Connecting with your Community

le p ab . hi il rs va 1. ils la a er ta ho ns b de Sc tio cto for a O

ic r om pl te fc.c f ap a ma t si Vi

Leader Farm Credit

The Social Media Connection In the Garden Minute by Minute

Connecting with your Community

volume 16 | issue 3 | $3.95

Financing Rural America for More Than 90 Years

in this issue

Leader

farm | land

4 Elioak Farm Preserves the

volume 16 | issue 3

Past In Ellicott City, Maryland

6 Using New-Fangled

Networking at Frey’s Greenhouse In Lebanon County, Pennsylvania

MidAtlantic Farm Credit, ACA J. Robert Frazee, CEO

4

Gary L. Grossnickle Chairman

8 Hopkins Farm Creamery Has

Fred N. West Vice Chairman

Sweet Success in Lewes, Delaware

10 Relying on the Power of The

Web at Marker-Miller Orchard In Winchester, Virginia

home and garden

MidAtlantic Farm Credit Board of Directors

6

12 The Twittering Gardener community

13 Properties for Sale

Paul D. Baumgardner Deborah A. Benner Brian L. Boyd Dale R. Hershey Walter C. Hopkins T. Jeffery Jennings Christopher Kurtzman M. Wayne Lambertson Fred R. Moore, Jr. Dale J. Ockels Jennifer L. Rhodes Ralph L. Robertson, Jr. Paul J. Rock Lingan T. Spicer Christopher R. Stiles Rodger L. Wagner

Questions or Ideas

8

If you have any questions or ideas for the editorial staff of the Leader, contact Donna Dawson at 800.333.7950, e-mail her at ddawson@mafc.com or write her at MidAtlantic Farm Credit, 680 Robert Fulton Highway, Quarryville, PA 17566. This publication is for you, our reader. We’d love to hear from you!

The Leader is published quarterly for stockholders, friends and business associates.

If you wish to no longer receive this publication, please email: unsubscribe@mafc.com and by putting “Unsubscribe Leader” in the subject.

10 See Bob’s latest blog, more photos and a whole lot of other good stuff by visiting our Facebook page at www.facebook.com/ midatlanticfarmcredit

Get up to the minute MidAtlantic news at www.twitter.com/midatfarmcredit

2 12

The Farm Credit Administration does not require the association to distribute its quarterly financial reports to shareholders. However, copies of its complete report are available upon request or see quarterly updates online at mafc.com. The shareholders’ investment in the association is materially affected by the financial condition and results of operations of AgFirst Farm Credit Bank and copies of its quarterly financial report are available upon request by writing: Susanne Caughman, AgFirst Farm Credit Bank P.O. Box 1499, Columbia, SC 29202-1499 Address changes, questions or requests for the association’s quarterly financial report should be directed to: MidAtlantic Farm Credit, ACA by calling 800.333.7950 or writing: MidAtlantic Farm Credit P.O. Box 770, Westminster, MD 21158-0770

message from the president

Welcome to the Future Someone quickly yelled out “Yellow and

Or take Frey’s Greenhouses in Pennsylvania, who use a Facebook page daily to interact with their customers. They use it to promote items in

black,” and the speaker then asked how many

their greenhouse, but also to foster conversa-

people in the audience thought that YIELD

tion with their customers—it’s a time-effective

signs were yellow and black. I confidently

(and affordable!) way to reach hundreds and

raised my hand.

hundreds of people every day.

In fact, YIELD signs are red and white. They haven’t been yellow and black since 1971.

As the speaker pointed out, the world is

You’ll also learn about how the Hopkins Farm Creamery uses social media to tell customers about their latest flavors, and use

always changing around us. Sometimes it takes

customer feedback to tweak their recipes and

us a while to catch up.

offerings. Burli and his wife Allison Hopkins

You’ve no doubt heard about social net–

have had such success with social media,

working, and how it is changing the way that

they’re looking to start a blog to help answer

people interact. Facebook, for instance, is only

some of the many questions they get about

a couple of years old. It wasn’t available to the

the farm.

general population until 2006…today, it has 750

Finally, Heather McKay of Marker-Miller

million active users. Twitter also began in 2006.

Orchards says that using social media does take

Today it has 200 million users. It posts 200

additional time, but she says it’s well worth the

million “tweets” a day, and it handles over

effort. “If someone takes the time to ask me a

1.6 billion searches.

question, I’m going to make the time to answer

All these numbers mean that the world is changing. And agriculture has to change with it.

Many ag operations have already realized

it,” she says, and that’s a great way to look at the give-and-take you get in social media.

I’m sure that one of these stories will reso-

SEP event

5 Labor Day

place MAFC offices closed

13-17 Denver Fair

Denver PA

14 MAEF/MGGA Ag Education Scholarship Golf Outing

Hampstead MD

14-16 Solanco Fair

Quarryville PA

15 Deadline: apple and peach premiums due 15-17 Oley Valley Community Fair

Oley PA

18-24 Gratz Fair

Gratz PA

20-24 Ephrata Fair

Ephrata PA

24 Harvest Festival

Dover DE

24 Magic in the Meadow

Ridgely MD

24-25 Fall Farm Fun Festival

Winchester VA

28 Delmarva Poultry Conf.

Ocean City MD

28-30 West Lampeter Community Fair

Lampeter PA

30 Deadline: sales closing for wheat and barley 28-10/1 New Holland Farmer’s Fair New Holland PA 30-10/2 Unionville Community Fair

Unionville PA

that social networking is a great way to connect

nate with you, and hopefully cause you to think

OCT event

with their customers, and market their products

about how you might use these tools in your

and operations. Social networking is a great

own life or on your own farm. For my part, I’ve

1 MD Forests Ass’n Family Picnic and Education Day Reisterstown MD

way to tell agriculture’s story.

learned how to use Facebook, and I regularly

All of the farms featured in this issue are

write a blog about things happening around

using social media in some fashion to grow

MidAtlantic. My preference is still to interact

their businesses, educate their communi-

with people personally, of course, but since my

ties, and establish relationships with future

schedule doesn’t always allow that, I’ve found

customers.

that using technology is the next best thing.

