BACK CREEK VALLEY — Eric Grandon and Nick Priet have a lot in common, even though they haven't known each other too long.
Both combat veterans, they suffer from Post Traumatic Stress Disorder and had found it hard to move forward in civilian life - until they each discovered the magic of bees.
Tending bees has not only given them a sense of peace, there's another benefit, since beekeeping also is a viable way to make a living.
Simply stated, now they both have a reason to live, and hope for the future.
The two veterans told their stories Monday morning at Geezer Ridge Farm as part of a press event organized by U.S. Sen. Shelley Moore Capito that focused on the benefits of helping acquaint former military members with agriculture.
Capito, R-W.Va., also brought several state and national agency representatives to the table to discuss what's being done locally to help veterans as well as a state initiative that's already making a difference in this area.
That's because West Virginia is the only state with a legislatively established - and comprehensive -veterans agriculture program that is supported by the state Department of Veterans Assistance, Department of Agriculture and National Guard, she said.
"West Virginia's Warriors and Veterans to Agriculture project provides educational training, access to equipment, mentoring, a supportive community and resources for veterans to learn about agriculture and how to successfully start their own small farms," she said.
As a result, she said this "highly successful initiative is creating jobs, helping veterans suffering from PTSD and increasing the number of domestic small farms."
Based on the state success, Capito is now seeking to see if federal support may also be possible for a national program like this.
"I'm on the Appropriations Committee and we just completed our veterans military construction budget. In that I was able to get a study of agritherapy, because I have become very interested in this whole idea - especially the therapeutic benefits of agriculture," she said following a tour of the beekeeping operations hosted by Geezer Ridge Farm owners Ed and Cheryl Forney.
"It has the side benefit of providing a much needed product, as well as jobs for veterans who enter this field. So basically I was able to ask for enough money to do a study, and gathering data is important because it is needed before we can do an all-out agritherapy plan. In the end, I think they will find that this is a great therapy for people with PTSD," she said, adding that the study should be completed within a year.
Capito said she'd learned a lot about bees during her visit, saying, "Beekeeping is much more science-based than I ever knew. And it sounds like it can really grow a business if you do it right."
Federal agencies, including the Veterans Administration, are part of her focus.
"I support us taking a much closer look from the VA's perspective about what agritherapy benefits are for our military men and women who've come back with some mental health issues like PTSD. We know the suicide rates for the military are higher than other segments of the population, so we need to find some way to help reduce them," she said.
This local training is provided to veterans at no charge, according to Forney, who estimated that approximately 200 veterans have been through this program since its inception three years ago.
A monthly lecture series is open to veterans and their families that allows them to know more about what's happening at Geezer Farm and how it operates, he said.
It is held every third Wednesday at James Rumsey Technical Center beginning at 7 p.m. The next session will be held May 18.