Mapleton Veteran Receives Funds from Farming Grant
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine (WAGM) - Money is coming to an Aroostook County man to help him launch a farm. Phillip Elliott from Mapleton will be receiving 1000 dollars from the Farmer Veteran Coalition’s Fellowship Fund. This fund awards grants to veterans who want to be farmers, so they can purchase supplies that will aid them in the launch of their business. Through a joint initiative, Tractor Supply Company and the Farmer Veteran Coalition have provided more than $550,000 dollars in funding over the last 6 years, assisting more than 350 veterans nationwide. Elliott served in the army branch of the military. He was selected through an application process and chosen by a team of seasoned agricultural industry professionals. Two factors were taken into consideration during the process, how the funding will grow the business and how the business will support the community.
Elliott said, “It makes me feel like a million dollars and it lets me know that, as a disabled veteran, that Tractor Supply cares about me and that’s worth more than any amount of money. This is kind of my reward for my retirement. I’m gonna put in new wire and an electrical grid that plugs inside the barn that’s over there and feeds electricity to the fence to keep the animals in because we have a roadway and it’s really important for safety, the safety of others and the safety of the animals, to keep them inside. I have a pool behind the house that’s kind of not great for swimming. So, we’re gonna convert it, put a liner in it, put a solar pump, and make sure it has the right algae and environment for fish. I’ll start out with about twenty trout to see how they do and if they flourish then I can add more.” Elliot hopes to see these improvements finished in the next few months.
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