Take Elioak Farm, for instance, in Ellicott

If you’re using social media already, give

City, Maryland. Martha Anne Clark is a commit-

us a tweet (@MidAtFarmCredit) or become a

ted advocate of farmland preservation, and she

fan of our Facebook page (facebook.com/

knew that the only way to insure open space in

midatlanticfarmcredit). You can see my blog

our communities was for people to reconnect

at midatlanticfarmcredit.blogspot.com.

with ag in a personal way. So she opened a

These sites don’t take the place of personal

events | deadlines

color YIELD signs were.

accessible videos showing life on the farm.

place

1 Deadline: spring crop premium due 3-7 Manheim Community Farm Show

Manheim PA

5 Kiptopeke Harvest Festival

Kiptopeke VA

7 MAFC In-Service Day MAFC offices closed

8-9 Apple Harvest Festival

Winchester VA

12-16 Mountain State Apple Harvest Festival

Martinsburg WV

22 Autumnfest

Woodstock VA

22-23 Pumpkin Festival

Winchester VA

NOV event

place

petting farm, then a produce stand and pick-

connections—they’re a supplement to that.

your-own operation. It was a natural progres-

But they’re just one more way to keep up

sion to add technology to that mix: the farm has

to date with what’s happening in your associa-

3 MAEF Annual Banquet and Auction Glen Burnie MD 6 Daylight Savings Time Ends

an active Facebook page, and is working on a

tion. I hope you’ll connect with us on one of

15 Deadline: fall acreage and production

Twitter account, along with projects in Google

these venues in the future—I’d love to hear

20 Deadline: sales closing for apples and peaches

maps, search engine optimization and easily

your feedback.

24-25 Thanksgiving

MAFC offices closed

­ For a complete list of fairs and events, visit our website at mafc.com

volume 16 | issue 3 | mafc.com

A couple of years ago, I was in a meeting where the speaker asked the audience what

3

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The 20 goats who call Clark’s Elioak Farm home give hundreds of kids who might never see or touch a farm animal a new connection with the world around them.

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Weighing 30,000 lbs. and standing 23 feet tall, the huge concrete and fiberglass Old Woman’s Shoe had to be cut in half to be relocated to Clark’s Elioak Farm.

3

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Meet some of the furriest Facebook friends you’ll ever have story and photos by SUSAN WALKER

When Mark Zuckerberg created Facebook, one of his main goals was to use the social networking site to meet cute “chicks.” But it’s highly unlikely that Zuckerberg envisioned his site becoming the Internet home to the chicks (and calves, goats, emu, and rabbits) whose photos fill the Facebook page of Clark’s Elioak Farm in Ellicott City, Maryland.

Elioak Farm is one of owner Martha Anne Clark’s three operations on the family’s 540-acre farm on Route 108 in Howard County. Like her father, the late state senator James Clark, Jr., Martha is a committed advocate of preserving farmland and making sure we don’t lose our link to the land and the farmers who feed us.

“Most people used to know someone with a farm,” she explains. “Maybe they helped their parents harvest produce or spent summers doing chores on their grandparent’s farm, willingly or not,” she says with a smile. “But that link is gone. It’s important to protect open space and for people to have a connection to the

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land and understand where their food comes from.

That’s the reason I felt that opening a petting farm that educates in a fun and memorable way was something I should do.”

The Clark family has been farming in Howard County since 1797. Martha grew up working on the family’s dairy and beef farm. Today, she and her 23-year-old daughter Nora Crist, a University of Delaware graduate with a degree in agriculture, farm the same land, though they no longer have a dairy operation.

In addition to Elioak Farm, the family also raises 100 percent grass-fed beef. The Clarks’ cattle freely graze the farm’s pastures, are not given hormones, and graze on land that is carefully managed to limit the impact on the land and local streams. On other family land, Nora grows and harvests a variety of produce, which she sells at the family’s produce stand. She also grows pick your own flowers.

3

After nearly a year of hard work, Martha and a team of volunteers brought the Enchanted Forest structures back to life.

“I worked all winter on repairing and fiberglassing one single piece,” Martha notes.

“It was slow going but well worth the effort when I see how excited kids are when they first see them.”

4

Martha Clark and MidAtlantic Farm Credit Loan Officer Bill Schrodel flank a marker in honor of Clark’s parents and her family’s ongoing commitment to farmland preservation.

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Employees Mark Grivel and Jocelyn Farley enjoy their hands-on work with the animals. The experience has led Mark to major in animal science in college.

6

Elioak’s Facebook page features photos from the farm as well as updates on events like the Howard County Film Festival which was kicked off at the farm. Find them on Facebook at: facebook.com/ clarks.farm.

“Elioak Farm is a very positive place,” Martha adds. “We get moms with strollers, grandparents, school groups and even

Though Martha grew up on the farm, she spent a good portion

people who remember the Enchanted Forest and want to revisit a

of her adult years working in government. She graduated with a

little bit of their childhood. It’s fun to provide people with a place

degree in Public Policy from Duke and served on the staff of the

where they can relax and enjoy themselves.”

Maryland State Planning Department, a governor’s commission studying how to implement the Equal Rights Amendment, and in

putting the farm on the web

the Office for Children and Youth. She was also executive director of

Through the use of advertising and networking with schools

the Maryland Commission for Women.

farm | land

bringing farm life to suburbanites

and other potential tour groups, Martha has had great success

She eventually returned to the farm and married her neighbor, Douglas Crist. While raising her family, she managed her father’s

from the start. But her marketing savvy doesn’t stop there. Three

farm and worked with her husband running his family’s farm supply

years ago, she and Nora created the Elioak Facebook page. Like

store, Farm and Home Service, Inc. When her husband died unex-

many other businesses, Martha felt Facebook gave her another way

pectedly in 2000, Martha decided that farming, not retail, was her

to reach out to current and potential customers with less of

forte and her love, and she sold her share of her husband’s business

an “advertising” feel.

to his partner.

Nora updates the page almost daily, adding new pictures of the

Elioak Farm got its start in March 2002 when Martha saw an

farm’s animals as well as information about upcoming events and

article about a local cider mill and petting farm that was closing.

what fresh produce she is selling at the family’s stand. Visitors and

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5 drastically as the planned community of Columbia rose around her family’s farm. She seized the opportunity to continue to share the farm experience with people who might never see live farm animals or learn where the corn on their plate comes from.

She purchased the mill’s animals and equipment and moved

6 friends also post their comments and photos on the page, which creates a communal conversation.

“Facebook makes it easy for us to reach a younger audience, though there are more and more grandparents on Facebook too,” Martha explains. “Rather than people having to search for our

them to her farm, opening Elioak Farm in September 2002.

website, if they’re one of our Facebook friends, upcoming events

Today, school groups, camps, daycares, parents, grandparents

come to them as invitations. People are on Facebook so much, it’s

and kids come to pet, feed and learn about the farm’s goats,

an easy, efficient way to keep Elioak Farm in their minds.”

sheep, cow and newborn calf, miniature donkey, ponies, emu, chickens, turkeys, ducks, rabbits, and pigs. There are also exhibits about how crops are grown, pond life and more. The farm hosts a range of special events and birthday parties and features pony rides, a “cow train” made of reused barrels, hayrides, a pumpkin patch and picnic area.

