SustainFloyd is inviting everyone—especially America’s military veterans—to its last documentary of the 2014 Fall Film Series, “Ground Operations: Battlefields to Farmfields.”
The event is this Sunday, December 7th at 6:30 p.m. at the Floyd Country Store. Veterans are welcome to attend the film free of charge.
This movie tells the uplifting story of America’s combat veterans who are transitioning into careers as farmers, ranchers and artisan food producers. Doors open at 6 p.m. for a Holiday Buffet ($5 donation), which all are invited to enjoy.
“Ground Operations” has won many awards, including those from the Cinema Verde Environmental Film Festival and Port Townsend Film Festival. The documentary features the story of Sgt. Adam Burke, who made a promise to God. Bleeding out from a mortar hit in Iraq, Adam pledged that if he could live to see his family one more time, he would do something to make his life worth saving. Two years later he started the Veterans Farm, a place of emotional solace and job training for disabled vets like himself. Adam is just one of the inspiring and compelling veterans featured in the film “Ground Operations: Battlefields to Farmfields.”
“During this holiday season, we give thanks for our wonderful lives in beautiful Floyd County,” says Jackie Crenshaw, Vice President of SustainFloyd. “The outdoor life of farming, and the obvious service aspect of growing food, can provide a positive pathway forward for our returning vets. Their stories are as inspiring as they are pragmatic in ‘Ground Operations.’ In the end, it’s all about food security for America.”
Floyd’s Riverstone Organic Farm will sponsor the evening in support of this national movement. Sustainable farmer, local food advocate and SustainFloyd Community Advisor Mike Burton will moderate a discussion with a distinguished panel for those who wish to stay after the 40-minute film and ask questions. The panel includes retired Naval Officer and Iraq War veteran Rick Cavey who owns and operates an organic vegetable farm in Grayson County, Virginia with his wife Jennifer, also a Navy veteran; and Kim L. Niewolny, Ph.D., Assistant Professor/Extension Specialist for Virginia Tech and Director of the Virginia Beginning Farmer & Rancher Coalition Program.
The 2014 Fall Film Series is a fundraiser for SustainFloyd. A donation of $5 is requested for the movie (veterans attend film free) with an additional $5 for the dinner.