Three Farms Receive Honors • 4-H Remains Popular • Mars Maryland 5 Star Event In partnership with the Cecil County Office of Economic Development
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CECIL
Ariel Balog, Ag Industry Coordinator
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Corn was first domesticated in what is now Mexico more than 10,000 years ago by native people. It became more popular in Europe in the late 1700s.
Corn is grown on every continent except Antarctica, and over 90 million acres of land are dedicated to its production. The United States produces about one-third of the world’s corn, but only 1 percent of it is sweet corn.
Corn is used in many foods, such as cereal, potato chips, soft drinks and cooking oil. It’s also used in non-food items like fireworks, glue, fabric, crayons, fuel, paint, laundry detergent, cosmetics, and plastics. The dextrin in cornstarch helps bind the explosive elements in fireworks together and ensures they ignite and burn at the right speed. Corn is also called maize.
1. Corn is a vegetable, fruit and grain.
2. Corn comes in many different colors.
3. The world record for a corn plant height is over 48 feet.
4. Corn has an even number of rows on each cob.
5. There is one strand of silk for each kernel on a cob. On average there are about 800 kernels on an ear of corn.
The Office of Economic Development is proud to present the premier edition of Cecil Grown , the first of its kind agricultural magazine for Cecil County. We hope you will enjoy learning what agriculture has to offer here, including world-class equestrian events, collaborative ag literacy efforts and local farm families who exemplify what it means to be stewards of the land.
You will discover the life-changing 4-H program and the history of the last remaining Grange in Cecil County, Calvert Grange, a hub of rural life in northern Cecil. As you enjoy the articles and photos, we hope you will find yourself filled with pride and newfound motivation to support local farms and agribusinesses, as well as literacy and education efforts in our county.
Farmers work 36 percent of the land in Cecil County every day
and in every season. Like generations of farmers before them, the farmers of today must be businesspeople and advocates as well as stewards of the land.
Today’s farmers grow row crops, feed and vegetables; run orchards, greenhouses and vineyards; raise livestock, including poultry, goats, sheep, horses, alpacas, dairy and meat cows; keep bees; and grow trees, shrubs, and flowers—all right here in Cecil County.
While in many ways, farming is an age-old practice, today’s farmers also use modern methods and technologies to improve crop yields, safeguard local waterways, improve soil quality and market their products. Above all, today’s farmers are innovative—constantly and creatively expanding their offerings with value-added products like beeswax candles, soaps, ice cream, pies, cider, wool products,
evergreen wreaths and agritourism—to name a few.
A purchase from your local farmer supports Cecil County’s hard-working producers, promoting economy, health, and resilience, while helping preserve our rural culture and pastoral ambience. Look for the Cecil Grown logo that certifies products are grown here. If you ate good food, breathed clean country air, or enjoyed the beauty of a lush, green landscape today, thank a farmer!
CECIL COUNTY OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
SCAN THE QR CODE TO LEARN MORE!
Farming is 24/7, including holidays and weekends and is something not for the faint of heart. Today’s farmers and ranchers are indeed a rare breed—representing less than 1 percent of the total population—working hard to feed the world.
Three Cecil County farms have been recognized with special awards that represent the devotion they all share to the profession. Caleb and Alice Crothers received the 2022 Leopold Award, Chris Hahn and the Scheeler family were named the 2023 Cecil County Farm Bureau Outstanding Farm Operation of the Year, and Spry Brothers were honored with the 2023 Cecil Soil Conservation District Cooperator of the Year.
The Crothers own Long Green Farms in Rising Sun, established in 1759 and making Caleb the eighth generation to continue the family legacy. Today, the Crothers milk 135 cows and grow more than 400 acres of corn, soybeans and hay to feed their herd.
The couple met at Tennessee’s Carson Newman University where Caleb was playing football. He and Alice were both studying business administration. After graduation in 2005 the Crothers made a life in Tennessee, Alice’s native state. In 2015 they moved back to Maryland and took over the family farm.
“We are honored and humbled to be awarded the Leopold Conservation Award,” Alice says. “The recognition we have received has been overwhelming. We also know that we are not unique. Many of our neighboring farmers are working just as hard to institute conservation practices on their farms.”
According to Alice, farmers are environmentalists. “You don’t have the opportunity to farm the same piece of ground for 265 years without consistent and intentional efforts to conserve and preserve the natural resources around you,” Alice explains.
The Leopold Award is given in honor of renowned conservationist Aldo Leopold and is designed to recognize agricultural landowners who voluntarily implement conservation prac -
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tices. The Crothers received a previous farming award and grant that helped them install a sand separator. Since the dairy cattle are bedded with sand it was important to remove it from waste before the manure was put into a methane digester, which has a
long-term goal to turn animal waste into power for the farm and the grid. Other conservation efforts include no-till farming, cover crops and planting 60,000 trees.
“As we look back on the last nine years of our contributions to the farm, we are the proudest of the progress we have made in sustaining the farm for future generations,” Alice adds. “At the end of the day, a farming operation is a business. We believe that we have worked hard and are continuing to work on creating a financially
sustainable business model while preserving and conserving the environment.”
The Crothers have three fulltime employees but note that finding people who want to work on farms isn’t easy. “Simply put, there are not enough dollars to incentivize laborers to stay in agriculture,” Alice says. “Farming is a big job that many farmers see as a calling. It requires consistent hard work, faith, agility, innovation, creativity and persistence.”
There’s a huge disconnect between consumers and producers. “While we recognize our value in food production, we often feel underappreciated or misunderstood by consumers,” Alice says. “We hope that we are opening the lines of communication by sharing our story in various avenues to bridge the gap.”
