About Us
Thousands of veterans die by suicide every year because they lose hope. Hero Agriculture understands.
The Start of Hero Agriculture
Mike Reynolds founded Hero Agriculture in early 2020, following a long recovery from a traumatic brain injury sustained while deployed to Iraq as an Army medic.
Mike's recovery included a series of disappointments that led him to realize he could never be a medic again. At his very lowest, he volunteered at a farm, just to keep himself busy. He was surprised to find comfort in the rhythms of farming, interaction with animals, and purposefulness of the work. It gave him hope and, eventually, new purpose as a farmer.
With many people’s help, Mike found hope and rebuilt his life. He created Hero Agriculture to help other veterans do the same.
What Drives Us
Vision
Every veteran living with purpose.
Hero Agriculture uses farming to help veterans find hope, heal, and build purposeful lives.
Mission
Values
Honor: We recognize the sacrifices of those who have served.
Education: We help veterans explore, learn, and make meaningful connections.
Resilience: We believe every veteran can build a purposeful life.
Obligation: We do this work until everyone gets home and finds their new mission.
Hero Ag's Core Team
Founder & Chief Farming Officer
Mike Reynolds
A paramedic, firefighter, combat veteran, and retired U.S. Army Master Sergeant, Mike never planned to be a farmer. He served 17 years as an Army Flight Medic, deploying around the world, but was forced to retire after being injured on a 2009 deployment to Iraq. Five years later, struggling each day just to make it to the next, he found farming. The life-changing experience of finding a new mission inspired Mike to create Hero Ag to help other veterans do the same. The 82-acre farm that Mike and his family operate is the hub for Hero Ag’s work.
Farming Mentor
Trevor Printup
An Army veteran who grew up in Calhoun, Trevor helps Hero Ag veterans learn about farming, solve problems, and connect to a wide range of resources. He experienced firsthand how farming can restore purpose and hope when life takes an unexpected turn. He never imagined himself a farmer, but farming found him as he worked through serious medical issues. Trevor now finds peace on the skid steer and joy in feeding the animals. When he’s not farming, he works part-time at Home Depot and plays the piano for a Dalton church.
CEO
Gloria Reynolds
Gloria left her position as managing partner at a business consulting firm for nonprofits to become Hero Ag’s fulltime volunteer CEO. She has spent most of her career working behind the scenes, developing plans, teams, policies, and other things that no one notices if all goes well. She was chief of staff to two presidents at the University of Northern Colorado, where she worked 17 years. She began her career as a journalist, first as an Ohio statehouse reporter, then editor-in-chief at a weekly paper, and then beat reporter at a Colorado daily.
Outside Counsel
Nate Tyre
Nate is a veteran of the United States Air Force and an attorney with Alston & Bird LLP, where he represents financial institutions in transactional and regulatory matters, including general corporate governance. As a flight and missile combat crew commander in the Air Force, Nate led teams of airmen responsible for the safety, security, and launch of our nation’s intercontinental nuclear missiles. Nate believed in Hero Agriculture when it was just an idea and helped Mike navigate the complexities and paperwork of creating a nonprofit.
Board of Directors
Rick Cobb, Chair
Rick served as a medic in the United States Army 82nd Airborne Division and 57th Medical Detachment. With a distinguished 50-year career in emergency medicine, he is widely recognized as a pioneer in the field. He now serves as Support Coordinator at Atrium Health Floyd EMS. Having grown up in a family of veterans, his respect for them and their sacrifices led him to join the Board. He and his wife have four grown children, including a son who was in the Marines.
Michelle Quinn, Treasurer
Michelle Quinn is Vice President for Finance and Administration at Colorado Mesa University. She began her career as a Certified Public Accountant and has spent the past 30 years working in higher education. She brings expertise in business, finance, and sustainability. Michelle is a passionate small farm advocate and avid backpacker. She and her husband have four grown boys, the oldest of whom serves as a Major in the Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps.
Stacy Campbell, Secretary
Stacy is Director of the Institute for Leadership Advancement at the University of Georgia Terry College of Business. She brings business, psychology, and organizational behavior expertise and a cadre of talented students. When she was Executive Director of Kennesaw State's Coles Scholars Program, she and her students provided business consulting to help launch Hero Ag. Stacy serves on the Board in honor of her dad, Eddie McIlraith, 101st Airborne. She lives in Athens with her husband and two daughters.
Barrett Carter
Barrett is a Residential and Land Real Estate Agent with The Meridian Way Real Estate Group based in Cobb County, GA. A finance, real estate, and land management expert, he also sits on the Board of Directors for the Smyrna Public Safety Foundation and the Smyrna Parks and Recreation Commission. Barrett is active in his church, community, and business fraternity Delta Sigma Pi. He and his wife live in Smyrna, GA, with their two children.
Col. Barry Simmons
Barry B. Simmons is a seasoned military leader whose nearly three decades of service reflect a deep commitment to national defense, strategic leadership, and public service. He has commanded at multiple echelons, held influential staff positions, and supported major combat and humanitarian missions, including Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom. He now serves at the Chief of Staff level within the National Guard.
John Carreon
John is Chief Advancement Officer at AbleLight, a nonprofit that empowers people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. He previously served as Chief Advancement Officer at Make-A-Wish Ohio, Kentucky & Indiana and has been on the faculty of Indiana University's Fund Raising School for over 25 years. John is an expert in building cultures of philanthropy, cultivating donors, managing campaigns, and nonprofit marketing and communication.
Nonprofit Status
Hero Agriculture is a 501(c)(3) public charity incorporated in the State of Georgia and exempt from federal income tax under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Donors can deduct contributions to Hero Agriculture under Internal Revenue Code Section 170.
