CCEI’s EBV program continues our quarterly Alumni Spotlight series with Rachel Czmyr. Rachel and her husband Stephen Budner are both Air Force Veterans. After 45 years of combined service, they, along with their 3 boys, made Ohio their final home and began their journey to founding ECOthrive Farms, LLC.
Mehgan Williams, Program Coordinator for our EBV program, had a chance to talk with Rachel last month and learn more about her passion to serve the local community with an emphasis on disabled veterans and special needs children.
We are grateful for Rachel’s ongoing support of the EBV and for taking the time to speak with us for this interview.
If you have inquiries about our Alumni Spotlight series, please reach out to mehgan.williams@uconn.edu to learn more.
During her 22-year career as a Chief Master Sergeant in the United States Air Force, Rachel filled many roles and responsibilities around the globe. When she interviewed for the EBV in 2019, she learned that she and Michael Zacchea were deployed at the same time and location in Balad, Iraq. Although they never crossed paths, it was a meaningful beginning to her acceptance into the UConn program.
Rachel learned about the EBV through the Institute for Veterans and Military Families (IVMF) while participating in their career training program, Onward to Opportunity. After the EBV, she also attended Breaking Barriers in Entrepreneurship, an IVMF virtual program that facilitates business growth and support within Asian American & Pacific Islander, Black, Latinx, and Women veteran, military spouse and military family member communities.
When asked about the EBV, Rachel places the networking aspect at the heart of the program:
“We were introduced to other veteran businesses and support organizations and our network instantly grew. We were connected to a mentor who is a former Professor of Marketing at UConn. And we received our first grant through Work Vessels for Vets that allowed us to purchase a tractor.”
Rachel and her husband Stephen founded ECOthrive Farms, LLC in 2019 with a goal of serving the local community with an emphasis on disabled veterans. Their mission is to help individuals find their identity and rediscover their personal worth through relationships grown and developed on the farm or with a forge. The facility enables self-discovery and positive lasting change through cultivation of the mind, body, soul, and environment. The customizable programs provide unique, hands-on, educational experiences in blacksmithing, beekeeping, and livestock care. Rachel and Stephen had a great deal of experience with this type of organization as they both volunteered for similar programs throughout their military careers.
In 2020, with in person gatherings of any kind coming to a halt, Rachel and Stephen had to place the business on hold. The pandemic changed everything. Rachel attributes her leadership background in the military as the reason she was able to get through these difficult times.
“We had the ability to not give up. We took a different approach, the change and adapt plan was the only way forward.”
ECOthrive Farms, LLC just received a USDA designation which will open doors for grants and conservation. Rachel and Stephen continue to educate themselves and their business through veteran organizations that offer agricultural courses. Rachel encourages fellow veteran entrepreneurs to do the same:
“Use the resources that are available, reach out and find your people, put in the work.” She also stresses the importance of keeping all your business-related materials up to date: “Develop a system early on that holds you accountable to revisit your business plan, resume, marketing strategy, etc. on a consistent basis. These are all works in progress that need to be addressed and updated throughout the life of your business.”
The Rosie Network YouTube channel featured Rachel and ECOthrive Farms on March 6, 2025: Farming for the Future. Creating for a Cause. Harvesting for Hope.
Five years after settling on the farm, through COVID, career changes, and more; Rachel and Stephen are stronger than ever, and they continue to build their legacy, for family and community.