Community Involvement is Key
Consumer education and community service is also important to the owners of the 2023 Outstanding Farm Operation of the Year, Chris Hahn and his grandparents, Mike and Mary Scheeler of Greenfield Farm. Chris believes that in addition to having a good
Photos courtesy of Elizabeth Strange Photography
Photos courtesy of Greenfield Farms
farm operation, community involvement is a key factor in receiving this award. “We are always giving back to the community either through Farm Bureau Young Farmers, 4-H, local fire companies or churches,” Chris says.
The Scheelers previously farmed in Harford County but purchased Greenfield Farm in 1965. Today the farm is 600 acres with another 1,000 acres of rented ground. “We also have been selling seed for 40 years so we are often looked upon for many answers to questions a farmer or home -
owner may have,” Chris says.
“I felt very proud to receive this award as my grandfather won it in the 1990s and I feel like I am continuing the tradition,” Chris says. “And living up to the standard.”
Farming isn’t easy, and Chris says the big challenges to -
day are money and help. “The commodity markets are very volatile. Cost of goods does not help, everything is getting more and more expensive. The dollar definitely doesn’t go as far. Help is also a problem. Young kids are not doing this kind of work—it’s a dying breed. There are a couple out there but it’s hard to find young people to work on the farm.”
Like farming, nothing comes easily, according to Chris. “I’m very proud to
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be one of the few farmers,” he says. “Most don’t realize the amount of time and effort farming takes. Guess you can say we gamble every day as one storm or one bad weather pattern can take it all very quickly.”
For 15 years Bill Cissel has presented the Farm Bureau award that was established by his grandfather William D. Cissel many years ago. According to Bill, Green Acres Farm is a very successful farming operation and always has some of the best-looking crops. “They are and have always been a pillar in the community and are synonymous with
agriculture in Cecil County,” Bill says. “I couldn’t think of a more deserving operation and family to be recognized for the award. I’m most impressed with the generational involvement in the operation and the hard work and enthusiasm for passing on the Scheeler family’s farming legacy.”
The field manager also sees this award as a way to educate the public about agriculture and food production. “The public has become further removed from agriculture and no longer has an understanding of where their food comes from,” Bill says. “This award is a great way to not
only highlight some of the wonderful operations we have in the county but also serves as a great reminder of the importance of agriculture in Maryland and the broader community.”
Committed to the Land
Like the previously mentioned honorees, the Cecil Soil Conservation District Cooperator of the Year is also committed to the land, water and farm sustainability. Spry Brothers’ Farm was established in 1928 by Julian Spry and wife, Gertrude Edmonson. Today, Spry Brothers consists of four partners, including the Spry’s grandson, Ralph (Corky)
Photo courtesy of Spry Brothers Farms
Gooner and his stepson, William (Willy) Bubb, as well as Steven Crouse and his son, Mark Crouse. Steven started working for the family in 1973 after high school graduation.
Some of the main conservation efforts instituted over the years include conservation tillage, no-till planting, crop rotation, cover crops and the
implementation of a nutrient management plan. Most recently, Mark says they improved a creek bank. “We did a job along the Big Elk Creek to restore an embankment with large stone and grasses and built a new waterway to help prevent the bank from collapsing,” he says. “The new waterway will slow down the water coming into the creek.”
The four men farm 4,400 acres located in Elkton, much of which is rented ground. The property has seen many changes over the years, according to Mark. Once a dairy farm in the mid-
1900s, the farm evolved into all crop and grain production, including corn, soybeans, wheat, straw and hay.
The remaining property consists of riparian woodlands, a wildlife area and a pond. “We never expect to win any awards,” Mark says. “We are out here just doing our best to take care of the land we farm so that it can keep producing crops for the future.”
Corky Gooner remembers milking cows when he was seven years old when his family moved onto his grandparent’s farm. “I tell people this award is a reflection of my grandparents and parents — it was their dedication,” Corky says. “They lived to farm, not farmed to live. They were good managers.”
Farming was never about power for his family but always about the commitment to the farm, soil and clean water, according to the 81-year-old co-partner. “They were very, very loyal to farming and we were blessed.”
According to the Cecil Soil Conservation staff, Spry Brothers have encompassed several generations of farmers who have poured their life into agriculture and conservation and been dedicated to their rural community.
Over the decades, Spry Brothers has worked with the soil conservation district to implement several best management practices. They signed their first conservation plan in 1967 that included a water quality and soil health plan to prevent soil erosion and help protect the Chesapeake Bay.
Chris Brown, Cecil Soil Conservation District director, said it’s been a joy to work with the team at Spry Brothers Farm. “They implement conversation practices willingly,” Brown says. “They are great stewards of their land as well as all of the land they rent.”
All three of the farms recognized made one thing clear, they are not farming to get rich, but because it’s the lifestyle they love. They are dedicated to their land, committed to sustainability, and determined to keep their soil, water and land healthy for generations to come.
18 CECIL GROWN
CECIL COUNTY
Farmers Markets
FILL PLATES
In the search to find food that hasn’t traveled thousands of miles, Cecil County residents are fortunate to have weekly markets where they can talk with growers and producers and perhaps learn about a new vegetable or get advice on different ways to prepare an old favorite. The following are resources for freshfrom-the-farmto-the-table offerings:
PERRYVILLE FARM & CRAFT MARKET AT LOWER FERRY PARK
104 Roundhouse Drive
Perryville
First Saturdays, 2 p.m.-5 p.m. May-October www.cecilgrown.com
CECIL COUNTY
4-H MEMBERS
PART OF A DECADES OLD TRADITION
BY ERIC LOONEY
From an outside perspective, the name 4-H likely calls to mind one of three very specific images—baking, summer camp, or showing animals at the county fair. The organization, which has been around for over a century, has a long, well-known history for encouraging and educating youth, and currently has six million members spread among every state, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico and over 80 additional countries.