In 2004, Elioak Farm became the home to a unique attraction—the huge fiberglass and concrete fairytale characters from the

Martha’s tech-savvy approach to marketing doesn’t end with Facebook. She recently attended a seminar sponsored by the Maryland Rural Enterprise Development Center of the University of Maryland to learn how to make sure the information about Elioak appears in search engines, on Google Maps, and on GPS systems and smartphones. She and Nora are considering starting a Twitter account to promote the produce stand and adding QR squares that

much-loved, defunct Ellicott City children’s play park, the Enchanted

can be scanned with a smartphone to provide information, videos

Forest. Martha is a firm believer in historic preservation and felt that

and interactive content to exhibits at Elioak and the produce stand.

restoring and sharing these vintage 1950s structures was a way

MidAtlantic Farm Credit Loan Officer Bill Schrodel, who

she could keep another fading part of our past alive. With the help

worked with Martha on a loan to purchase farmland from her

of friends and volunteers, Martha moved the mammoth structures

younger brother, notes, “Martha is so forward-thinking. I’m

to Elioak and learned how to fiberglass so she could return them to

excited by her vision and all that she’s doing to help develop

their former glory.

agri-tourism in this area.”

n

volume 16 | issue 3 | mafc.com

Over time, the rural landscape Martha grew up in had changed

5

1

Hanging baskets, perennials,

annuals, pottery and so much more can be found at Frey’s Greenhouse in Lebanon, PA. They produce ninety percent of the plants they sell.

2

Retail sales have wrapped up at

Frey’s Greenhouse for this season.

They are open from March through the end of June. The greenhouse will begin to fill up again in January, the

1

Modern Networking

start of the indoor growing season.

3

at Frey’s Greenhouse

Gloria does some multi-tasking as

she talks on her cell phone while putting out the open flag.

story JoAnn Dawson, photos by Donna Dawson

Les and Gloria Frey are the heart and soul of Frey’s Greenhouse in Lebanon, Pennsylvania. Les, his brother Dennis, and father Harold started the business over thirty years ago as a farmer’s market and deli, gradually evolving into a very successful retail greenhouse. There was just one thing that Les didn’t love about the business—handling the marketing.

That’s where Jerel Frey comes in. Les and Gloria’s son grew up learning all aspects of the full service garden center but seemed to have a special knack for thinking of inventive ways to spread the word. “Dad came to me one day and said, ‘you take care of the advertising,’” Jerel says with a grin. “That’s the one thing he didn’t like to do. I tripled the budget we were spending, and sales definitely increased.” At that point promoting the business consisted mainly of print ads, radio and billboards. But, as every business knows, print and radio are expensive, and five billboards at

2

$800/month per board adds up. And knowing how much impact the ads are creating is always a gamble.

Jerel began taking notice of social media, particularly Facebook, and wondered if it would help the business. “My friends were all on it,” he says. “I met with a marketing consultant, and he thought Facebook ads was a great idea.” Jerel developed a budget for the amount he wanted to spend per day. “Each time someone clicks on the ad we get charged a small fee. This continues until the daily budget is reached and then the ad comes down. The goal is to get people to ‘like’ your page. At first we were getting one ‘like’ for every two clicks. Once that dropped down to one ‘like’ per four or five clicks we discontinued the ad as it became less cost-effective.”

Jerel found this to be a good way to build the business. “There is an initial investment, but now we have over a thousand fans on Facebook,” he says. “So every

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4

Gloria and Les believe more

in quality than quantity. The retail space at Frey’s equals 30,000 square feet—just the right size that allows them to remain family oriented.

5

Jerel is in charge of the

marketing for the business. He attributes an increase in sales to implementing Facebook as part of their marketing plan as well as suburban growth in the area.

6

farm | land time we have a special or a new plant we want to promote, we send it out to our fan base, and now it’s free. I update it about two or three times a week.” As a “hook” Jerel always posts a photo of a plant that looks great in the greenhouse at the time.

“I posted a photo of a passion flower that just started blooming and asked if anyone knew what it was. It gets people responding and commenting, and gets their attention.

The great thing about Facebook is it gives us a chance to communicate with our customers on a daily basis. It’s more interactive and a good way to get feedback,” he says.

Twitter is another story. “We’re also on Twitter but it hasn’t grown a lot. On Facebook I can post pictures that people see as they scroll through their newsfeeds, but on Twitter there is only a link to a picture. And you really need to tweet at least once a day to be effective, which is time consuming.”

how it all started All of this new-fangled networking would have never entered the minds of the founders of the business back in the early-eighties. Jerel’s grandfather Harold, his uncle Dennis, and his father Les had a three-way partnership at the time, and Jerel’s grandmother did the bookkeeping in the family business. Vegetables and flowers were grown on the ninetytwo acre farm and sold through the farm market. In the 1990’s Dennis Frey bought sixty-six of the ninety-two acres and the business separated, but the family still works in cooperation with each other.

“My Uncle Dennis grows and sells produce across the road and also supplies us with close to ten percent of our plants,” Jerel says. Grandfather Harold is ninety, and no longer as involved as he was in the past. “I joined the business officially seven years ago, but I was involved in it as soon as I could walk,” Jerel remembers with a laugh. “At first, of course, I didn’t like it, my dad making me work, but now there’s nothing I would rather be doing.”

Being independent and working outdoors are at the top of Jerel’s list of reasons he loves the business. “Mom and Dad are easy to get along with, I love the freedom that it brings, and I like plants,” he says simply.

5 off-season pasttimes Working eighty to ninety hours per week during peak season is taxing, but the greenhouse season is relatively short, from March to the end of June. During the off season, Jerel finds time for a side business. “I build custom furniture in the down time, all solid wood, tables, and desks, whatever the customer wants.”

Facebook does not come into play for the furniture business.

“It’s a much smaller scale- two or three orders keep me busy,” he explains. Jerel became interested in the furniture business as a child when mom Gloria brought home a scroll saw to make puzzles for the three Frey kids, who were homeschooled. “We all grew up around the plant business, but I’m the only one still here,” he says. His brother and two sisters are scattered across the country, all working in completely different fields.

Jerel also enjoys time off to spend with wife Leah, a sign language interpreter, and three daughters: Anya, 5, Lotte, 4, and Lydia, 2. The couple is expecting a fourth child in August. He hopes that the girls will follow in his footsteps in the family business. “They sometimes come to work with me, helping to plant and put pots in trays.”

Les and Gloria use the off season to travel. In 2009 Les was asked by the group Global Disciples to journey to India on a mission trip. After the Tsunami that devastated part of that region, the ground was too salty to grow produce, so Les was called upon to teach how to grow tomatoes in pots and raised beds.

looking ahead As for future plans, Jerel sees taking even more of the business responsibilities from Les and Gloria’s shoulders. “My parents were a sole proprietorship originally, and then we set up an LLC in 2005,” he explains. “That was a way to have me officially become a part owner, and also to help with tax and liability issues.

With ownership I felt even more responsibility to increase sales, and from what I can tell, my ideas so far have worked.”

