Award Honorees

Karen and Colin Archipley founded the Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training (VSAT) program in 2007 at their organic hydroponic farm, Archi’s Acres, in Escondido, CA. Archi’s Acres and the VSAT program offer training and employment opportunities in the organic farming sector for military veterans, who otherwise face an unemployment rate twice the national average. The program at Archi’s Acres has trained over 200 active duty and veterans for careers in sustainable and organic agriculture and other sectors in the food supply chain.

Karen is the marketing director for Archi’s Acres. Colin writes the curriculum for the VSAT program, and helps operate the farm. Both travel the country to give talks and promote their program for veterans and organic agriculture. They recently helped plant the First Lady’s organic garden at the White House. Because Archi’s Acres and the VSAT program create a link between jobs for veterans and organic agriculture, they are helping organic reach a wider audience of policy makers while developing and encouraging additional organic farmers and entrepreneurs.