Our Story

Who We Are

Our values are a visible statement of who we are and what we stand for.  They serve as our behavioral compass. We believe that our commitment to live out our values, mission, and vision make us a premier agricultural training organization.

Who We Serve

The SAVE Farm began by serving servicemembers, veterans, and their families. As our resources have grown, we have transitioned to serving all individuals with a passion for agriculture who can benefit from our services. This allows us to maintain loyalty to our servicemember roots with ongoing support and integration while also reaching more students who desire continuing education or our apprentice curriculum in on-farm classes.

Where We Operate

We currently operate in Kansas near the Ft. Riley U.S. Army military installation and Kansas State University. We deliver our services through a 308-acre farm near Riley, KS. We are working to develop a model for agricultural training that can be employed throughout the United States.

Our History

Americans celebrate Veterans Day on November 11 to honor our veterans’ patriotism, love of country, and willingness to serve and sacrifice for the common good. While this day is a wonderful tribute, there are organizations who honor veterans every single day of the year. The SAVE Farm in Manhattan, KS., is one of them. 

The concept for the SAVE Farm  began nearly a decade ago, when retired Colonel Gary Lagrange and his daughter saw results from training beekeeping and providing therapy to soldiers at nearby Ft Riley. A non profit was formed by a diverse group of veterans, farm and ranch experts and educators.  

With the help of organizations like The Nature Conservancy, and the Conservation Fund, the SAVE Farm is now a reality. It provides therapy as needed and hands-on teaching to veterans and transitioning servicemembers through experienced professionals. They learn how to successfully and sustainably manage cropland, livestock animals, orchards, horticulture, and beekeeping. 

In 2020, SAVE celebrated a significant milestone - the purchase of 308-acres of farmland for future hands-on training. In 2021, the critical and life-changing work of the SAVE Farm received further support from John Deere through a donation of $200,000 to continue its collaboration with The Nature Conservancy and assist in the completion of training facilities