Jerel Frey likes the responsibility of finding fresh and innovative ideas such as Facebook to promote the business, and Les and Gloria are more than happy to leave that segment of the business entirely up to him. Sounds like a perfect partnership. You can find Frey’s Greenhouse on Facebook at: facebook.com/FreysGreenhouse. n

volume 16 | issue 3 | mafc.com

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7

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Thanks to a savvy blend of high-tech

marketing and countless long hours of work, Walter C. (Burli) Hopkins, Jr. and his wife Allison have built an extremely successful onfarm retail operation. Burli credits fresh homemade ice cream; a great location in Lewes, DE; an inviting website; and use of social media like Twitter and Facebook for the couple’s expanding business.

2

A walk-up ice cream parlor is located in

what used to be Burli’s grandfather’s milk house.

1

Sweet Success in Lewes, Delaware

social media plays a key role story and photos by GARY HORNBACHER

3

The creamery is located on Delaware’s largest

dairy farm, Green Acres Farm, Inc. and is owned and operated by Burli and his father, Walter C. Hopkins Sr. Being able to peer into the cattle barns through open fencing is a

“Calling Burli on the phone doesn’t work anymore,” says Walter C. Hopkins Sr., shaking his head ruefully. “He’s just that busy – so I’ve had to learn to text him and then he usually gets back to me within 30 minutes.”

Indeed busy times, thanks to the Internet, social media and other high-tech connectivity platforms.

This is one farm family that’s successfully adapting, expanding and prospering in today’s fast-changing agri-business world.

For those who may not know the Hopkins, the fourth generation farm family owns and operates Green Acres Farm, Inc., the largest dairy farm in Delaware. Walter Sr., president of the corporation, is active in numerous farm organizations and has served as a MidAtlantic Farm Credit director since 1988.

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8

“We farm about 1,000 acres and maintain about a thousand head of cows, including 550 milkers,” explains Walter C. Hopkins Jr., or Burli, as he’s called.

Small wonder Burli’s busy. His role in the dairy operation, best described as farm manager, includes managing inventories, handling forwarding contracting on commodities and managing all the farm employees.

“I take everybody’s day off,” says Burli, “so on Wednesday’s and Friday’s I feed the cows and on Sunday’s I fill in for our herd manager.”

And then there’s that ‘other’ thing that is keeping Burli and his wife Allison busy these days – the Hopkins Farm Creamery. Since opening in 2008, the on-farm ice creamery has fast gained an enviable reputation for serving up a mouth-watering selection of some two dozen flavors of the area’s freshest homemade ice cream and sherbet.

3

popular attraction for kids and adult visitors.

4

Burli and Allison, flanking their children

(left to right) Michael, 14; Grace, 8; Jacob, 11; and Luke, 5.

5

Allison (second row, right side) is shown

with six of the 27 Creamery employees. It takes a total of 27 employees, working two shifts seven days a week, to operate the seasonal retail operation.

It’s all so good, in fact, the Creamery garnered a Best of Delaware award last year.

There are also those all-important links to social media like Twitter and Facebook.

Sharing the credit is Burli’s wife Allison, who manages inventory, employees, and helps oversee the flavor-making procedures. She has become an irreplaceable general manager for the Creamery.

“We’re already maxed out in terms of freezer space and the number of flavors we can offer and sell at any one time,” says Burli.

In order to expand the operation, plans are to purchase a mobile unit to take the ice cream to special events. It will include its own production facility and indoor seating. With ever-present long lines of eager customers waiting patiently for cones, pint or quart containers of hand-packed ice cream, success is sweet indeed.

social media key to expanding customer base Aside from great tasting ice cream and countless hours spent tweaking flavors and making product, there’s also another big reason for the Creamery’s success—a very forward, consumer-friendly approach to reaching existing and new customers. The Hopkins use a responsive blend of high-tech social, electronic and print media.

“Our first year we put close to $20,000 into advertising including radio, print ads, and coupon books and I wasn’t satisfied,”

“We’re learning how important these platforms are in helping us reach the younger generation who always seem to be on their phones, iPads or the Internet,” explains Allison. “The quicker they can find us, the quicker they can come and figure out what we sell.”

“We’ll do a Flavor of the Week or try something new,” adds Burli. “Allison will put it on Facebook and Twitter to get it out there—and we know we’ve got lots of people checking us out.”

Not to mention providing some great feedback just about every time ice cream flavors are tweaked.

call it connectivity No stranger to using technological applications in the workplace, the Hopkins’ dairy operation uses webcams to monitor the milking parlor, sick cows, and calving area. But cows, unlike customers, don’t really invite a two-way dialogue.

“When I talk to people in the shop,” says Burli, “as soon as they find out who I am I get the same questions over and over again. So we’re in the process of adding a blog to our website.”

Many of those questions center on the dairy operations and the cows. It’s a great opportunity to educate consumers— particularly children—about farming, says Burli. As the retail operation expands, the Hopkins family hopes to create a Family Education Center and provide an educational farm tour experience.

Count on the Creamery’s website, Burli’s blog, Facebook, and Twitter to play a big role as the Hopkins grow their business. For more information visit their website: hopkinsfarmcreamery.com or friend them on Facebook. n

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volume 16 | issue 3 | mafc.com

For a still fledgling retail operation, success has come quickly.

Burli credits his father for raising the concept of an on-farm ice cream parlor during a year-end meeting when the family was reviewing its one, five and 10-year business plan. Walter Sr., in turn, credits Burli for “researching it all, even attending ice cream school, and running with everything.”

farm | land

Since then, the Creamery’s original website has been redesigned. It has fresh background colors and is much more user-friendly with photos, information, special promotions, and other interactive features that make it easy for users to print coupons and sign up for special offers.

Right now, says Burli, the Creamery is completely seasonal.

It opens in April with demand peaking in the summer and typically closing the Sunday after Thanksgiving.

4

Burli says. “So we ended up taking that advertising budget and putting it into our website in early 2010 and doing it for significantly less.”

The fresh, rich, creamy ice cream has become a hallmark. It’s sold across walk-up windows from a converted retail operation which was Burli’s grandfather’s old milk house. The fruit used in the making flavor favorites are from Fifer Orchards in Wyoming, Delaware and include peaches, strawberries, and blueberries. Pumpkin pie ice cream, apple pie ice cream and a Christmas cake ice cream are additional flavor favorites.

9

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The bakery at Marker-Miller

Orchards is a major asset to the operation.

It is a favorite throughout the year, but Thanksgiving and Christmas orders fill up fast.

2

Marker-Miller Orchards turned

a century farm in 2008. Heather McKay (far right) along with her parents, John and Carolyn Marker, take pride in what they produce and find it rewarding to see others enjoying the

1

opportunity to visit their farm.

Marker-Miller Orchards Farm Market and Bakery 3

relies on the power of the Web!

connecting with customers through technology These days finding information about Marker-Miller Orchards Farm Market and Bakery is only a click away.

Whether you use a search engine to find their Web page or locate them on Facebook, anything and everything you want to know about the operation is right at your fingertips.

