AGRICULTURE IN GOOD HANDS WITH LATEST GENERATION STEPPING FORWARD Agriculture, with its mission to feed and clothe the world, comes with pressure on farmers and growers to succeed. Responding well to the important mission is the next generation of those with ties to the land. Let’s meet 24 of Frederick County’s Top Under 40 Agricultural Professionals: Melissa Aellen, 31, of Linganore Winecellars, Mount Airy. Melissa is a third-generation winemaker and director of operational change at Linganore Winecellars, a true farm-to-glass operation growing 70 acres of grapes while producing over 40 different wines. Melissa is a member of the executive team and a key part of the decision-making process while overseeing day-to-day operations, their wine club and public events. She has been treasurer for the Young Farmers Committee of the Frederick County Farm Bureau since 2017 and is co-chair of the education committee for the Maryland Wine Association.
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She attributes her success to being able to listen. “In a world that moves so fast it can be extremely challenging, but letting others speak and hear what they have to say can promote confidence which will only allow the team to be stronger. As an active listener, I reflect upon others’ thoughts before starting my own.” Mary Kathryn Barnet, 38, and Andrew Barnet, 36, Open Book Farm, Middletown. In 2011, Mary Kathryn (MK) and Andrew founded Open Book Farm, a diversified livestock and certified organic vegetable farm with a focus on direct-to-consumer sales. They practice
rotational grazing with their livestock and poultry while utilizing intensive and mainly no-till practices to grow produce. They are most proud of the ways they have worked to grow a new generation of innovative farmers by continuing to mentor past employees in their endeavors toward the start-up and management of their own operations. MK currently serves on the board of Future Harvest: A Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture and was a co-director for the Chesapeake Regional Alliance for Farmer Training Program. “We came into farming as adults when we met at Serene Farms in Palmetto, Ga.,” MK says. “The learning curve was steep for city kids, but the work felt fulfilling and purposeful, and we were excited about the prospect of building a farm business together.
