Matthew Rutter Honored with National Veteran Farmer Award

Award Highlights Service Leadership and Community Impact

Bonnie Johnson
November 13, 2025
Media Article

Matthew Rutter is recognized with the Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence for supporting veterans, strengthening agriculture, and building community programs that help former service members begin meaningful careers in farming.

Retired Army Command Sgt. Maj. Matthew Rutter of South Carolina has been selected as the next recipient of the Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence, presented by the American Farm Bureau Federation (AFBF) with support from Farm Credit.

The national award honors military veterans or service members who show excellence in agriculture and make a positive impact on their communities. Rutter served in the Army for 22 years, where he led intelligence operations across Europe and the Middle East.

After retiring from military service, Rutter began using his background in planning, training, and leadership to support veterans transitioning into agriculture. He co-founded Project Victory Gardens, a nonprofit organization that helps veterans gain hands-on agricultural skills and build confidence as they enter civilian life.

He also created Farmer Bootcamp, a nationally recognized training program that provides practical education for veterans who want to explore agriculture as a career field. In addition, he served as the founding president of the South Carolina Farmer Veteran Coalition.

"We're honored to recognize Sgt. Maj. Matthew Rutter for his dedicated service to our nation and his continued leadership in agriculture and community engagement," said AFBF President Zippy Duvall. "Veterans and active-duty service members make tremendous sacrifices to protect our freedoms. It's a privilege to spotlight their vital contributions to American agriculture."

Rutter believes that agriculture is a powerful tool for rebuilding lives and strengthening communities. Through his work, many veteran-led farms have been launched across South Carolina. "We want to give as much exposure to South Carolina farmer veterans as possible," Rutter said. "Farmer veterans are thriving, supporting the community, feeding the community and helping people know where their food comes from."

Rutter plans to use part of the $10,000 cash prize from the award to create a statewide “coffee and chores” educational program that will bring veterans together weekly for learning and community building.

AFBF will present Rutter with the Veteran Farmer Award of Excellence at its 2026 Annual Convention in January in Anaheim, California.

Photo by: american-farm-bureau-federation