While animals and summer memories are still a core part of the program, many may be surprised at the size and scope of modern 4-H. Even some of their members are surprised.
Nathaniel Smith, who has belonged to 4-H since he was a five-year-old Clover, says the experience has been a lot different from what he had expected. He thought it was going to be mostly animals and crafts, but now he’s found himself involved with computer projects, engineering, tractors, small engines and more.
“There’s just been a lot of other experiences that I did not expect to have in 4-H,” Nathaniel says, sharing that his biggest surprise was how he really got into horticulture. He even attended a national event in Michigan last year, achieving fifth overall, with a winning team.
Angie Darsney, a 4-H volunteer, was similarly surprised by the activities her kids found themselves drawn to. Though her family didn’t have the time for 4-H when she was a girl, they kept a horse in Cecil County and often spent the entire week at the fair, so a good part of her childhood was around the 4-H environment.
When her kids entered the organization, she had certain thoughts in mind, only her children had different ideas. “I was just so excited,” she says. “And they’re like, ‘yeah, we don’t want to stay at the fair for a week.’ And I’m like ‘we don’t? Oh, no, you’re right, we do want to sleep in the air conditioning for a week, you’re right, you’re right.” And they’re still having the 4-H experience, it’s just not what I had envisioned it to be. And they seem to be quite happy with the way that it’s worked out.”
The Darsney kids don’t have animals to show at the fair, but they’ve had experience in horticulture,
IN ADDITION TO COMPETING AT THE COUNTY FAIR, 4-H MEMBERS WITH OUTSTANDING PROJECTS HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY TO PARTICIPATE AT THE MARYLAND STATE FAIR.
junior council, public speaking, rocketry and archery. “My 19-year-old, he’ll be 20 and he’s in college. He’s going for forestry and forest ecology at SUNY (College of Environmental Science and Forestry) and, you know, a part of that is because he took horticulture through 4-H.”
4-H LASTS INTO ADULTHOOD
Darsney’s voice fills with pride as she describes her son walking through Fair Hill Natural Resources Management area in Elkton and identifying different types of trees. Despite being off at college, her son still hasn’t outgrown 4-H, continuing to participate as much as he can. “When he came home for spring break, and even his fall break, he drove home on a Friday, and Friday evening he was at a 4-H spaghetti dinner.”
Volunteer Sally Warner had plenty of experience with 4-H while growing up. She was
always active and involved, especially as part of the 4-H camp program. As a young adult, she wanted to give back to her community, so she became a volunteer, something she’s been doing for 25 years.
As a volunteer, Warner is much more aware of how broad
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4-H GIVES YOUNGSTERS A CHANCE TO EXPLORE THEIR PASSIONS, WHETHER IT’S SEWING AN ARTICLE OF CLOTHING, WORKING ON A SMALL ENGINE OR MASTERING A JUMP ATOP A HORSE.
4-H can really be. When she was younger, she also saw it as something based around animals and camp, but as the years and her participation have grown, she sees all of the possibilities. “In Cecil County it’s not just animals, it’s not just, you know, shooting sports. It’s everything from sewing to crafts, to you can work on small engines or, it’s really limitless.”
Susan Sprout-Knight, now a 4-H club leader, has been involved with the program since the age of eight, when she followed her brothers into the group, shar-
ing an unofficial family tradition. She says she received so much from the program both as a kid and teen, that it inspired her to give back and become a club leader. “I had the opportunity to grow as an individual,” SproutKnight shares. “I had the opportunity to travel. I received funds to assist in education. It gave me the foundation for my goals of what I wanted to accomplish in life.”
Though 4-H has expanded in scope, according to SproutKnight, the opportunities have remained. “The core values and the traditions are still there in place, the foundations of the program are still there in place,” she says. “It’s keeping up with how our ever-changing world is affecting our kids. Technology is a huge thing that we have now to deal with. It is a wonderful tool, but it’s also a tool that hinders some
things because the kids have so many more opportunities across the board, and parents are pulled in different directions to be able to accomplish the same things we were accomplishing years ago. So, our world has changed, but the foundations and traditions are still there.”
4-H Youth Development Educator April Barczewski shares a long-time love of 4-H. She was involved as a youth and became an educator 24 years ago. How is working behind the scenes different than participating?
“A lot more paperwork!” she quips. Some of that paperwork involves research studies, confirming that 4-H teaches children “life skills, such as decision making, leadership skills, teamwork, etc.” But what she says really inspires her work is the development she sees in the kids. “A lot of them start out really shy, kind of apprehensive, and it’s rewarding just to see the lightbulb go off and to see them grow.”
SEEING THE CHANGE
Sprout-Knight echoes the thought. “I’ve seen some kids that start off the programs that were so shy that you thought, “this kid’s never going to sur-
vive.” They’re holding on to their mom’s leg or dad in a meeting…and then when they become a senior, all of a sudden, they’re able to stand up in front of a crowd of 300 people and just talk…. Those are the impacts that we’re making that we don’t realize [we’re making.] We’re just going with the flow and all of a sudden you see the change in a child.”
Warner mentioned that her time spent working in the foster care system showed her the impact of 4-H, especially attending camp. Kids who had never had any similar experiences were able to come and join in an environ ment where they could unplug from their electronics and inter act with each other. “You know, they’re really spending quality time together learning how to do relationships and communication skills. I think communication is the biggest thing that a lot of the kids get from 4-H… Everything that they’re doing is communication based, whether they’re sharing with the community or they’re sharing with other people about their projects.”
Warner’s daughter Caylin is currently in 4-H, getting her first
taste when she was five months old and visited camp with her mom.