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This is Heather’s third year using Facebook, and she finds the tool to be the ticket for her to inform and educate current and potential customers. “I am amazed at the growth in the number of fans we get each day. I was hesitant to join

atmosphere

conveyed around the farm market at

story and photos by JENNIFER SHOWALTER

The days of sending out newsletters by mail to keep people posted about what is going on and available is long gone for Marker-Miller Orchards Farm Market and Bakery in Winchester, Virginia.

Instead, Heather McKay, manager of the operation, banks on the use of the Internet and in particular social media to get the job done.

The welcoming

Marker-Miller Orchards at first, but it [Facebook] definitely has been beneficial.”

Heather finds that by posting pictures of what is going on around the orchard, garden, and bakery, followers feel like they are part of the process. “It’s almost like the pictures allow the fans to feel like the garden is their own,” says Heather. In addition to the pictures Heather posts, the pictures others share of the operation is a great form of advertisement. “When people post things about us that is advertisement right there! I can say all I want to say, but what others say is what it really takes.”

In addition to utilizing Facebook and an informative webpage, Heather stays in touch with those who are on her e-mail contact list. She makes a point to update people through posts and e-mails every two weeks during busy months. “I try to post and message in the middle of the week, so people can make plans for the weekend,” says Heather. She then suggests, “I don’t want to be annoying, but I want to get the information out there.”

Heather admits it takes time to keep everything on the Internet up-to-date, but finds the benefits far outweigh the effort. “If someone takes the time to ask me a question, I’m going to make the time to answer it,” says Heather. She finds the instant relay of

2

and Bakery draws customers in and provides them with an opportunity to purchase a variety of locally grown and produced goods.

4

All the vegetables at Marker-Miller

Orchards and Bakery are irrigated to help with production.

When orders cannot be met, they are filled with goods from other local growers.

With fourth and fifth generation family members farming Marker-Miller Orchards, the operation has quite the story to tell.

The original farm was purchased in 1908 by Heather’s greatgreat-grandfather, Amos Marker. In 1930, he started planting apple orchards on the land, while in the late 1940s and early 1950s her grandfather, Ralph Marker, expanded the orchards to include peaches. When Ralph passed away in 1953, his wife, Ada, along with Heather’s great-aunt, Fay Marker-Miller, kept the farms and orchards going, hence the name “Marker-Miller Orchards” sprung.

Fay added several varieties of apples and other fruits such as plums, pears, and apricots, and started selling to retail customers from the farm’s packing shed. Following college in 1969, Heather’s dad, John, came back to the farm and orchard.

John and his wife, Carolyn, diversified the variety of apples, peaches, and plums they offer even more and ventured into vegetable production to help improve retail sales.

By 2001, their retail sales had increased enough they decided to sell the cattle they had, stop selling out of their packing shed, and build a farm market with a kitchen. Quickly outgrowing the new facility, they added onto the building to include a larger kitchen, more retail area, and a wine tasting room in 2004.

After graduating college, Heather worked as a physical therapist for five years full-time before returning to the family operation in 2006. She continues to work one day a week at the hospital, but most of her time is dedicated to the family business. While on the farm, Heather stays busy connecting with people over the Internet and managing the market and employees. She also puts many hours into planning six seasonal festivals and coordinating special events such as birthday parties, weddings, receptions, and field trips at the farm.

Marker-Miller Orchards Farm Market and Bakery is a family operation that takes a considerable amount of teamwork to run. John oversees the entire operation and manages all production aspects, while Carolyn helps take care of the market and is involved with ordering and advertising.

here today looking to better tomorrow Of the 900 acres included in the family operation, currently 450 acres are designated to apple production, 20 acres to peach

3

Apples remain the main source of income for Heather and her parents. With 20 different varieties of apples coupled with the vast array of other fruits and vegetables, there is something fresh available for everyone during the growing seasons at Marker-Miller Orchards Farm Market and Bakery. In addition, the Farm Market and Bakery offers such things as apple cider, milk, hand-dipped ice cream, fudge, cookies, cakes, pies, donuts, jellies, wines, honey, eggs, pork, beef, and much more.

“Our apple cider donuts have definitely become our trade mark,” says Heather.

Whether it is apples, strawberries, or pumpkins, more and more people are eager to experience picking their own fruits and vegetables. The addition of “pick-your-own” areas around the farm has been a big attraction. “People want stuff straight off the tree. If we didn’t have the bakery and pick-your-own patches, people wouldn’t make the drive out here,” explains Heather.

She finds that most of their customers make a day out of the trip to the farm. Families love the opportunity to escape their everyday hustle and bustle. Being located in a safe environment out in the country is a seller in itself. “If parents are comfortable and kids are happy, then it’s a memorable experience and they will want to come back,” says Heather.

challenges keep business in check As with most farming operations, the weather has the upper hand at Marker-Miller Orchards Farm Market and Bakery. A minute and a half of hail damage this past May was devastating to this year’s apple crop. Instead of worrying about it, Heather hopes to show their customers what a kiss from Mother Nature can do.

One of Heather’s biggest challenges is dealing with people who don’t understand growing seasons and how much impact Mother Nature has. “People are so used to going to the grocery store and getting what they want year round. People want everything right now!” Heather hopes her use of social media will help alleviate this issue.

Technological advancements are constantly changing the world we live in and those at Marker-Miller Orchards Farm Market and Bakery are doing their best to stay up to speed. For more information, visit markermillerorchards.com or connect with them on Facebook. n

4 volume 16 | issue 3 | mafc.com

business supported with deep family roots

production, 15 acres to plums, pears, and apricots, and 8 acres to vegetable production. The remainder of the farm is leased out for cattle and grape production.

farm | land

information to be a real lifesaver for her with so many perishable goods to move in a short period of time.

11

home and garden

The Twittering Gardener

(yes, that rhymes with frittering, as in frittering away valuable time)

by Sandy Wieber

@sandywieber Wake up early. Ready to garden. Start day with “farmer’s breakfast” of eggs, toast, oj and milk. Woo hoo!!

@sandywieber Hot flash or heat stroke? Back into a/c for water and short sleeves. #isitwarminhereorisitme?

2 hours ago

1 hour ago

@sandywieber Dishes done. Full from breakfast. If u can’t swim for an hour after eating, probably shouldn’t garden for at least 45 min. #safetyfirst

@sandywieber Spot broken chair in dining room. Not job for rubber mallet; but make note to buy glue at Tar-zhay.

2 hours ago

1 hour ago

@sandywieber Turn on HGTV for motivation. Hub rolls over and asks Is that the paint drying channel? Snoring ensues—not sure if real or editorial comment.

@TargetSales Thanks for the shout-out, @sandywieber! Find exclusive discounts at www.target.com.

