Community & Fellowship After Military Service
Central Oregon Veterans Ranch
Growing crops, building belonging, and fostering well-being, one task at a time
A Place to Belong
Tucked between Bend and Redmond, the Central Oregon Veterans Ranch (COVR) offers something many veterans struggle to find after service: a place to belong. Here, time on the land and time with one another go hand in hand, whether that’s tending crops, caring for animals, or simply sharing a meal. It’s a setting that feels approachable and real, where veterans can reconnect with a sense of purpose and ease back into community at their own pace.
For many, the transition out of military life can bring isolation, stress, and challenges with mental health. COVR meets those needs in a deeply human way by focusing on connection and shared experience rather than clinical settings alone. The result is a supportive environment where veterans can rebuild confidence, strengthen relationships, and find steady footing again—one day, one task, and one conversation at a time.
Third Space is a Charm
Places That Fill the Connection Gap
Often called “third spaces,” places that exist outside of home and work play an important role in our well‑being. They’re where people gather informally, build relationships, and feel part of something larger than themselves.
For veterans, that kind of space can be especially meaningful. Leaving the military often means losing the built‑in camaraderie, structure, and shared understanding that come with service, while at the same time they may be navigating stress, isolation, or the challenges of civilian life. COVR helps fill that gap by offering a welcoming third space rooted in shared experience and community. At the ranch, veterans can show up as they are, work side by side, talk—or not—and gradually rebuild a sense of belonging that supports mental health and long‑term resilience.
This is veteran driven… we provide the space where they determine what their end result is.— Heather Martin, Executive Director COVR
Overcoming Isolation
Isolation is often a root issue behind many of the mental health challenges veterans face after leaving military service. The loss of daily structure and shared mission can leave veterans feeling disconnected at a time when support matters most. By its very nature, COVR helps counter that isolation. Through shared work and time spent together, veterans are able to rebuild connection in a way that feels natural and pressure‑free — creating space for mutual support to grow.
…and Building Community
COVR also strengthens that sense of belonging by intentionally welcoming the broader community onto the ranch. Regular open‑to‑the‑public days invite neighbors, volunteers, and supporters to take part in the life of the ranch, helping demystify the work being done there and fostering understanding across civilian and veteran experiences. For veterans, these interactions offer meaningful opportunities to build connections beyond their fellow service members. At the same time, this openness helps establish the ranch as a good neighbor—rooted in the community it serves and strengthened by shared stewardship and respect.
Innovation in Agriculture
The Ranch’s hydroponic greenhouse operates year-round, producing lettuce and other crops while providing veterans opportunities to learn agricultural skills and participate in meaningful work. Up to a hundred pounds of lettuce are harvested each week, then cleaned and packaged for sale directly to local restaurants and retailers, like Newport Ave Market. Originally developed through a partnership with the Oregon Department of Agriculture, the greenhouse demonstrates how innovation and community service can grow side by side.
Lottery Funding for Veterans
Oregon Lottery funding plays an important role in supporting veterans across the state, helping ensure access to benefits that honor their service and support their well‑being. These voter‑approved funds are administered by the Oregon Department of Veterans’ Affairs and reach veterans in communities large and small across the state.
That support includes organizations like the Central Oregon Veterans Ranch, which received a $52,000 Lottery‑funded grant in 2024. Investments like this help sustain programs that address veteran mental health in meaningful, everyday ways — often outside traditional systems of care. By supporting places where veterans can reconnect, rebuild purpose, and find belonging, Lottery funding helps meet critical needs that are sometimes overlooked, but deeply felt. Your lottery play makes a difference!
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