From Service to Civilian: How Tea Transformed One Veteran’s Life
In the heart of Pennsylvania’s Allegheny Mountains, where crisp air meets winding roads, one veteran has turned a simple cup of tea into a life-changing mission.
Living in Blue Knob, a region known for its iconic ski slopes and natural beauty, Rhonda Smith and her family built a lifestyle rooted in wellness and resilience. Focused on offering her community fresh and healthy food, natural products, and artisanal teas, Rhonda ensures every item she produces is made with quality ingredients and care.
Rhonda grew up on her grandparents’ farm, two hours from where she now lives. Her summers were spent planting, weeding, and preserving. A year after high school, Rhonda joined the U.S. Air Force to travel and earn a college degree.
She served ten years, eight of active duty, with the last three stationed in Germany. At the time, Rhonda was a single parent to her young son, and the move was a big transition.
Rhonda and her son were welcomed to the country by a German family that hosted new military personnel. They lived on a farm offering all the familiarities that Rhonda was used to at home. Upon their arrival, Rhonda and her son got sick. Their German landlord brewed a special tea made of local herbs and flowers. As Rhonda spent time living with the family, she learned about the healing power of tea and food.
“She would send us home with baskets of produce, eggs, and herbs — among other things — and I thought to myself, ‘I want to be like her when I grow up,’” Rhonda recalls with a smile.
While serving in Germany, Rhonda worked in trauma as an operating room nurse. She received her bachelor’s degrees in psychology and sociology, with hopes to work in the U.S. as a nurse when she returned home.
However, when she got out of the military, transitioning to civilian life was challenging. Her college education didn’t transfer, making it hard to resume her nursing career. Seeking a new path, she earned an MBA and began exploring ways to help female veterans.
In the meantime, Rhonda got married, had a daughter, and planted roots in the mountains. One day, while driving through town, Rhonda and her daughter passed a closed tea shop. The shop had been a family favorite, and her daughter mentioned missing it. This moment was a catalyst for Rhonda, and she began blending teas at home. Within a month, she launched Skirted Soldier.
Over the past seven years, her business has grown significantly. As demand grew, her dedication and mission-driven approach caught national attention, leading to a feature on The Today Show. Now, Skirted Soldier has over 200 wholesale accounts across the country, a testament to Rhonda’s passion and perseverance.
While Rhonda’s passion is providing quality tea, her commitment to her cause doesn’t end there. Rhonda donates 10% of every purchase to benefit female veterans and spends her free time serving on the Advisory Board for the Pennsylvania Veteran Farming Network.
Her family’s love of gardening eventually evolved into another venture, Blue Knob Farm, where they offer produce, eggs, berries, and value added agricultural products. Through partnerships with local farmers, they create freeze-dried food kits for farmers markets, with some kits donated to shelters and food banks.
Yet, Rhonda’s journey took an even more profound turn, shaping her commitment to health and wellness. A few years ago, Rhonda’s daughter went through a challenging health journey. Determined to find the root cause, Rhonda took her daughter to a doctor of natural medicine. Within two weeks, her daughter showed significant improvement. This experience prompted the family to re-evaluate their lifestyle, from food choices to environmental toxins.
This led the family to create chemical-free body and home care products. From dry shampoo to bug spray and laundry detergent, Blue Knob Farm now provides safe, natural products for their community. Her daughter is actively involved in the business and has seen the benefits of the products firsthand. The journey from nursing to realizing the power of herbal and natural remedies has inspired Rhonda to pursue a degree in natural medicine.
“Our ‘why’ is making sure our community is eating clean, healthy food and using safe products,” Rhonda shares. “We want them to know what they’re putting in and on their body.”
In 2024, Rhonda was honored as a Farmers on the Rise Award recipient for her outstanding efforts and commitment to excellence. The award funds are allowing Rhonda’s dreams of purchasing a commercial freeze dry come to life, further enhancing her ability to positively impact her community.
For more information about Skirted Solider, visit skirtedsoldier.com, and visit Blue Knob Farm on Facebook.