She’s currently working on her Diamond-Clover project, the 4-H equivalent of an Eagle Scout project. She’s organizing a 5-K run to raise money for scholarships to allow more kids to go to 4-H camp, where she’s currently a counselor. “If I didn’t do 4-H,” says Caylin, “I wouldn’t have as many community service hours as I do. I had like 840 this year, and that would not be possible
munity. “For the kids to then age out and turn right around and become adult volunteers, just is amazing,” says Darsney. “It speaks volumes for the program and what it offers and what the kids got out of it. And how they perceive the fun in it because if it’s not fun, you don’t want to do it.”
Adaptation can be necessary to continue to grow and fulfill the needs of kids from all back-
grounds. However, in talking with members and volunteers it’s impossible not to hear their powerful and continued passion for 4-H. It’s clear that, although the group may have expanded towards a more well-rounded experience for children from all backgrounds, one thing that hasn’t changed is the organization’s passion and values. “It’s not cows and chickens,” says Sprout-Knight. “It’s a lot of leadership.”
ATV COMPETITIONS ARE PART OF THE 4-H EXPERIENCE, A FUN ACTIVITY, BUT LIKE ALL PROJECTS, IT HAS THE ADDED VALUE OF IMPROVING COMMUNICATION SKILLS AND FOSTERING
LEADERSHIP AMONG THE MEMBERS.
As the years go on, change can be inevitable, and 4-H isn’t resistant to that. The organization has evolved to fill the needs of the modern world, without compromising its sense of com-
• Agriculture is the single largest employer in the world.
• There are 914 million acres of farmland just in the U.S.
• The average U.S. farmer can feed 165 people.
• Beef farming accounts for 29 percent of American farms.
• Goats are great companions for other farm animals, including horses, cows and chickens.
• Some breeds of chickens can lay colorful eggs.
• A group of pigs is called a “sounder.”
• Eight percent of U.S. farms market foods locally through farmers’ markets and food hubs.
• One day’s production for a high-producing dairy cow yields 10.5 pounds of cheese.
• Women make up 30 percent of today’s farmers.
• More than 20 percent of all farmers are beginning farmers.
• There are 257,454 millennial farmers.
• Texas has 248,809 farms, more than any other state in the nation.
• About 25 percent of all U.S. agricultural products by value are exported yearly.
• Careful stewardship by America’s farmers spurred a 44 percent decline in erosion of cropland by wind and water since 1982.
• One-third of the U.S. or 750 million acres, is covered with trees.
• Many of the products we use in our everyday lives are byproducts of food produced by America’s farmers and ranchers—everything from detergents and paints to X-ray film and crayons, textbooks, chalk and strings for musical instruments.
• An acre of land is about the same size as a football field.
12,600 Farm Operations
Average size of 159 acres
440,000 Acres Planted in corn and grain
Agriculture in Maryland & Cecil County
Maryland is a diverse state with bustling cities and rural landscapes that provide not only scenic beauty but also produce the food for our tables. Maryland’s agriculture industry is the state’s largest commercial endeavor.
470,000 Acres Planted in soybeans
340,000 Acres Planted in wheat
The majority of Maryland’s farmland is in the north central part of the state and the upper Eastern Shore, but more than 20 urban farms are located in Baltimore City. The state’s leading products are broiler chickens, dairy goods, corn and soybeans.
Here is a look at farming in the state with statistics released in January.
45,000 Cattle & Cows
350,000 People employed in farming $8B Contributed annually to state economy 2M Acres in agriculture or 40% of the state
$1.2B Provided through chicken broiler production
The following is a snapshot of farms in Cecil County, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.
How many farms are there?
Number of farms: 575
Average size of farms: 141 acres
Land in farms: 81,040 acres
How do sales from the farm break down? Crops
2,335 Beekeepers
18,592 Bee colonies
41.08M Pounds of mushrooms Produced in 2022
43 Bison On 5 Maryland farms
40%
66
10.5 Horses
By Karen Gardner
Until 2019, there were six top class equestrian eventing venues in the world. In 2019, that changed when Cecil County’s Fair Hill was awarded as the host for the seventh venue.
Officially, the competition is known as the CCI5*-L, and the annual Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill will be produced by the Sport and Entertainment Corporation of Maryland and its competition partner Fair Hill International.
Now in its fourth year, the 2024 MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill, presented by Brown Advisory, is Oct. 17-20 at the Fair
Hill Special Event Zone near Elkton. Some of the top eventers and horses in the world will compete in dressage, cross-country, and stadium jumping. Each horse/rider pair will compete in the three events, spread out over four days.
“The event showcases Fair Hill as an elite equestrian facility, Maryland’s rich equine history and the state’s ability to host equestrian sport across many disciplines,” says Jeff Newman, president and CEO of MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill. “It’s a big deal for Maryland to be one of only two places in the U.S. and seventh worldwide to host eventing at the highest level.”
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From fox hunting and steeplechases to polo and thoroughbred racing, horse sports have been an integral part of life in Maryland since the Maryland Jockey Club was founded in 1743.
Fair Hill’s undulating terrain, fields, woods, and streams make it a destination for outdoor lovers from hikers and birdwatchers to mountain bikers. But Fair Hill, once a farm owned by the duPont family, has long had a special connection with the equestrian community. William duPont Jr. began buying up dozens of local farms on both sides of the Mason Dixon line in 1925, not only as a cattle farm, but also to indulge two of his favorite equestrian activities, fox hunting and steeple chasing.
Today, the Maryland side of Fair Hill is a 5,656-acre natural resource management area operated by the Maryland Park Service. The newly constructed Special Event Zone, completed in 2020, enabled the venue to host the annual Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill along with a new turf and timber track for racing, steeplechase and more.
