A Veteran’s New Mission in Aquaculture
For Navy veteran Schatachee “Sanchez” Carr, the path to a new career began with childhood memories of his grandparents’ farm, a growing interest in aquaculture, and a desire to find work with a deeper sense of purpose.
Born in Jackson, Mississippi, and later raised in Memphis, Sanchez spent part of his childhood working alongside his grandparents, who raised hogs and cattle on their farm. Although those early memories were brief, they would eventually connect him to an unexpected career opportunity.
Sanchez went on to spend years in the U.S. Navy as a quartermaster, serving in Jacksonville, Florida and Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. After leaving the military, he explored entrepreneurship and real estate. But despite pursuing those opportunities, he knew something was missing.
He wanted to build a career around a passion, something that connected his work to a greater sense of purpose.
Discovering a Different Kind of Farming
A conversation with his best friend introduced Sanchez to programs available to veterans in Florida. Around the same time, he had been watching YouTube videos about oyster farming and exploring the possibilities of aquaculture.
When he discovered the Veterans Florida Agriculture Program, the pieces began to fall into place.
“How cool would it be to bring farming back to my family, but with water instead of land,” he thought.
The idea connected his childhood experiences with an entirely new industry. Rather than returning to traditional agriculture, he could explore raising aquatic species, managing water quality, and learning how aquatic ecosystems work together.
Sanchez contacted Veterans Florida to learn more about the program. Pursuing the opportunity meant relocating from Jacksonville to Ruskin, but he was ready for a change and a chance to explore a career that felt meaningful.
Through the Veterans Florida Agriculture Program, he found an opportunity to explore the industry through hands-on experience at the University of Florida Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences (UF/IFAS) Tropical Aquaculture Laboratory.
Connecting Veterans With Florida’s Agriculture Industry
Through its AGVets program, Veterans Florida partners with UF/IFAS to connect veterans and eligible service members participating in SkillBridge with hands-on internship opportunities across Florida.
Participants intern at a UF/IFAS location for up to six months, gaining practical experience and exploring career paths across the agriculture industry. From aquaculture and livestock to natural resources and agricultural research, internships introduce participants to the diverse fields, specialized skills, and career opportunities that make up Florida’s agricultural sector.
The partnership combines Veterans Florida’s focus on military-to-civilian career pathways with UF/IFAS’s agricultural research, education, and industry expertise. Through direct experience at participating locations, interns gain exposure to agricultural operations, develop industry knowledge, and connect with professionals working in their fields of interest.
For Sanchez, that opportunity opened the door to a career path he had never seriously considered. His interest in oyster farming led him to the Veterans Florida Agriculture Program and, ultimately, to an internship at Tropical Aquaculture Lab in Ruskin.
There, he began building the practical knowledge and industry connections that would shape his vision for a future in aquaculture.
Learning the Industry From the Inside
At Tropical Aquaculture Lab, Sanchez became involved in projects focused on algae, different fish species, and water quality. He gained firsthand experience with the science and daily operations behind aquaculture, learning what it takes to maintain healthy aquatic environments.
The work quickly became part of his routine. He arrived early to check on the fish and tanks, monitor conditions, and learn how different elements of an aquatic system interact.
For someone who had grown up around livestock, aquaculture offered a familiar connection to farming through a different medium.
The internship also exposed Sanchez to opportunities he had never considered.
As he toured aquaculture operations, he discovered how many businesses specialize in ornamental fish and aquatic plants. Visits to Bay Shellfish Oyster Farm and Envy Aquatics expanded his understanding of the industry and its potential.
At Envy Aquatics, he saw how fish and aquatic plants could work together in integrated systems. Fish waste can provide nutrients for plants, creating opportunities for more efficient production systems.
The experience showed him that aquaculture extends beyond raising fish. It can involve production systems, environmental management, business development, and innovative approaches to food production.
Sanchez also developed a relationship with the owner of Envy Aquatics, Victor, who became a mentor. Their conversations have continued beyond the initial experience, giving Sanchez someone to turn to as he explores ideas and considers the next steps for his own business.
These experiences highlight another important aspect of the AGVets program: learning extends beyond the training facility. By engaging with industry professionals and exploring working agricultural operations, participants can build a professional network while discovering career paths, business models, and opportunities they might not otherwise encounter.
For Sanchez, those experiences turned a growing interest into a clearer vision for his future.
Turning Experience Into an Entrepreneurial Vision
As Sanchez’s interest in aquaculture grew, so did his ambitions.
Veterans Florida connected with him another . internship opportunity at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota. After touring the facility, he began the onboarding process for an internship that could provide additional hands-on experience and the opportunity to continue learning about the industry.
Mote’s work with commercial fish production and aquatic plants offered another opportunity to deepen his knowledge of aquaculture.
At the same time, Sanchez began developing a business plan for his own aquaculture farm and applied for a seed grant to pursue the venture.
His vision reflects both his entrepreneurial background and his growing interest in sustainable food production. He wants to understand how aquatic animals are raised, how production systems operate, and how businesses can contribute to a reliable food supply.
He has also explored the potential of black soldier fly larvae farming. The concept involves using suitable organic material, including food waste from restaurants, to raise larvae that can be processed into protein for fish feed. In certain applications, insect-derived ingredients also have potential in other protein markets.
For Sanchez, ideas like these represent an opportunity to connect business ownership with practical innovation in agriculture and food production.
Rather than simply pursuing another business venture, he is working toward a model that reflects his interests, values and long-term goals.
Finding Purpose in the Process
For Sanchez, the benefits of pursuing a career in aquaculture extend beyond professional development.
The time he spends working with aquatic life and observing the environment has become a meaningful part of his life.
“The calm that comes from being around the water has made me a better person all around,” Sanchez said.
That facet adds another dimension to his career journey. Aquaculture has given him an opportunity to pursue his interest in farming, develop new professional skills, and pursue work that holds personal meaning.
His journey is still unfolding. With an opportunity at Mote Marine Laboratory in Sarasota on the horizon, a business plan in development, and a growing network of industry mentors, Sanchez is continuing to turn his interest in aquaculture into a potential business of his own.
Building What Comes Next With Veterans Florida
Through the AGVets program and its partnership with UF/IFAS, Veterans Florida creates opportunities for veterans and eligible SkillBridge participants to gain up to six months of hands-on experience at participating locations across Florida. The internships introduce participants to the breadth of the state’s agriculture industry while connecting them with practical training and professionals in the field.
For Sanchez, the program opened a door to an industry he had only begun to discover. It connected his early memories of working on his grandparents’ farm with new technical skills, professional relationships, and an entrepreneurial vision centered on aquaculture.
His journey demonstrates how military experience can become a foundation for a new career. The discipline and responsibility developed during his six years in the Navy now carry into his work as he learns the technical side of aquaculture and explores the possibilities of business ownership.
His story is a reminder that a meaningful next career does not always follow a straight line. Sometimes, it begins with a familiar connection, takes shape through new experiences, and grows into an opportunity that looks entirely different from what came before.
Ready to discover your next mission? Whether you’re passionate about agriculture, exploring a new career, or dreaming of starting your own business, Veterans Florida can turn your interests into opportunities. Take the next step and start building a future that fits your goals.
Your next chapter could be closer than you think. Visit veteransflorida.org/apply to discover opportunities and find your path forward!
