Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniel McCollum.
Hi Daniel , we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
My story really starts with service. I joined the Marine Corps as an infantryman and completed two deployments. Those years taught me discipline, resilience, and how to operate under pressure—skills that have shaped everything I’ve done since.
After the military, I continued serving my community through more than a decade in law enforcement, including work with the U.S. Marshals Fugitive Task Force. Each role gave me a broader understanding of leadership, accountability, and the importance of helping people during their hardest moments.
I later transitioned into federal service with the Department of Veterans Affairs, first leading teams and then supporting system-wide improvement efforts as a Health System Specialist. My work focused on modernization, strategy, Lean process improvement, and improving the experience for both employees and veterans. Those years helped me develop into someone who can solve complex problems and drive meaningful organizational change.
More recently, my path has shifted toward creating impact on a more personal, human level. I founded D.S. Farms Lewisburg—an outdoor nonprofit that gives disabled veterans a place to reconnect, find peace, and build community. It brings together my passion for service, my love for the outdoors, and my belief that healing often happens outside the walls of a building. At the end of the day, we’re all human and deserving of compassion, because you never truly know the journey, mistakes, or hardships someone is carrying.
My path hasn’t been linear, but every step—from the Marine Corps, to law enforcement, to healthcare leadership—has been guided by service, integrity, and a commitment to helping people move forward. That’s what continues to drive me today.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Not at all, it definitely hasn’t been a smooth road. I’ve had incredible opportunities, but I’ve also faced some real challenges along the way.
Transitioning out of the Marine Corps was one of the first hurdles. You go from a very structured world with a clear mission to figuring out your identity in civilian life. That adjustment was tougher than I expected.
In law enforcement and later in federal service, the challenges became more complex—balancing high-stress environments, navigating bureaucracy, and trying to make meaningful change in systems that don’t always move as quickly as the people inside them need. There were moments of burnout, frustration, and feeling like the mission outpaced the resources.
On a personal level, I’ve also had to push through my own mental health battles and mistakes along the way. Like many veterans, I’ve had seasons that tested me—physically, emotionally, and spiritually. Those experiences humbled me, shaped me, and reminded me of the importance of compassion and humanity.
Starting a nonprofit came with its own obstacles—funding, learning everything as I go, and trying to build something meaningful from the ground up. But every challenge has reinforced why this work matters.
The road hasn’t been easy, but every struggle has made me stronger, more grounded, and more committed to serving others. In many ways, the hard parts are what pushed me to grow into the person and leader I am today.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your business?
D.S. Farms Lewisburg is a place where disabled veterans can reconnect, find peace, and build community through meaningful outdoor experiences. What sets us apart is that everything we offer is built from real, lived experience—I’ve seen firsthand the challenges veterans face long after service, and this farm was created to meet those needs with compassion and understanding.
We tailor each visit to the individual, creating a calm, judgment-free environment where veterans can relax, enjoy the outdoors, and feel genuinely supported.
What I’m most proud of is the authenticity of our mission. Nothing here is about numbers or optics—it’s about giving veterans a safe place to simply be themselves.
What I want readers to know is that D.S. Farms Lewisburg exists because veterans deserve a space where they feel valued, understood, and not alone.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
I define success by impact, not numbers. If even one veteran leaves D.S. Farms feeling lighter, heard, or a little more at peace, that’s success. It’s measured in moments—trust, connection, and knowing you made someone’s day better.
Pricing:
- Free to Disabled Veterans
- $40 for Kids Program during Summer
Contact Info:
- Website: https://dsfarmslewisburg.org/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dsfarmslewisburg
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/DS-Farms-Lewisburg/61561088093792/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/104201284/admin/dashboard/
- Twitter: @DSFarmLewisburg
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DsFarmsLewisburg
