Lake Norman Publications

Community involvement vital for evolution of Huntersville farm facility for veterans



Beatties Ford farm near N.C. 73 could become a transitional haven for veterans. /Lindsay Krone

HUNTERSVILLE – A prominent farm on Huntersville’s west side could become a source of “dirt therapy” for displaced veterans.

The proposed Veterans Transitional Farm would ensure property owned by former town commissioner Danny Phillips at the intersection of N.C. 73 and Beatties Ford Road would remain a working farm. The project, spearheaded by retired Air Force Col. Tom Davis and Col. Susan Martello of Veterans Stand Down, will give veterans a place to stay, connect them with benefits and help them move into tiny homes.

“The concept here is to bring it all together,” Davis said while touring the property in late April. “We’re sharing today the vision. You have got to have the vision. It’s going to take a team effort to pull it all together.”

Davis said his team is working toward finalizing the purchase of 38 acres, listed for $3.5 million in 2021. Several residential developers have considered the property, but Davis and his colleagues hope their proposal will be the one that comes to fruition as a place benefiting the whole region.

“We want this place to be something the community will be proud of,” Martello said.

Julie-Anne Bolton, who helps connect veterans with benefits and services, said the location is one of the last sustaining farms in the area, and people need a place where they can have some serenity.

“They’ll be a community within a community,” she said, explaining the veterans can support one another while working the farm, but also provide an education to the broader Lake Norman area on what a farm-to-table operation really looks like.

Tom Davis, left, and Tripper Wood are among those involved in project planning. /Lindsay Krone

One of the large buildings on the property will be converted into a bunkhouse for male veterans, while female veterans will live in the four-bedroom house. The farm will be self-sustaining, with veterans farming their own food and selling products at Old Store Produce across the street.

In addition to what Davis called the “dirt therapy” of working the farm, veterans will receive counseling, benefits assistance and therapy dogs. Veterans Stand Down works with Tripper Wood of Labpups.com, who has more than 30 years experience breeding and training Labrador retrievers to provide veterans with therapy dogs. Davis said Wood can elevate the basic training to help veterans in need of advanced services.

Davis said there are 200 displaced veterans in Mecklenburg County alone. He’s hoping the farm can start with between 10 and 12 veterans, with a goal to help 60 to 70 in its first year.

Veterans Stand Down is working with multiple organizations to find places in neighboring counties for tiny homes where veterans can move once they transition out of the program.

“Get them off the street, put them on the path to success, set them up with a dog and make sure they have somewhere to go,” Davis said.

“This is a 360 holistic approach to getting these people back on their feet,” added Huntersville Mayor Melinda Bales.

Much of the project will depend on private investors and volunteers. To get involved, contribute or learn more, email veteransstanddown01@gmail.com.

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