In an Elite Class
The MARS Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill is in an elite class with the Kentucky Three-Day Event, Badminton
Horse Trials (UK), Burghley Horse Trials (UK), Australian International Three-Day Event, Luhmuhlen (Germany), and Les 5 Etoiles de Pau (France). These 5-star eventing competitions have been around for decades, and international and national federations were interested in adding a new one.
“Other promoters and venues were competing across the world,” Newman says. What gave Maryland a leg up is that since 1989, Fair Hill International has hosted an established 3-star eventing competition along with other equestrian events. Around 2015, the state of Maryland was looking to up its game as a top equestrian destination, and the Maryland Horse Park System was established. Subsequently, a public-private partnership was formed to transform Fair Hill into a world class equestrian center known as the Fair Hill Special Event Zone.
The partnership raised $20 million,
including $10 million in private donations, to carry out the transformation. “The upgrade to the facility was a big determining factor,” Newman says. Partners in the project included the state of Maryland, the Sport & Entertainment Corporation of Maryland (a non-profit formed as the event producer), Fair Hill Foundation, Fair Hill International, the Maryland Stadium Authority, the Maryland Sports Commission, the Maryland Horse Industry Board, the Maryland Horse Council, Maryland Tourism, Cecil County Tourism, Cecil County Office of Economic Development, Delaware Tourism, and the Maryland Department of Natural Resources.
What they got was a 4-mile cross-country course worthy of a 5-star competition, designed by Ian Stark, known worldwide for his courses. The funds also provided a new arena for dressage and stadium jumping. In these venues, Olympic-level riding will take place.
“If you’ve never been to an eventing competition and you have one day to go out, go to the cross-country phase on Saturday,” Newman says. “Cross country is what defines eventing and differentiates it from
other disciplines. The other competition days are very exciting too, and you can see how the full story plays out as the horse has to remain fit and healthy throughout and complete all phases in order to win.”
Eventing is often described as the ultimate test of horse and rider, and it’s also known as the triathlon of the horse world. The first two days of competition will feature dressage in the main arena. Dressage, sort of a horse ballet, features horse and rider performing a sequence of intricate, complex moves, demonstrating the graceful partnership of horse and rider.
Cross-country is the second part of eventing. It displays the speed, endurance, and jumping ability of the horse over varied terrain and solid obstacles. The 5-star timed course features 40-plus fences with a maximum height of 1.2 meters (just under 4 feet) and natural obstacles including water, ditches, drops and banks.
Extra Level of Challenge
Fair Hill’s hilly terrain adds an extra layer of challenge. “This is not a flat course,” Newman emphasizes. The turf footing will appeal to horse and rider. “The footing here in the fall especially is some of the best in the
world,” he says. Horses gallop through much of the course, although there are technical turns and other complex maneuvers horse and rider must perform.
The show jumping portion of the competition comes last. These are 15 jumps with rails designed to give way if struck, set at a maximum height of 1.3 meters (about 4 feet, 3 inches). Riders must follow a set course, knocking down as few rails as possible, and finish within a time limit.
Fair Hill also has the 3-star course for the 3-star (CCI3*-L) eventing competition, which is an integral part of the Maryland 5 Star event, along with a 1-mile practice course. In fact, the cross-country fields at Fair Hill can accommodate just about every level of horse and rider, from novice to elite. Fair Hill hosts schoolings, clinics, starter trials, and national and international level horse trials.
The 2023 MARS
Maryland 5 Star at Fair Hill attracted 30,000
spectators and athletes from 10 countries, mainly from Europe, Australia and New Zealand. These visitors spent nearly $12 million in direct spending while visiting Cecil County. Although not to the level of the 180,000 spectators who regularly frequent the UK 5-star venues, the Maryland 5-Star is providing significant exposure for the sport, Newman says.
“It also provides more opportunities for U.S. athletes to compete at the highest level,” he adds. Shipping horses abroad can be very expensive for riders who want to work their way up the ranks to the sport’s higher levels, and now the U.S. has two 5-star venues along with numerous other lower-level venues that provide riders with opportunities to improve their skills.
“It’s not just the competition,” Newman says. “It also showcases what Cecil County and the state have to offer to a global audience.” Locally made beer, wine, and spirits vendors will be in the Beer, Wine, & Spirits Showcase on Saturday. Food made, grown or raised nearby will be featured in the Maryland Fresh Food Fest area on Sunday. The Sawmill Crab Shack hosted by the Wellwood will provide seafood favorites at the signature water complex on the cross-country course. There will be lots of family activities and attractions, and over 100 shopping vendors on site.
Pets need not be left at home. Pet owners can give their dogs a VIP Experience through the MARS VIPet where dogs can get their photos taken at selfie stations, and they can try their paws at a dog agility course. And Corgis will be celebrated at the Maryland Corgi Cup, where the
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short-legged dogs will race for bragging (or should we say barking) rights.
There will also be other equestrian competitions simultaneously with the 5-star and 3-star, including the competitive USEA Young Event Horse East Coast Championships for 4 and 5-year-old horses that have the talent and disposition to excel at the upper levels of eventing.
Altogether, 180 horse-rider pairs are expected to compete in the 5-star, 3-star and Young Event Horse competitions.
None of this would come as a surprise to William duPont Jr. In 1925, DuPont bought 8,000 acres on both sides of the Maryland-Pennsylvania line just a stone’s throw from Delaware to raise cattle and provide equestrians with a place to recreate and compete. DuPont died in 1965, and the state of Maryland later bought the 5,656acre duPont property located on the Maryland side for $6 million.
The property is now home to a thoroughbred training center, a nature center, 80 miles of multi-use trails, an equestrian campground and much more. It’s been part of the Maryland Park Service since 1975.