2 hours ago

1 hour ago

@sandywieber Exec decision to watch last 15 min of If Walls Could Talk. Can’t turn it off w/o knowing what that chandelier is worth. #antiquing

@sandywieber Turn on HGTV while re-hydrating. Love #JamieDurie. Jamie, do my makeover! #passingthebuck

2 hours ago

1 hour ago

@sandywieber Poke hub with hairbrush. He said he’d help me in the garden. He asks for 10 more minutes. I’m headed outside!

@sandywieber Was I looking for the rubber mallet to help wake the hub up? I wasn’t, was I? Either way, he’s still not up. Pull all covers off him.

1 hour ago

54 minutes ago

@sandywieber In garden. Pulling weeds. Sun not too hot. Feeling good. #weekendwarrior.

@sandywieber Back in the garden, avoiding poison ivy. Getting hot already.

Wonder if my sunscreen is sweatproof?

1 hour ago

53 minutes ago

@sandywieber Poison ivy!!!! Retreating…

@sandywieber While upside down pulling weeds, I remember what I needed rubber mallet for: putting vent back on dryer. #hammertime

1 hour ago

51 minutes ago

@sandywieber Rinse arms to shoulders with Tecnu. Love Tecnu. Changing to long sleeves and pants—Pilgrim’s version of Tecnu. LOL.

@sandywieber Still working on dryer vent. Any suggestions from the twitterverse?

1 hour ago

@sandywieber Tired and unhappy. Dryer vent in more pieces than before.

@sandywieber Shake hub through covers. Says he’s getting up soon. Turn on the light to help him. #donotletsleepingdogslie 1 hour ago

@sandywieber In shed. Looking for RoundUp. Does bug killer work on poison ivy?

1 hour ago

@gardenguru1 Bug killer only works if poison ivy is your nickname for ants. Try pouring boiling water on plant. #gardeningadvice 1 hour ago

Direct response to @gardenguru1 Will try. It’s so hot today the water might boil on its own! Thanks! #gardeningadvice 1 hour ago

50 minutes ago

35 minutes ago

@sandywieber Take my frustrations out on hub. He refuses to fight back; rolls over, closes his eyes. #itmakesmenutswhenyoudothis 33 minutes ago

@sandywieber Back in the garden, pulling weeds with a vengeance. Good way to blow off some steam.

31 minutes ago

@sandywieber Wiped out. Headed back to bed (hub still snoring). Plenty of time to be a #weekendwarrior next weekend.

11 minutes ago

@sandywieber #iblametwitter for all the weeds in my garden.

@sandywieber Just found rubber mallet. If only I could remember why I was looking for it last weekend—LOL! #earlyalzheimers

9 minutes ago

1 hour ago

5 minutes ago

@sandywieber Naps rock. Goodnight to all my tweeps!!

12 MAFC is on Twitter too! Find out what’s happening with your local association @MidAtFarmCredit, or learn about news around the Farm Credit System @FarmCreditGirl.

Bridgeville, Delaware

SALE

Delmar, Delaware

Great investment to expand your chicken farm operation. Includes three 400 ft. houses, enclosed 75kw generator, compost and manure building. On 8 acres, more land can be purchased to allow for new houses. Sellers retired and ceased their growing operation. $285,000 Contact John W. Allen, Cooper Realty Associates, 302.245.5612.

12.67 acre poultry farm. Can house 90,000 chickens. Three poultry houses 500x45, all tunnel controlled, 175x50 manure shed, composter, generators and two mobile homes. $624,900.

Contact Vickie Rohrer, Exit Shore Realty, 410.912.0310. Visit: poultryfarmforsale.com for additional information.

Lincoln, Delaware

Centreville, Maryland

20 acres of cleared land and 11 acres of woods. Property has nice open woods with a winding brook. Great deer hunting. Preliminary approval for major subdivision in 2009. Development rights still intact. $185,000.

Contact Wes Cromer, Masten Realty, LLC, 302.442.1032.

Centreville, Maryland

5 acre farmette with 4 stalls, tack room and 3 fenced pastures. Large home with 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, full walkout basement, large kitchen and family room with vaulted ceiling. $489,900.

Contact Jonathan Olsavsky, Coldwell Banker Waterman Realty, 410.490.0369.

Lincoln, Delaware

Seaford, Delaware

Beautiful farm southwest of Milford.

30.6 cleared acres and 11.37 wooded acres. Till land leased. Very few homes in sight. Area known for deer hunting. Parcel in Farmland Preservation. $215,000. Contact Jamie Masten, Masten Realty, LLC, 302.422.1850.

39 +/- acres of cleared farmland subdivided into three (3) 12+ acre parcels and one (1) one acre parcel. Just east of Seaford. High, sandy soil. Agricultural wells on site. Ideal for horse farm, farmettes or cropland. $269,900.

Contact Drew Ward, Sussex Ventures, 302.841.3263.

Delmar, Delaware

45+ acre farm with huge potential.

Three bedroom, 2.5 bath rancher.

Perfect for home-based business, horses or potential for 5 poultry houses. Plus income from one bedroom rental apartment, mobile home lot with hook ups. $665,000.

Contact Rhonda Evans, ERA Martin Associations, 410.749.1818.

community

PROPERTIES FOR

Greensboro, Maryland

Beautiful home on 6.70 acres with two 2 car detached garages, one having bonus living space above.

About half of the acreage is fenced for pasture including a 2 stall barn, two run-in sheds and pond. The home features 3 bedrooms with 2.5 baths, a large family room, nice kitchen and formals. $494,000.

Contact Mike Allison, Exit Gold Realty, 410.310.9002.

Middletown, Maryland

Boonsboro, Maryland

Denton, Maryland

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

Chestertown, Maryland Dagsboro, Maryland 73 +/- acres. Subdivision possibilities on this parcel in the Indian River School District. About 650 +- feet of frontage. $1,110,000. Contact Steve Hollenbeck, Bob Moore Realty, 302.674.4255 or visit BobMooreRealty.com.

Dickerson, Maryland Custom home in Upper Montgomery County.

Three bedroom, 3 baths, gourmet kitchen, main level master bedroom, courtyard and three barns. 5 acres and use of 5+ acres under agreement with power company. Trail ride from your stable to Sugarloaf Mountain or C&O Canal. Near MARC train. $719,000.

Contact Sandy Lytle, Mackintosh, Inc. Realtors, $301.788.0651.

34 acre water front property located on Morgan Creek near the Chester River; minutes from Chestertown.

Private 23 open acres, 10 wooded acres.

Ready for your dream home. $685,000.

Contact David Leager, Sassafras River Realty, Ltd., 410.778.0238 or 410.708.0891 or visit: homesdatabase.com/KE7598387.

Dickerson, Maryland 164 acres with spectacular views.

Secluded Manor house, tenant house, pool, tennis and equestrian trails. Can build additional house and tenant house. $3,800,000.

Contact Pat Smith, PBS, Inc., 301.530.9152.

6.75 acres with spectacular views and wonderful home. Gourmet kitchen, hardwood floors, two master suites and large in-ground pool. $699,000. Contact Nancy Bowlus, RE/MAX Results, 301.698.5005.

