FLAT ROCK, N.C. (828newsNOW) — The Veterans Healing Farm will host a lunch featuring influential female soldiers next month in Flat Rock, N.C.

The 2025 Women Warriors’ Keynote Luncheon will run from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., Saturday, Sept. 6 at the Blue Ridge Conference Hall, East Campus Drive.

Meet Lt. Col. Lisa Jaster and journalist Sarah Scully

The event will spotlight keynote speaker Lt. Col. Lisa Jaster, one of only three women to graduate from the first integrated United States Army Ranger program at the age of 37. Jaster is the author of “Delete the Adjective: A Soldier’s Adventures in Ranger School,” a memoir about her experiences in the Ranger program. Her keynote address will be based around the theme of perseverance.

“To put it down to the foundational level, this is a story about a person who was not expected to succeed, who faced tremendous challenges, who was paving new roads and she didn’t give up,” said Alan Yeck, executive director of the Veterans Healing Farm. “That’s ultimately what it’s about. Don’t quit. In fact, that’s the title of her presentation, ‘Don’t Quit,” and she’s a walking example of that. Everyone in the community, I have no doubt, will benefit from hearing her hearing her presentation.”

Veterans Healing Farm, Mills River, N.C.

Jaster will be preceded with an address by U.S. Army veteran and multimedia journalist Sarah Scully, a Marshall, N.C. native who has been covering the recovery of the region with WNC Mountain Reporter.

Everyone in the community, I have no doubt, will benefit from hearing her hearing her presentation.

Tickets for the event are $50 and can be purchased here.

For more information about Veterans Healing Farm and other upcoming events, visit www.veteranshealingfarm.org.

Veterans Healing Farm executive director Alan Yeck sits with a group of veterans on a picnic table at the property.

Read more. . .

  • Resale 101: Second Gear to host event for beginner businesses

    Second Gear, an outdoor gear and apparel consignment shop, is an Asheville staple of outdoor adventure and community-oriented business. Later this week, in conjunction with the consignment platform SimpleConsign, Second Gear will share its 21 years of consignment experience with the next generation of entrepreneurs.

  • Asheville band Sufferin’ Fools to launch new EP with Weaverville performance

    The release show will held from 8 to 10 p.m., Friday, Sept. 26 at Eda’s, 1098 New Stock Road. Tickets are $10 at the door. The show is for ages 21 and up.

  • Duke Energy honors dozens of WNC nonprofits with grants at Helene event

    The Duke Energy Foundation hosted an event today recognizing the work of Western North Carolina nonprofits in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene. The event, planned around the one year anniversary of Helene hitting the region, featured remarks from several nonprofit leaders and the announcement of grants on the state, regional and local levels.

  • After doubling recipients of farm food, Root Cause to host Helene fundraiser

    To mark the one year anniversary of Hurricane Helene and the resilience of Western North Carolina in its aftermath, Root Cause Farm, a volunteer-based nonprofit dedicated to combatting community hunger, will hold a gathering to celebrate recovery and the local bonds which define the Fairview farm and its mission.

  • Search continues for missing Barnardsville woman

    More than 80 responders using K-9 units and drones to locate 56-year-old Betty Wheeler