Train
Certified education, practical field learning, and paid internships.
SOLDIERS OF THE SOILTHE MISSION IS THE SOILRegisterVeterans · Working Lands · Rural Communities
Answer a new call
to stewardship.
We prepare veterans to restore soil, strengthen family agriculture, and lead the future of America's working lands.
Founding GatheringOctober 1–4, 2026Camas Prairie · Idaho
Our charge
The land needs stewards.
Veterans need a new mission.
Soldiers of the Soil connects military service with agrarian service—building practical pathways for veterans to care for soil, water, livestock, and rural communities.
Our work begins on the Camas Prairie and is designed to serve working lands across the American West.
Steward
Adaptive grazing, soil health, watershed function, and stockmanship.
Place
Apprenticeships and long-term employment with mission-aligned partners.
Renew
More family producers, healthier land, and stronger rural communities.
Founding class · 2027
Veteran Stewardship Fellowship
A supported pathway from training to meaningful work on the land.
6Founding fellows
6–8Months
8 weeksPaid internship
01 · LearnUniversity of Idaho Rangeland Center and Noble Research Institute training
02 · PracticeField-based stewardship and a paid internship
03 · LaunchApprenticeship placement and long-term employment assistance
Express interest →
Where the mission meets the land
SMH Ranch
The working-land home and demonstration base behind the Soldiers of the Soil vision on Idaho's Camas Prairie.
SMH Ranch raises Highland cattle and develops practical approaches to grazing, soil stewardship, ranch resilience, veteran field learning, and direct-market Highland beef. The ranch provides a living landscape where the principles taught through Soldiers of the Soil can be practiced, observed, and improved.
SMH Ranch is operated by Soldier Mountain Highlands & Huns LLC and is separate from the Soldiers of the Soil Initiative.
Visit SMH Ranch →Education · Agrarian vision · Working lands
Learning with leaders
in stewardship.
The founding gathering connects veteran leadership with respected institutions advancing rangeland stewardship and regenerative agriculture.
University of Idaho Rangeland Center
Rangeland education and applied stewardship training supporting the Veteran Stewardship Fellowship.
Noble Research Institute
Regenerative ranching education grounded in soil health, grazing management, and producer resilience.
Ben Aguilar · The Berry Center
A special conference presentation connecting Wendell Berry’s agrarian vision with the future of working lands and rural communities.
Thursday evening film program
Wendell Berry: Look & See
A gathering pre-screening at Zephyr Ranch will coincide with the public screening at The Community Library in Ketchum, creating a shared evening centered on land, community, and the enduring value of an agrarian life.
Thursday evening · October 1Zephyr Ranch · Public screening at The Community LibraryThe exact start time and final screening details will be posted here and shared through the Soil Riders Dispatch.
Camas Prairie · October 1–4, 2026
Choose your place
at the gathering.
Veteran pricing honors continued service. Every in-person pass shown below includes the scheduled meals for that pass.
October 1–4
Horsemanship Clinic
Clinicians, schedule, observation access, mounted-participation details, camping, and registration.
Explore the clinic →October 2–3Working Lands Conference
Program themes, collaborators, the tentative film screening, virtual access, and registration.
Explore the conference →October 3 · EveningFounders Banquet
Dinner program, ticket options, auction highlights, and the Veteran Stewardship Fellowship paddle raise.
Explore the banquet →All-Inclusive Weekend
Clinics, conference, banquet, all scheduled meals, and one tent-camping space with portable restrooms and shower tents.
All-Access Day Package
Because October 1 and October 4 are half days, each package combines a half day with a full day. Access and scheduled meals are included for the selected package period.
Virtual Conference
Live online access to the Working Lands Conference for those joining from outside the Camas Prairie.
Founders Banquet
Dinner, keynote program, auction, fellowship launch, and the founding story of Soldiers of the Soil.
Registration is processed securely through Stripe. Each purchase opens a secure checkout page in a new tab.
Four-day program
Clinic, conference and gathering schedule
The schedule below provides the current program outline. Exact start times, arrival instructions, and any final venue details will be emailed to registered participants.
Thursday · October 1
Afternoon clinic — Shelby Ketchum · SJR Horsemanship
Evening — Gathering pre-screening of Wendell Berry: Look & See at Zephyr Ranch, coinciding with the public screening at The Community Library in Ketchum
Friday · October 2
Morning clinic — Mario Johnson · Backcountry Horsemanship
Afternoon clinic — Shane Gibson · Military Horsemanship
Working Lands Conference — presentations and fellowship framework
Evening fireside chat — the importance of regenerative agriculture for veterans transitioning from military service
Saturday · October 3
Clinic — Chris Schachtschneider · Lightning S Livestock Solutions
Working Lands Conference — stewardship and resource sessions
Evening — Founders Banquet, program and auction
Sunday · October 4
Clinic — Riani Lourens · Tuisland Collective
Regenerative grazing, healthy livestock and land stewardship
Weekend access includes
All clinics, conference sessions, the Founders Banquet, scheduled meals, and one tent-camping space with portable restrooms and shower tents.
