Matt: Co-Owner of Rutter's Ranch &

Executive Director of the Palmetto Veterans in Agribusiness

Kara: Co-Owner of Rutter's Ranch &

President of Project Victory Gardens

Matt: MAgEd, 2022, PhD, 2027

Kara: PhD, 2027

What role do you play in the entrepreneurial ecosystem?

Since retiring from the U.S. Army in 2020, we have focused on assisting military veterans in pursuing entrepreneurial opportunities in agriculture. We operate several programs, including Farmer Bootcamp and an internship program, and we are launching an agritourism incubator program. When asked what we grow on our farm, we like to say, 'We grow farmers!

What are some of your best memories of your time at Clemson?

While Matt comes from a long line of Clemson graduates and grew up swimming at Y Beach and watching Clemson Football, Kara had never heard of Clemson until she met Matt in 2015. It turned out to be a great time to become a Clemson fan, and she jumped All In!

When we moved to South Carolina and came up for our first football game, it was like coming home! Matt graduating 45 years to the day from his dad was a pretty exceptional memory.

What were the key inflection points in your career after you left Clemson?

Can anyone actually leave Clemson? We moved to the Upstate to be near Clemson, and we don’t intend to ever leave! When Matt finished his MAgEd, he thought about getting another master’s degree but decided to pursue a PhD instead. Kara refused to be left out and jumped into a PhD program, as well.

We work closely with Clemson Cooperative Extension on all of our programs. Thomas Green Clemson founded this university with a great sympathy for the farmers of this state, and we strive to honor that vision every day.

What are your personal and professional dreams?

Personally, we need to learn how to do retirement a little better! We hope that we can package our programs up so that other organizations can replicate them across the country! Then we are taking a vacation!

Professionally, our nonprofit is on solid footing, but we want to expand our farm operations. We are producing the most amazing charcuterie in the region, and we want to focus on getting it out there to a tailgate near you!

What would you recommend students do to maximize their remaining time at Clemson?

Matt designed our Farmer Bootcamp and internship programs as part of his MAgEd curriculum. He called it a Purposeful Masters. If you have the opportunity to build your future while you are in school, take advantage of that. We have an exceptional University with amazing facilities, faculty, and the No. 1 student experience. Enjoy every moment!

What else should we know about you?

We can be found twice a day feeding pigs, goats, alpacas, dogs, turkeys, chickens, ducks, and fish!