Our Story
From a Farm in Escondido to a National Movement
AiSA started with a simple idea: that farming could be the foundation for rebuilding purpose, career, and community.
Our Mission
Why We Exist
Archi’s Institute for Sustainable Agriculture trains the next generation of farmers, entrepreneurs, and agricultural leaders. We combine technical education with real-world business skills to help our students build careers — not just grow crops.
Our mission is rooted in the belief that sustainable agriculture is more than a career path. It’s a way to serve communities, create food security, and build something that lasts.
Our Mission
To provide accessible, world-class agricultural education that empowers veterans and civilians to build sustainable careers in farming and agribusiness.
Our Vision
A future where trained, skilled agricultural entrepreneurs lead the way to healthier communities and resilient food systems.
Where It All Started
The Archi's Acres Story
AiSA grew out of Archi’s Acres, a USDA-certified organic hydroponic farm in Escondido, California founded by Marine veteran Colin Archipley and his wife Karen. What started as a working farm became a proof-of-concept: that sustainable agriculture could provide veterans a new mission.
In 2007, the Veterans Sustainable Agriculture Training (VSAT) program launched on the farm. It was one of the first programs in the country to combine hands-on agriculture training with business education for transitioning service members. That program evolved into what is now Archi’s Institute for Sustainable Agriculture.
Today, the farm still operates as a living classroom — a place where students learn by doing, surrounded by the same greenhouses and fields that started it all.
Since 2007, over 850 graduates have left our program ready to help feed our nation. We assist with job placement and business creation after graduation. Our graduates include successful farm owners and workers, soil-testing pioneers, restaurateurs, and owners of food companies.
AiSA by the Numbers
850+
Graduates Since 2007
16
College Credits Earned
3
Training Formats
17+
Years of Operation
3
Industry Certifications
Our Team
The People Behind AiSA
Our instructors don’t just teach theory — they’ve built farms, launched businesses, and navigated the same transitions our students face. That real-world experience is what makes AiSA different.
Anthony Lattner
Head Instructor
Dan Housenga
Business Instructor
Paul Neely
Field Instructor
Dwight Deter
Business Instructor
Joe Molina
Business Instructor
Our Partners
AiSA’s curriculum is accredited through the University of Minnesota Crookston, and our program is supported by leading organizations in agriculture and veteran services.
University of Minnesota Crookston
Farmer Veteran Coalition
TORO
Ready to Start Your Next Chapter?
Join a community of 850+ graduates who turned sustainable agriculture into a career, a business, and a purpose.