A former Green Beret has moved his family across the country to live off-grid and rebuild a 160-acre Missouri farm that had sat untouched for years.
Colby Myers served in the U.S. Army Special Forces for 12 years before trading comfortable suburban life for a project he hopes will outlast him.
He and his wife, Caitlin, packed up their lives with their children, Ryder, 7, and Indianna, 5, and moved to the farm in May 2025.
The land had remained in Colby’s family after his grandfather, who was born and raised there, died in 2024.
For Colby and Caitlin, it offered the chance to build the kind of life they wanted for their children.
Their suburban home had been comfortable, but the couple felt disconnected from how they wanted to raise their family.
“We wanted to protect the innocence of our family, protect the sanctuary of our home, and return to something real,” Colby said.
“Back to the land where my grandfather was born, back to a life we actually chose.”
The move followed years that had reshaped Colby’s priorities.
During his military service, he lost two close friends. His father’s death later pushed him to think more deeply about the life he wanted to build.
“We lost friends, we lost family, those losses reminded us that time is not guaranteed,” he said.
Colby had also met and fallen in love with Caitlin while stationed at Fort Campbell, Kentucky.
Together, their journey has become both a look at life after military service and a public record of what it takes to bring long-neglected farmland back to life.
The couple have shared the work through their social media channels, @freedomfarmsfamily, where hundreds of thousands of people have followed their progress.
“Honestly, [the response has been] overwhelming — in the best way,” Colby said.
“Hundreds of thousands of people have followed along, and what strikes us most is how many messages we get from people who say they’re dreaming of the same thing but don’t think it’s possible, veterans especially.”
Over the past year, Colby and Caitlin have rebuilt the 160-acre farm from the ground up.
Their early work has focused on barns, learning how to use unfamiliar equipment, and building grain bins for their first harvest.
Colby grew up in the area and was already familiar with farming and tractors, but much of the process has still involved learning as he goes, including the paperwork required to gain organic certification.
The family has dedicated 100 acres to Turkey Red winter wheat, which is known for its nutty flavor and high protein content.
Another 20 acres will be planted with ancient grains.
Those healthy, organic choices also connect with Caitlin’s work as a nutritionist.
Her career followed a severe car accident in which she flatlined three times, the family said.
The experience led her to focus on the human body and healing, write a memoir titled “Shattered,” and earn a master’s degree in health and wellness.
After the farm’s July harvest, the family plans to launch direct-to-consumer sales through its website.
Long term, Colby and Caitlin want Freedom Farms to become a model for regenerative farming on a family scale.
“A lot of people feel stuck in a life they didn’t really choose, and I think our story gives them permission to at least consider something different,” Colby said. “That means more to us than any view count.”
For Colby, returning to his family’s land did not mean stepping backward.
“It’s not too late – and that going back isn’t the same as giving up,” he said.
The former Green Beret believes the hardest part of making a major change is often deciding it can be done.
“If there’s one thing the military taught me, it’s that most limitations are self-imposed,” he said.
“We hope people watch what we’re doing and think maybe we could do something like that too.”
