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2024 Connecticut Outstanding Young Farmer Award
Jared McCool Founder/CEO
Jared McCool of Steadfast Farms in Bethlehem Named Connecticut’s Outstanding Young Farmer in 2024
HARTFORD, Conn. — Unlike many past Connecticut Outstanding Young Farmer (OYF) recipients, the 2024 honoree is a relative newcomer to agriculture. In fact, it began on a pheasant hunting trip with friends following his time with the US Marine Corps. Jared McCool, owner of Steadfast Farms and Steadfast Farms Poultry Processing and Slaughter in Bethlehem was named Connecticut’s Outstanding Young Farmer during Ag Day at the Capitol in Hartford on March 20, 2024.
2024 Norma O'Leary Excellence in Agricultural Innovation Award
Jared McCool Founder/CEO
CT RC&D has a long history of working with Jared through our CT Farm Energy Program and the FarmUP/Veteran FarmUP programs. We collaborated to form the Connecticut Chapter of Farmer Veteran Coalition, and we continue to promote the CT Veteran Grown brand. In 2017, after an honorable discharge from the US Marine Corps, Jared embarked on a new mission: farming. Farming was not just a career change; it was a continuation of his service domestically, embodying the same values of dedication, resilience, and mission accomplishment that he learned in the military. Through farming, he continues to serve his community with the same dedication and sense of duty that defined military service, embodying the ethos of "Semper Fidelis" – always faithful.
President of the Farmer Veteran Coalition of Connecticut
Jared McCool Founder/CEO
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Nofa ct & Mass Winter Conference Speaker 2026
Aaron McCool Director of Operations
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