Homegrown by Heroes was founded by the Kentucky Department of Agriculture in partnership with the Farmer Veteran Coalition in January 2013. The new marketing initiative aimed to highlight farmers and agricultural producers located in the Commonwealth who serve or have served in any of the branches of the United States Military.

The program proved so popular that on Veterans Day of the very same year, it was announced that the Farmer Veteran Coalition would administer Homegrown by Heroes nationally. Since then, the program has expanded to include more than 2,000 members in all 50 states plus Puerto Rico. Homegrown by Heroes is the official farmer veteran branding program of America and it all started right here in Kentucky.