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

REALTOR

®

Queen Anne, Maryland 15 acre horse farm with pasture, stables, hay shed and gorgeous traditional farmhouse. Hardwood floors, granite counters and custom cabinetry. Detached garage/ recreation room. Mature gardens and in-ground pool. Bordered by woodlands and a stream. $499,999.

Contact Jeanne Scott, Wright Real Estate, 410.253.2958.

Westminster, Maryland Ideal for any ag operation, 48 acres— very fertile soil that gives high yields.

Potential income in crop fields $20,000+/- per year. Farmhouse with bank barn. Offers two streams that are natural spring fed. $525,000.

Contact Geanie Lockard, Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage, 410.848.9151.

Need financing for any of these properties? Call your local Farm Credit office.

All of the properties listed on these pages are offered for sale by local, licensed Realtors. MidAtlantic Farm Credit is not affiliated with these properties, nor are we responsible for content or typographical errors. Please call the Realtor listed for more information.

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

REALTOR

®

volume 16 | issue 3 | mafc.com

5.42 acres features pool, hot tub and fenced yard. Four bedroom, 2.5 bath Colonial is well kept and includes gas fireplace, granite counters, stainless appliances, separate dining room and more.

Close to town amenities and easy commute to Rt. 301. $349,900.

Contact Rebecca Kellum, Rosendale Realty, 410.758.0333.

Horse farm includes barn with concrete center aisle, 5 matted stalls, washroom, and tack room.

Implement shed and hay storage in separate building. 10.63 acre lot includes 3+ acres of fenced pasture with two run-ins and 5+ acres of hay.

Three bedroom, 2 bath rancher is just one year old. $299,900. Contact Tom Boeshore, Rosendale Realty, 410.643.2166.

Three year old home on 6 acres.

Six bedrooms, 4 baths, in-law suite in basement. Two car attached and detached garages, springhouse, pond, barn with stables, smokehouse and additional buildings.

Hardwood floors. $499,900.

Contact Craig Smith, Keller Williams Home Towne Realty, 240.344.5538 or visit: realtorcraigs.com.

REALTOR

®

13

PROPERTIES FOR Conowingo, Maryland

Easton, Maryland

Federalsburg, Maryland

Greensboro, Maryland

Working horse farm on 43 acres.

Offers block construction stable with skylights, fourteen 12x12 stalls, two 12x14 foaling stalls with storage, wash stall, shower, office, two tack rooms, indoor arena, round pen plus ¼ mile sand track and six electric fenced in pastures with run-ins. $839,500. Contact Barbara Beaudet, EXiT Latham Realty, 410.829.2881 or 410.822.2152.

Talbot County waterfront farm adjoining Easton’s town limits with 3,500 +/- ft. of water frontage on Dixon Creek containing 356 +/acres. Seven perc approved lots, 19 additional development units. Three bedroom, 2 bath farmhouse and numerous outbuildings. $3,900,000.

Contact Traci Jordan, Benson & Mangold. 410.310.8606.

65 acres +/- of productive Caroline County farmland. Improvements include a tenant house, several barns, lot backs to woods. Another 80 acres is available across the road (priced separately). $429,000.

Contact Tim Miller, Benson & Mangold, 410.310.3553.

Jefferson, Maryland

Libertytown, Maryland

Myersville, Maryland

Private 25 acre partially wooded parcel just off of Route 404. Currently being tilled, but would make an excellent horse farm or small farmette. $159,000. Contact Bryan Wieland, EXiT Latham Realty, 410.829.5913.

One or two acre lots with wells & percs. County setting with views of Braddock Mountain and Harper Ferry’s Gap. ¼ mile from C&O access. $120,000-$160,000. Contact Tom Rozynek, Frederick Land Company, 301.662.9222.

Charming 1739 stone home full of historic character.

Three bedrooms, 1.5 baths with fenced yard, patio and huge auxiliary building with great room for entertaining. Home well maintained. $340,000. Contact C. Scott Gove, Frederick Land Company, 301.662.9222.

Four bedrooms, 4.5 baths situated on almost 4.5 acres. This contemporary home has 2 fireplaces plus hook-up for woodstove on lower level. Radiant heat in flooring on all three levels.

Very private with views. $489,000.

Contact Tony Checchia, Frederick Land Company, 301.662.9222.

Parkton, Maryland

Preston, Maryland

Rising Sun, Maryland

Rock Hall, Maryland

Five acre farmette, multiple fenced pastures and four-stall barn. Ranch style home; 5 bedrooms, 3 full baths, 2 car garage and finished lower level.

Gourmet kitchen with five burner Wolf stove, sub zero, and more. Easy access to Baltimore and York. $424,900.

Contact Linda Borgmann, Riley & Associates Realtors, Inc., 443.286.1725.

150 +/- acre waterfront farm with active poultry operation. Three modern chicken houses with 77,000 bird capacity. Numerous outbuildings including 75kw generator with shed, house trailer and new metal pole barn. Subdivision potential of three waterfront lots. $1,295,000.

Contact Tim Miller, Benson & Mangold, 410.310.3553.

10+ acres fenced-in pasture and 4 stall barn with tack room and paddock. Four bedroom custom open plan country Colonial with 3 car garage. Great view of neighboring farms. Convenient to I-95 and minutes from Fair Hill Equestrian facilities. $499,900. Contact Wanda Jackson, Harlan C. Williams Co., 410.392.8645.

Bungay Point Farm. 163 acres situated along Bungay Creek and the west fork of Langford Creek. This ideal hunting location includes 4 ponds (2 with wells) and 100 ft. dock. Home is 2,800 sq. ft. with 7-bay garage. $3,100,000.

Contact Clint Evans, Cross Street Realtors, 410.778.3779.

Rocky Ridge, Maryland

Stevensville, Maryland

Stevensville, Maryland

Taneytown, Maryland

Mini horse farm on Kent Island.

Partially fenced with big barn and run-in shed. 5.4 acre lot is full of great pine trees for lots of shade. Private tree lined lane leads to 3 bedroom, 1.5 bath rambler offering huge sunroom. $275,000. Contact Laura Keene, Rosendale Realty, 410.643.2166.

Two 15+ acre lots located side-by-side on Kent Island’s Quiet Love Point.

Sold separately or purchase together for a 30+ acre waterfront paradise.

Located on Chesapeake Bay. Perc approved and offers over 200 ft. of bay frontage each. $899,000 (each).

Contact Tammy Rosendale, Rosendale Realty, 410.758.0333.

23 acre farm in a beautiful setting.

Barn, outbuildings, small orchard, pond and cute old style 3 bedroom farmhouse. $439,900. Contact Charlie Roosa, Key Realty, Inc., 410.287.7241.

Hillsboro, Maryland

Unique farmstead dating back to the 1700s. Barn, several outbuildings, farmland, wooded area and large stone home. $998,000. Contact Fred W. Houdeshell, Bach & Associates, Inc., 301.695.9600.

