Jon Jackson has found a way to turn his pain into a purpose of helping others.
Jackson, a retired U.S. Army Ranger, sustained a traumatic brain injury in combat and now struggles with PTSD. In 2014, he founded STAG VETS Inc., a non-profit organization that uses farming to help rehabilitate and reintegrate veterans dealing with those same issues. The program offers veterans a variety of services, including treatment and agricultural job training.
Jackson established Comfort Farms in Milledgeville, which was named after his friend, Capt. Kyle Comfort, who was killed while serving in Afghanistan in 2010.
“I found something I could do that’s just as important as my military service: leading people,” he said.
Jackson shared his story with a group of local business leaders last week at the Augusta Metro Chamber of Commerce’s December Member Economic Luncheon. He said after leaving the military, he became deeply depressed and considered suicide. One day, Jackson was holding a gun and was about to shoot himself when his son walked into the room.
“If he hadn’t come into the room, I wouldn’t be here today,” he said.
Uniti Fiber Enterprise Account Executive, Emily Murphy attended the luncheon and was inspired by Jackson’s story.
“Ultimately, when life’s looking bad, there’s always another side,” Murphy said. “You just have to keep persevering.”
During the event, the Chamber presented its three Best in Business awards. Dickinson Architects CEO, Nick Dickinson received Augusta’s Entrepreneur award, Security Onion Solutions, LLC, Founder and CEO, Doug Burks received the Entrepreneur Rising Star award and Textron Specialized Vehicles was honored as Corporation of the Year. Over the last 40 years, Dickinson Architects has designed bridges, schools, hospitals, and many other buildings throughout the CSRA.
Founded in 2014, Security Onion Solutions created Security Onion, a network security monitoring platform.
Textron Specialized Vehicles manufactures golf carts and other vehicles. One of its major brands, E-Z-GO was founded in Augusta in 1954.
Jackson said his nonprofit not only benefits veterans, but also the Milledgeville community by hosting farmers’ markets, which became virtual during the pandemic.
He has appeared on the TV shows “Wife Swap,” “Man Fire Food” and “Bizarre Foods,” as well as NPR and Georgia Public Broadcasting. In his speech, Jackson used the analogy of the caterpillar to describe his journey and those of the veterans he helps.
“We all know what happens,” Jackson said. “We become butterflies.”
For more information about Jackson and Comfort Farms, visit stagvetsinc.org/.
