Welcome to the Evolving Man Project’s ‘Evolved Man of the Week’ profiles. Each week we will highlight an individual that embodies what it means to be an evolved man, famous and non-famous men alike. The world needs to know their stories and deeds. This week’s honor goes to New Jersey native, former Army Ranger, veteran, organic farmer, entrepreneur, executive director and founder of Strength to Achieve Greatness, Inc, Jon Jackson. Mr. Jackson served six tours of duty in Iraq and Afghanistan in his eleven year U.S. Army career.
Upon returning home, Mr. Jackson dealt with his own invisible wounds including PTSD, depression, and traumatic brain injury. After realizing that many post 9/11 veterans didn’t have an American Legion community to return to and an unreliable Veterans Affairs department that failed to treat the veterans holistically. In 2014, Mr. Jackson founded STAG Vet, Inc to help his fellow veterans and service members find hope and heal through his Comfort Farms program. It’s a learning center where veterans can receive the treatment and healing they need as well vocational training and scholastic accreditation in both organic farming and culinary arts.
Jon Jackson’s knew that drugs and counseling given at the VA weren’t the best approaches to helping all returning veterans. Some veterans would require a different take toward healing. He knew that nature helped him heal. He wanted to share this alternative approach called “agri-therapy” to help the larger veteran community. He realized that his knowledge of sustainable farming was one of the best ways he could to assist his comrades. Since 2014, STAG Vet, Inc and Comfort Farms has helped hundreds of Veterans in Georgia and beyond find their inner peace and rebuild their lives.
Jon Jackson is a graduate of Columbia Southern University, an Army Ranger, and Bronze Star Recipient. He is the executive director and founder of STAG Vet Inc, and the man behind its innovative Comfort Farms. Comfort farms program is named after his good friend, fellow Ranger, and fallen brother, Captain Kyle Comfort. Here is Jon Jackson in his own words:
“The best way to help our veterans dealing with PTSD is to assume that just because you can’t see a problem, doesn’t mean they aren’t struggling. The invisible wounds are often the deepest. Don’t wait to hear from them that they are struggling. Assume they are and adjust yourself accordingly.”
Today we honor Jon Jackson as our Evolved Man of the Week.
Evolving Man Project 