14

SALE (continued)

61 acre farm with contemporary 4 bedroom home. Enjoy the privacy this farm offers. Large pond. Unique dwelling. Barn and outbuildings.

Rolling land in hay and pasture. $495,000. Contact Garry A. Haines, Haines Realty, 410.984.6556 or email garry@hainesrealtyco.com.

All of the properties listed on these pages are offered for sale by local, licensed Realtors. MidAtlantic Farm Credit is not affiliated with these properties, nor are we responsible for content or typographical errors. Please call the Realtor listed for more information.

Thurmont, Maryland

Storybook cottage on 23 acres with 3 bedrooms, 2 full baths, built-in closets, and 2 story porch. Brick floor in kitchen. Den, formal dining room, partial fininished basement.

Also 4 stall barn. Homey and quaint. $345,000. Contact Karen Carroll, 410.375.8898 or email karencarrollrealtor@yahoo.com.

Known as the Hemp-Miller farmstead, this 5 bedroom, 3,000 sq. ft. + home (circa 1800) sits on 29 rolling acres backing to fishing creek with restored bank barn (circa 1875). Two story summer kitchen, fenced pastures and just minutes to Utica Covered Bridge. $989,000. Contact Cindy Grimes, J&B Real Estate, Inc., 301.271.3487, Ext. 24.

Westminster, Maryland

Wye Mills, Maryland

83+ acre equestrian breeding and training farm in the bucolic country side just outside of Westminster.

Big all brick updated 4 bedroom home with apartment basement.

Several barns, many paddocks, ring and jump course. $1,200,000.

Contact Laura Lee Jones, Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., 443.535.8000.

Historic Manor house, circa 1884, situated on 6 acres surrounded by stately oak trees and Talbot County farm fields. Home boasts four fireplaces and over 4,000 sq. ft. of living space. Convenient to Bay Bridge for horses, hunting or just peace and quiet. $622,000. Contact Renee Rishel, EXiT Latham Realty, 410.310.7024 or 410.822.2152.

Union Bridge, Maryland

50 acres zoned ag. Perfect for small business and/or horse facility with several outbuildings. Includes pond, springhouse and in-ground pool. Four bedrooms, chestnut log and wood floors. Outdoor ring and pastures, 75x135 free span arena, bank barn with 7 stalls and tack room. Partially wooded with trails. $750,000. Contact Ted Lapkoff, RE/MAX All Pro, 301.694.3425.

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

One of a kind property on almost 5 acres with 4,656 sq. ft. home that includes: 6 bedrooms and 4 baths. Caretaker or in-law suite with private entrance. Home has elevator and grand entrance with staircase. $984,000. Contact Michael B. Yingling at Re/Max Delta Group, 717.648.8303.

Kunkletown, Pennsylvania

Westminster, Maryland

80 acres, 2 ½ story brick farmhouse circa 1797 with additions approximately 1864. Stone foundation, cement cellar floor. Baseboard hot water oil fired heat. Summer kitchen with original fireplace and bake oven.

Bank barn and block dairy. Two silos and more. $695,000. Contact Larry E. Haines, Haines Realty, 410.876.1616 or email larry@hainesrealtyco.com.

Lehigh Co, Pennsylvania

North Whitehall Township, renowned pick-your-own-fruit farm containing 147 acres of orchard, retail store and several outbuildings including bank barn, cold storage, garages and schoolhouse. Operational orchard generating serious revenue plus long-range opportunity for other uses. $2,495,000. Contact Don Frederick, The Frederick Group, 610.398.0411 or 610.841.4235.

Kunkletown, Pennsylvania

EQUAL HOUSIN

Kutztown, Pennsylvania New Price! Charming 49 acre farm with beautiful story book setting. Long private driveway leading to the house and barns which are set back 400 ft. from the road.

Magnificent 2 acre pond and peaceful stream. Circa 1850 brick farmhouse, 2 bank barns and pole barn. Fleetwood schools. $649,000. Contact Gary or Jonathan Coles, New Pennsylvania Realty, 570.386.5000.

Mohrsville, Pennsylvania

Birdsnest, Virginia

OPPORTUNIT

112 acre equestrian estate with custom built 4,000 sq. ft home.

In-ground pool, 6 stall stable, and approximately 40 acres of huge fenced in pasture. $1,000,000.

Contact Cindy Stys, Cindy Stys Equestrian & Country Properties, Ltd., 610.849.1790 or visit cshorseproperties.com.

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

170+ acres of open meadow, dense woodlands. Private and secluded with abundant wildlife – a big game hunter’s paradise! $2,860,000.

Contact Michael Shelton, Weichert Commercial, 610.861.9855 or 610.248.4131.

Edinburg, Virginia

Machipongo, Virginia

Custom stone home with 2,800 sq. ft. Full walkout basement on 27 acres with spring fed stocked pond, fencing and right of way to National Forest. Includes 42x75 workshop/ barn, auto lift, and walk-in cooler. $750,000. Contact Lori Coffey, Johnston & Rhodes Real Estate, 540.335.5905.

Waterfront contemporary with deep water located on the shores of Hungars Creek. High banks, stately oaks and landscaped grounds surround this top of the line home.

Three to 4 bedrooms, 2.5 baths, 3,448 sq. ft. and much more. $699,000.

Contact Dave Griffith, Coldwell Banker Harbour Realty, 757.647.2649.

REALTOR

®

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

REALTOR

®

volume 16 | issue 3 | mafc.com

Taneytown, Maryland

community

Need financing for any of these properties? Call your local Farm Credit office.

REALTOR

200+ rolling acres, mostly tillable.

Has over 11,000 ft. of road frontage on Garfield, School, Pony and Quarry Roads. Local farmer presently works the land, no written lease in effect. $1,616,000. Contact Robert Miller, Century 21 Park Road, 610.378.0471.

32 +/- partially wooded acres.

Perfect opportunity for country living. Abundant with wildlife for hunting, timber for harvest or farming on Bojac soil. Build your dream home and live off the land. $169,000. Contact Bob Berry, Ralph W. Dodd & Associates, LLC, 757.678.5377.

®

15

MidAtlantic Farm Credit P.O. Box 770 Westminster MD 21158-0770

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

BALTIMORE MD PERMIT NO. 7175

Wanted: Your Fair Lady (or Gentleman!)

Do you have a photo of your local fair that’s anything but? (Anything but fair, that is!) Enter it in our fair photo contest on Facebook, and you could win $250*!

Visit our Facebook page at facebook.com/midatlanticfarmcredit for complete contest details.

So find your camera (or figure out how to use your camera phone), and become a fan of our Facebook page. Then get ready to post all the photos of your fair-weather friends!

*Contest deadline is September 30. For a complete set of contest rules visit the official site on our Facebook page.

888.339.3334 Lending support to rural AmericaTM

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