For more on the Maryland 5 Star, go to www.maryland5star.us/
For more on the Fair Hill Natural Resources Management Area, go to dnr.maryland.gov/ publiclands/Pages/ central/fairhill.aspx
Agricultural Agencies
CECIL COUNTY FARM BUREAU
135 N. Hills Road, Rising Sun
www.mdfarm,bureau.com/cecil-2/
CECIL LAND TRUST
135 E. Main St., Elkton 410-996-5280
www.cecillandtrust.org
CECIL COUNTY OFFICE OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT Agriculture Coordinator
200 Chesapeake Blvd., Elkton 410-996-8469
www.cecilcountyag.org
CECIL COUNTY USDA FARM SERVICE AGENCY OFFICE
105 Chesapeake Blvd., Suite B-3 Elkton
www.fsa.usda.gov
CECIL SOIL CONSERVATION DISTRICT
105 Chesapeake Blvd., Elkton 410-398-4411 x3
www.cecilscd.com/
HORIZON FARM CREDIT, ACA
1614 E. Churchville Road, Bel Air 443-974-2113
www.horizonfc.com/
MARBIDCO
1410 Forest Drive, Suite 21, Annapolis 410-267-6807
www.marbidco.org
MARYLAND DEPT. OF AGRICULTURE
50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis 410-841-5700
www.mde.maryland
MARYLAND DEPT. OF NATURAL RESOURCES
CONSERVATION DISTRICT 300 Dawes Drive, Elkton 410-398-1246
22 Carpenters Point Road, Perryville www.facebook.com/ ThePoultryPalette
TOASTED CBD
120 Roop Road, Rising Sun www.toastedcbd.com
WALNUT SPRINGS
FRUIT FARM
4040 Blue Ball Road, Elkton 410-398-9150
275 Crossland Lane, Rising Sun 757-646-5956
Calvert Grange Last in Cecil County
But Community Service Remains Strong
by rebecca long chaney
At just 14 years old, Eleanor Cline, a farmer’s daughter, joined the Calvert Grange. Now, 79, Cline is president and is celebrating 65 years in the agricultural organization, the last Grange in Cecil County.
Cline is continuing a family tradition as her father, Walton Mason, was originally a member of the Appleton Grange and a founding member of the Calvert Grange in 1953. According to Cline, Grange groups across the country work to strengthen individuals, families and communities through grassroots actions, service, education, advocacy and agricultural awareness.
Cline served as the Grange Princess in her teens and married a local farmer when she was 22 years old. “I met him at the county fair,” she says. As a farmer’s wife, “I milked cows by hand and had a job off of the farm, too.”
The Calvert Grange has been a huge part of Cline’s life and over the years she has seen a lot of changes. “People come and go in the Grange,” she says. “We currently have eight members, but we have an active group.” Most recently Calvert Grange participated in the Cecil County Fair earning the Grand Champion booth display award in the civic group category.
The National Grange is the oldest agricultural and rural public interest organization in the nation. Grangers have been a driving force behind some of the most progressive legislation in the United States as well as dedicated to many community service projects, for example leading the charge for “rural free delivery” of mail.
In the mid-1800s farmers saw a need to work together, with the Grange founded in 1867. They knew a united voice for agriculture would collectively strengthen their bargaining positions with
selling their crops and seed as well as promoting property rights. No surprise that Grange is said to have derived from the Latin word for grain and is related to a “granary” or, generically, a farm.
The Calvert Grange built its own Grange Hall in the early 1960s on gifted land from Frances and Elizabeth Miller. The group meets on the third Wednesday of every month.
Members also rent the building to 4-H, FFA, Farm Bureau, AARP, as well as for special events like CPR classes, birthdays, funeral luncheons and baby showers. Some of their community service events include yard sales, craft shows, honoring veterans and hosting Dairy Night in June, attracting 40 dairy families in the community, half of whom are Amish.
“Calvert Grange is a diamond in the middle of the cornfield,” says Richard Stonebraker, Maryland Grange president. “They are a true success story of people coming together to save a Grange. I recently was able to visit with them in June and they are passionate about helping their community. Whether it is providing a place for people to gather for events, providing meals for those in need, or bringing the community together for various events, Calvert Grange is making itself known.”
The group was instrumental in getting a new traffic light installed at a dangerous intersection and were a driving force behind
Calvert Grange members celebrate Dairy Night and are, from left, Joanne Jamison, Mary Mackie, Michele McClellan, Elizabeth Jamison, Pam Sayers and Eleanor Cline.
saving an agricultural program at Virginia Tech.
According to Stonebraker, Cline’s family was key in starting the Calvert Grange and she has been one of its biggest supporters.
“Eleanor Cline is a Granger through and through,” he says. “I appreciate her and her knowledge of Grange traditions, but also being receptive to change in which the organization can grow.”
The first Grange was established in Maryland in 1873 in Cecil County, just six years after the National Grange was founded. Today, Maryland has eight community (subordinate) Granges, four county (Pomona) Granges and one Junior Grange left in the state. During the organization’s 100th anniversary there were 30 community Granges, nine county Granges and eight junior Granges.
“The Maryland Grange has just under 300 members,” according to Stonebraker. Today, Grange groups are in 2,000 communities across 41 states with more than 129,000 members.
He says Grange members are considered “The Patrons of Husbandry,” basically a term used to explain how Grangers work to promote, protect and preserve agriculture. Grange was founded to advance methods in agriculture, as well as to promote the social and economic needs
of farmers. “We are a grassroots rural organization dedicated to community service.”
In addition to Cline’s parents, Walton and Mildred, other founding members of the Calvert Grange included F. Grove and Arlene Miller, Florence Brown, William and Lilian England, Roby and Fannie Wagner and Lorraine Price.
