Southwestern Community College sophomore ag business student Cody Miller of Thayer was recently honored by Kubota Tractor Corp., in partnership with the Farmer Veteran Coalition, as one of five farmer veterans nationwide to receive Kubota equipment as part of the 2020 Geared to Give program.
On Oct. 5, in Bevington, Miller, a veteran of the United States Army, was awarded a 250-hour lease on a Kubota M7 Ag tractor with a loader and baler to assist on his family farm. Miller’s wife, Lacey, and son, Teddy, were also in attendance during the ceremony.
Miller was raised on his grandmother’s family farm near Thayer and is currently operating their row crop, hay, and cattle operation. He plans to earn his Associate of Applied Science degree in summer 2021 and hopes to purchase the family farm following graduation.
Country musician Brantley Gilbert joined in the effort to recognize and honor the current and past military service of the five recipients of the Geared to Give awards. Gilbert was a part of the Oct. 12 virtual announcement on Zoom and spoke directly to Miller to thank him for his dedication, service, and sacrifice. As a part of his 13 years of military service, Miller was deployed to Afghanistan during 2009-10.
Miller has a long-term goal of establishing a non-profit, First Line Farms, to assist veterans and first responders in dealing with long-term stress.
According to Kubota’s website, Kubota has a long history of supporting veterans who have made their way into agriculture, including through discounts and this annual tractor giveaway. The Geared to Give program has provided equipment and grants to 36 farmer veterans since 2015.
Southwestern offers two-year Associate of Applied Science degree programs in ag business, crop production, and livestock production; as well as the Associate of Arts degree program for transfer in agriculture.
Photo above: SWCC ag student Cody Miller after class at the Southwestern Agricultural Sciences Center.
Photo below: SWCC ag student Cody Miller on Zoom with country musician Brantley Gilbert.