Day packages include
Choose October 1–2 or October 3–4. Each period combines one half day with one full day and includes every scheduled clinic, conference session, gathering, and meal during that period.
Banquet admission
Dinner, keynote program, auction, fellowship launch, and the founding story of Soldiers of the Soil. Individual, couple, and corporate-table tickets are available above.
Clinic access
Published passes include observation of clinic sessions. Mounted participation, horse coordination, and optional evening rides must be arranged in advance and may involve an additional fee.
Stay with the mission
Not ready to register?
Get schedule confirmations, event announcements, fellowship opportunities, and working-lands stories by email.
Carry the mission
The Field Store
Every purchase helps train and place the next generation of veteran land stewards.
Veteran Steward Field Collection
The collection is now available through the Soldiers of the Soil Printify store. Printify securely processes merchandise orders and handles production, shipping, and customer support.
Visit the complete store →
America 250 Founders Edition Print
One of only 25 commemorative prints. Individually numbered, personally signed, and professionally framed. Print No. 1 is reserved for the Founders Banquet auction.
$750Purchase securely →Prints No. 2–25 · Shipping or pickup arrangements confirmed after purchase
Veteran Steward Long-Sleeve Field Shirt
Coyote-brown field apparel with the SOSI emblem over the heart and full Veteran Steward artwork across the back.
$50.35Shop at Printify →Produced on demand · Sizes and shipping shown in the Field Store
Veteran Steward Embroidered Canvas Cap
Heavyweight coyote-brown canvas with a structured western profile and embroidered Veteran Steward crest.
$38.95Shop at Printify →Produced on demand · Fulfilled and shipped by Printify
Veteran Steward Enamel Camp Mug
A 12-ounce enamel camp cup carrying the SOSI emblem and the charge: The Mission Is the Soil.
$24.95Shop at Printify →Produced on demand · Fulfilled and shipped by Printify
Veteran Steward Washed Duck Cloth Field Vest
Heavyweight coyote-brown workwear with reinforced utility pockets and an embroidered Veteran Steward crest over the heart.
$126.77Shop at Printify →Produced on demand · Sizes and shipping shown in the Field Store
Soldiers of the Soil Initiative is currently being organized as an independent nonprofit corporation. Event registrations, merchandise purchases, and sponsorship payments are temporarily processed by Soldier Mountain Highlands & Huns LLC, the event producer. Printify separately processes and fulfills made-to-order merchandise purchases. Payments are not represented as tax-deductible charitable contributions.
The Founders Circle
Choose your place
in the founding story.
Founding Partners help restore soil and water, develop veteran leaders, preserve working-land heritage, educate future stewards, and strengthen rural communities.
Read the Founders Prospectus →Soil Steward
Founders program recognition · 2 banquet seats
Become a Founding Partner →Trail Partner
Website and Dispatch recognition · 2 banquet seats
Become a Founding Partner →Range Partner
Stewardship field experience · 4 banquet seats
Become a Founding Partner →Cavalry Circle
Table of 8 · VIP reception · leadership roundtable
Become a Founding Partner →Founders Legacy Circle
Founders Circle recognition · framed America 250 Founders Print
Become a Founding Partner →Founders Patron Circle
A customized legacy partnership aligned with shared stewardship goals
Discuss a Patron Partnership →Founding Partnership payments are temporarily processed by Soldier Mountain Highlands & Huns LLC, the event producer, and are not represented as tax-deductible charitable contributions.
Business & customer care
Clear terms. Real people.
Soldiers of the Soil Initiative offers registrations for in-person educational clinics, conferences, catered events, sponsor-recognition packages, and branded merchandise. Events are held on Idaho's Camas Prairie. Digital confirmation is sent after purchase; event instructions and any required participant documents follow by email.
Contact: info@soldiersofthesoil.org · (208) 598-1229 · Fairfield, Idaho
Refunds & cancellations
Refund eligibility and deadlines are disclosed at checkout for each event or product. Requests must be submitted in writing to our support email. If we cancel an event, registrants may choose a full registration refund or transfer to a rescheduled date.
Fulfillment
Event purchases are fulfilled by emailed confirmation and admission at the named event. Merchandise availability, shipping charges, estimated delivery timing, and any return conditions will be displayed before merchandise checkout opens.
Privacy
We use customer information to process purchases, communicate event instructions, provide support, and meet legal obligations. Newsletter subscribers provide consent through our signup form; their contact details and subscription preferences are managed through Mailchimp. Subscribers may unsubscribe through the link in any newsletter. We do not sell personal information. Payment-card information is processed securely by our payment provider and is not stored by us.
Legal seller
During nonprofit formation, payments are processed by Soldier Mountain Highlands & Huns LLC, the event producer. Payments are not represented as tax-deductible charitable contributions.
News from the working lands
Join the Soil Riders Dispatch.
Receive Soldiers of the Soil news, event announcements, veteran fellowship opportunities, stewardship stories, and ways to support the mission.