Aaron White is now the owner of an L-Series compact Kubota tractor, thanks to the “Geared to Give” program. White was given the keys during a ceremony at the Farm Progress Show last week in honor of his years of service in the U.S. Marine Corps and his dedication to farming.
“Geared to Give” is a partnership between Kubota and the Farmer Veteran Coalition (FVC) that provides support for military veterans pursing a future in farming. White served as a machine gunner in Japan, the Arabian Gulf and Afghanistan from 9/11 through May of 2005. Now he and his wife, Dana, farm 150 acres of row crops, a garden and cow-calf operation. White was notified of this honor the same day he won “tallest corn” at the Iowa State Fair (21 ft. 9 in.).
“I’m absolutely bewildered and can’t express my gratitude at this point with more than just a simple ‘thank you.’ In farming it seems that there is always a wolf at the door, but I’m a positive person even through the hard times and I’m so thankful to this program for helping my dreams come true,” White said.
Kubota’s philanthropic mission is to “power and empower those who move the earth,” and in that spirit “Geared to Give” was born in partnership with FVC in early 2015. The program works to identify the needs and further the agriculture careers of those who have served their country and are now serving their communities through farming.
“Farmer veterans like Aaron have earned the right to a little help,” said Todd Stucke, Kubota senior vice president of sales, marketing and product support. “They have proudly given back to this country through their military service to protect our way of life, and here at Kubota we are proud to help Aaron continue to make a difference in his community by farming in Iowa for many years to come.”
2016 Farm Progress Show Photos
