Moonlight Meadow Ranch Cycads

10/04/2026

Thank you Farmer Veteran Coalition -California for being selected as on of this year's recipients! These funds will be instrumental in expanding the operation to provide the optimal growing environment for my seedlings! I want to recognize Micheal O' Gorman and Jose Silva and , Founder and Co-founder of the Farmer Veteran Coalition for their mentorship and encouragement. I highly recommend fellow veterans to join this wonderful organization.

Reach out and congratulate your fellow farmer veterans who put in the work and the application to be awarded $2500 toward purchases for their farms!

Gary Burns — The Burns & The Bees Honey Company (Orangevale)
A veteran-owned apiary that doubles as a mentorship program for veterans and first responders coping with PTSD, in partnership with Hives for Heroes.
🔗 Website: https://www.burnsbeeshoney.com/

Angela Czaja — The Good Land Company (San Luis Obispo)
A large-scale regenerative grazing operation bringing military-honed logistics and resource management to land stewardship.
🔗 Website: https://www.good-land-co.com/

Epifanio Garcia — Emily's Field (Fresno)
A lavender farm and specialty-crop operation built on hands-on cultivation and a vision for agritourism and veteran mentorship.
🔗 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61590457042265

Simon Blanco — Boots and Honey Farm (Bonsall)
An established four-acre sugarcane operation, backed by 28 years of Coast Guard leadership and logistics experience.
🔗 https://www.instagram.com/bootsandhoneyfarm/

Dale Birosh — Moonlight Meadow Ranch (El Cajon)
A rare and endangered cycad nursery combining conservation, horticultural science, and decades of military engineering discipline.
🔗 https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61591941781128

Jeff Simas — Santa Isabel Organics (Ramona)
A growing specialty-crop operation with strong infrastructure investment and a clear multi-year growth plan.

Daniel Wells — Valley Fresh Aquaponics (Lemoore)
Produces fresh, locally grown food using technology and sustainable
agricultural practices that make better use of water, energy, space, and other limited resources.

Richard Escamilla — Donner Farms Art LLC (El Dorado Hills)
An organic farming operation and founder of a farmers market at the Sacramento VA center, creating new market access for veteran growers.
🔗 https://www.instagram.com/donnerfarms/

Austin Winter — Valor Farms (Fresno)
A 20-acre almond orchard rehabilitation project, rebuilt from the ground up with support from Fresno State and USDA NRCS.

Alex Stubblefield — Stubblefield Farm (Escondido)
An integrated orchard, livestock, and apiary operation with a three-year plan to grow into a full-scale beekeeping enterprise.
🔗 https://www.instagram.com/stubblefieldfarm/

09/24/2026

Rural America is experiencing a mental health crisis. It’s time to bring it out of the shadows.

09/04/2026

Thank you to Farmer Veteran Coalition CA Chapter Vice President, Jose Silva for the visit to Moonlight Meadow Ranch and and article showcasing my most recent project to take Moonlight Meadow to the next level!

Farmer Veteran Spotlight:

Navy Veteran Dale Birosh Preserves Ancient Plant Species at Moonlight Meadow Ranch

Nestled in the foothills of San Diego County, Moonlight Meadow Ranch is an extraordinary six-acre operation dedicated to conserving some of the oldest living organisms on Earth. Owned and operated by Navy Veteran Dale Birosh, the ranch specializes in propagating rare and critically endangered cycads—prehistoric plant species that have survived since the age of the dinosaurs. Known for their distinct beauty, resilience, and drought adaptability, these "living fossils" are prized throughout Southern California and the Southwestern United States.

Dale’s mission pairs botanical conservation with modern agricultural innovation. He is currently executing Phase 1 of an ambitious expansion: an 8,000-square-foot shade house featuring automated irrigation and climate-control systems engineered to optimize plant health while maximizing water efficiency.

Dale’s work embodies the discipline, adaptability, and long-term vision that veterans bring to California agriculture. Through the Farmer Veteran Coalition California Chapter (FVCCA) and our USDA-funded Empowering Veterans for Agricultural Success initiative, we are proud to support member operations like Moonlight Meadow Ranch with technical assistance, business planning support, and network resources.

Stay tuned for future updates as Dale completes his shade house construction and continues expanding his rare plant collections!

Farmer Veteran Coalition -California Farmer Veteran Coalition Farmer Veteran Coalition -California

09/04/2026

Thank you to Farmer Veteran Coalition CA Chapter Vice President, Jose Silva for the visit to Moonlight Meadow Ranch and and article showcasing my most recent project to take Moonlight Meadow to the next level!

Farmer Veteran Spotlight:

Navy Veteran Dale Birosh Preserves Ancient Plant Species at Moonlight Meadow Ranch

Nestled in the foothills of San Diego County, Moonlight Meadow Ranch is an extraordinary six-acre operation dedicated to conserving some of the oldest living organisms on Earth. Owned and operated by Navy Veteran Dale Birosh, the ranch specializes in propagating rare and critically endangered cycads—prehistoric plant species that have survived since the age of the dinosaurs. Known for their distinct beauty, resilience, and drought adaptability, these "living fossils" are prized throughout Southern California and the Southwestern United States.

Dale’s mission pairs botanical conservation with modern agricultural innovation. He is currently executing Phase 1 of an ambitious expansion: an 8,000-square-foot shade house featuring automated irrigation and climate-control systems engineered to optimize plant health while maximizing water efficiency.

Dale’s work embodies the discipline, adaptability, and long-term vision that veterans bring to California agriculture. Through the Farmer Veteran Coalition California Chapter (FVCCA) and our USDA-funded Empowering Veterans for Agricultural Success initiative, we are proud to support member operations like Moonlight Meadow Ranch with technical assistance, business planning support, and network resources.

Stay tuned for future updates as Dale completes his shade house construction and continues expanding his rare plant collections!

Farmer Veteran Coalition -California @

Fields of Honor "Your digital outpost for cultivating success after service." September 2026