“I like everything in the Grange,” Cline says. “It’s been an important part of my life. I hope it continues for a long time. I think the Grange needs to be revived. People have different ideas. Our whole group talks about things, and we make decisions as a group.”
Like Granges nationwide, the Calvert Grange willcontinue to make positive contributions to its local community. “The impact our organization makes on our communities, state, and nation, as well as the impact it makes on us as individuals is what the Grange is all about,” Stonebraker says. “My goal is to have Grange go from a word people don’t know to one that is.”
The Calvert Grange is located at 2357 Telegraph Road, Rising Sun.
More than a get-out-of-school-free pass, the first of what will be an annual event, the Cecil County Agricultural Education Days, was a way to help 7th-grade students discover the county’s rich agricultural history, explore career opportunities in a constantly changing sophisticated industry, and connect with interests specific to the community.
As a three-day event, the venture collaborated with various ag organizations in Cecil County and the rest of Maryland and was held at the Department of Natural Resources-owned property in Fair Hill. The program uses agriculture as a foundation for learning in conjunction with Cecil County Public Schools and the requisite Next Generation Science Standards. The on-site curriculum meshes with CCPS’s curriculum, helping prepare students for the required 8thgrade Maryland Integrated Science Assessments.
Why Ag?
Chris Brown, district manager for the Cecil Soil Conservation District, says, “We want to educate kids about what comes from agriculture, where their food comes from. They need to have an informed decision.”
Part of a solid holistic education includes exposing students to 21st century agriculture. According to Brown, this means a lot of technology, such as on-board computers, autosteer, apps for gridding fields, doing soil tests and drones. “There are all types of tech machinery appealing to any age. We want to compel kids to be more intentional in their decisions,” he says.
Paul Rickert, area extension director for the Upper Shore Cluster for the University of Maryland Extension, College Park, says agriculture is used as the framework for teaching STEM and other science concepts and helping young people see the types of career options across agriculture. “There are 288 fields of agriculture according to the Department of Agriculture. There is even a national security angle. This event provides something tangible,
concrete; where students can apply their skills and investigate,” Rickert says.
Since only 2 percent of the U.S. population farms, using agriculture is
CECIL
important because as a career field, ag and related industries provide over 10 percent of all jobs in the U.S. economy and contributes over $1.26 trillion to the nation’s GDP.
How do Agriculture Education Days work?
In conjunction with expert educators within the field of agricultural science, the event originators created a series of stations for youth to pass through. Four broad topics are covered: Ag Tech & Equipment, Animal Science, Food Systems, and Land & Water, with volunteer educators staffing the 12 stations. Together, these topics help educate the youth of Cecil County about the importance of agriculture. “All the things that make this interesting and cool for 7th graders,” says Brown.
Leaders at the 12 stations were typically University of Maryland Extension educators from across the state, Cecil
Soil Conservation District employees, as well as representatives from CASE, Hoober, Atlantic Tractor, Scout Applicators, the Cecil Sheriff’s Office, Fair Hill Equine Training Center and Maryland Ag Ed Foundation (MAEF),
Cecil’s project is modeled after the success of Queen Anne’s County’s Ag Awareness Day held for the past six years. When state agriculture secretary Kevin Atticks learned of the program, his response was to roll it out into all the middles schools in Cecil County. Dr. Jenni Hammer, associate superintendent for Educational Services at CCPS, also gave her whole-hearted endorsement, in part, because of its alignment with the school’s needs.
Day Mashongamhende, instructional coordinator of science for CCPS, a group that he and others formed went to Queen Anne’s Ag Awareness Days.
They returned inspired. “We augmented what we encountered at the Queen Anne’s Ag Awareness Days.”
Likewise, says Mashongamhende, “Queen Anne’s County came and paid us a visit during
the event. They were impressed with the amount of community involvement we received.”
Mashongamhende also says that data generated from the event goes into a report given to the Secretary of Agriculture. The outcome of the event was viewed as a success, and plans are in the works for next year.
Howard County has put a pilot program in place for an Agricultural Awareness Day for 7th graders in one middle school serving 250 students. In addition, Howard County is looking into doing a similar event as Cecil County.
“It is a trend with the state,” says Rickert of the Extension Service. “We had 1,200 kids this year, our first event.”
It Takes a Village
The undertaking proved to be challenging in the organization and financing. Just under 20 main sponsors helped to defray event costs. Organizers sought partnerships with the Cecil business community, the educational sector and the agricultural community to provide the necessary funding, subject matter experts and supplies to produce this event for the schools. Sponsorships included supporting the cost of transportation for students across the county, meals for volunteers and numerous other expenses.
About 85 volunteers worked tirelessly each of the three days coordinating everything from station rotations to trash collection. The Singerly Fire Company was on site each day for safety and donors contributed over $22,000 in funds for the event.
Planners of the Cecil County Ag Education Days were representatives of nine organizations working together to envision, plan and implement the event. They represented a large cross-section of community organizations, educators, and government entities seeking to partner together to create a strong, locally oriented educational event effectuating important and lasting impacts on young people.
The event is largely volunteer driven, while the coordination was with the groups who came together to form Ag Education Days Advisory Association. Rickert estimates that the in-kind donations of time, expertise, education and volunteerism exceeded $145,000. CCPS educators re-wrote portions of its science curriculum to help prepare students for what they would be seeing on-site during their trip to Ag Education Days.
As well, the organizers tapped into the following organizations and groups for assistance in running the event: Cecil County Farm Bureau, Upper Shore Regional Council, Cecil County FFA, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Cecil County 4-H and 4-H volunteers, local family farms, Cecil County Fair Board, Atlantic Tractor, Cecil County Master Gardener volunteers, numerous agri-businesses, Cecil County Sheriff’s Office, Fair Hill Training Center, Cecil County Emergency Medical Services and Cecil County School of
Technology Agriculture Students.
