full production of Certified Naturally Grown vegetables, mushrooms, cut flowers and worm casting products in the Florida panhandle markets.