Reflecting back on the 2024 event Rickert says, “The most exciting part about Agricultural Education Days is the partnerships we created to pull this off. We have so much buy-in whenever we put our kids first.”
Get Involved
Like last year, Agricultural Awareness Days will be look-
ing for volunteers for next year. As Mashongamhende says playfully, “There are lots of jobs for everyone.”
Fundraising support is essential for this event to continue, and donations are welcome. Rickert proves the point, saying, “The cost of buses alone for the three-day event came to $8,200.”
To donate, contact Ariel Balog at abalog@cecilcountymd. gov or (410) 996-8469 . To volunteer, fill out the form at www.bit.ly/CCAED2024
For more information on Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM), visit https://www.ed.gov/stem
Favorite Recipes from the Farm
Honey Butter Skillet Corn
From Amanda Miller of Chesapeake Gold Farm
Ingredients
• 2 T. butter (salted preferred)
• 2 T. honey
• 16 oz sweet corn shaved from ear
• 2 oz. cream cheese, cut into chunks
• 1/4 t. salt
• 1/4 t. black pepper
Directions
In a skillet, melt the butter and honey over medium-high heat. Once melted, add the corn and cook for 5-8 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the corn is cooked through.
Add the chunks of cream cheese, salt, and black pepper to the skillet. Stir everything together and let it cook for another 3-5 minutes, stirring occasionally, until the cream cheese is melted and the mixture is well combined. Serve immediately. Any leftovers can be stored in a covered container in the fridge.
Turkey Schnitzel with Confit over Mushroom Risotto
From Robin Way, Rumbleway Farm
Ingredients
1 small turkey (10-15 lbs.)
3-4 whole garlic cloves
Olive oil, or fat from turkey, enough to cover
Flour for dredging
2 eggs, beaten Panko or breadcrumbs seasoned to your taste
Directions
Remove legs, wings and breasts from turkey. Reserve back bone and fat. Place wings, legs and back bone in a pot and cover with oil. Make sure all the pieces are submerged. Add salt and pepper and whole garlic cloves. Bring to a low simmer (lowest setting possible) and cook for 1 hour. Make sure the oil does not boil. Once turkey is tender, pour through a strainer and reserve oil for next time (freezes well). Once meat cools, remove and roughly chop.
While dark meat is cooking, cut breasts into several pieces and pound till thin. Place flour, egg and Panko in separate containers. Flour the breasts and dip in egg wash then in seasoned Panko. Heat oil in a frying pan and
• Oil for frying
• Salt and pepper
• 2 cups Arborio rice
• ½ lb. mushrooms, chopped
• 6-8 cups chicken or turkey stock, heated
• ½ onion or shallot- diced
• 4 oz white wine
brown pieces on both sides. Remove to parchment or paper towel lined tray. Sprinkle with salt and pepper if desired.
Heat a small amount of oil in a large skillet and cook onion and mushroom till tender. Add rice and sauté until all the grains are coated. Add wine and cook until evaporated. Reduce heat to low and start adding stock one cup at a time, allowing rice to absorb stock between each addition, frequently stirring. This step may take 30-45 minutes. Cook until the risotto is tender. Salt and pepper to taste.
To plate, place risotto on plate and place turkey breast schnitzel on top, top with chopped confit and serve with your favorite vegetable or salad.
Amanda’s Chesapeake Mac and Cheese
From
Amanda Miller of Chesapeake Gold Farm
Ingredients
• 1 lb. box of elbow macaroni
• 1 lb. Chesapeake Gold Farm’s Crabby Cheddar
• ¼ cup Chesapeake
Gold Farms Sweet
Cream Butter
• ½ cup flour
• 3 cups whole milk
• salt/pepper to taste
Directions
Cook pasta according to box directions. Drain. Set Aside. While waiting for water to boil, you can shred your cheese. In a stock pot, melt butter. Add ½ cup flour to the melted butter and whisk until fully incorporated into a roux.
Leave on medium heat and add the milk 1 cup at a time while whisking constantly. When 1 cup milk is incorporated, gets warm and thickens, then add the next cup of milk until all 3 cups are in the pot. Add all of the shredded cheddar cheese and continue to whisk until smooth. Add pasta to the cheese sauce and mix well. This will leave you with a perfect 9x13 pan of crabby mac and cheese that serves 8-10.
Chicken Fettuccine Alfredo
From Robin Way, Rumbleway Farm
Ingredients
• Fresh or frozen pasta
• 3 T. butter
• 1 cup heavy cream
• 2 T. sour cream
• 1 cup Parmesan Cheese
• ½ t. salt
• ½ t. pepper
• ¼ t. ground nutmeg
• Parsley chopped (if desired)
• 4 chicken breasts
Directions
Cook chicken breasts in olive oil in a medium sauce pan until done, about 10 minutes. Set aside until needed. Combine butter, 2/3 cup of cream, and sour cream in saucepan, cook over low heat until sauce thickens slightly. Cook pasta and drain. Add to skillet over low heat. Add chicken and remaining cream and cheese. Toss to combine. Add seasonings. Serves 4 as a meal or 6-8 as a side dish.
Optional:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Melt ¼ cup butter and mix with 1 cup Panko Bread crumbs.
Sprinkle on top of mac and cheese and bake in a 9x13 pan for 30 minutes or until golden brown on top. This will add a crunchy buttery goodness to the mac and cheese.
This is a base recipe for mac and cheese Maryland style, but you can add any protein or vegetables you’d like. We like to add shrimp, crab, ham and broccoli depending on the occasion.
