A Legacy of Farming by MidAtlantic Farm Credit

Leader Farm Credit

Financing Rural America for More Than 95 Years

Serving agriculture for generations

volume 16 | issue 4 | $3.95

A Legacy of Farming Photo Contest Winners Scholarship Program Announcement

in this issue

Leader

farm | land

4 The Willards of Montgomery

volume 16 | issue 4

County, Maryland—Six Generations of Working the Land

MidAtlantic Farm Credit, ACA J. Robert Frazee, CEO

6 Heidel Hollow Farm—Making

Gary L. Grossnickle Chairman

Hay While the Sun Shines in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania

Fred N. West Vice Chairman

8 Dorchester County, Maryland’s Luthy Family

10 Silver Plate Stables in

Mount Jackson, Virginia

home and garden

12 The Unfulfilled Gardener your association

13 Annual Meeting dates 13 Scholarship entry deadline 14 Farm Credit—Now and Then 15 Cute Kids 15 Calendar Photo Winners

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

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.

community

16 Properties for Sale

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10 www.facebook.com/midatlanticfarmcredit

Season’s Greetings! www.twitter.com/midatfarmcredit

MidAtlantic Farm Credit Board of Directors

www.midatlanticfarmcredit.blogspot.com

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

Generating Farmers for As you know, this year marks the 95th year

much things have changed, check out the

of Farm Credit. That’s almost a century of

chart on page 14. It’s an excellent example

DEC event

providing loans and financial services to

of how much agriculture has changed

agriculture and rural communities.

since Farm Credit first started.

23 & 26 Christmas Holiday

4-6 MD Farm Bureau Convention Ocean City MD MAFC offices closed

Of course, one thing that hasn’t

go out of business more than they go

changed with us is our commitment to our

JAN event

out for your business, that’s a pretty

customers—both those who have been

2 New Year’s Holiday

impressive number.

farming for generations and those who

3-5 Keystone Farm Show

have just begun. You’ll see that commit-

7-14 PA Farm Show

families in our area who have been making

ment in December, when we distribute

a living off the land for multiple genera-

approximately $9.2 million in patronage

10-11 Eastern Shore Agricultural Conference

tions. There are a lot of them, and we’ve

payments to our borrowers. For those of

11 Mid-Atlantic Nursery Trade Show Baltimore MD

focused on four such families in this issue

you who are interested, that represents

12 VA Agribusiness Banquet

of the Leader. Read about the Willard

100% of our 2005 qualified allocated

16 Martin Luther King Jr. Day MAFC offices closed

family in Montgomery County, Maryland,

surplus (about $2 million), and 50 percent

16-21 DE Agriculture Week

Harrington DE

who bought their farm for $15.67 an acre

of our 2004 nonqualified allocated surplus

19-21 VA Farm Show

Fishersville VA

in 1871, and have been farming it ever

(about $7.2 million).

20-22 MD Horse World Expo

Timonium MD

Impressive, too, is the number of farm

since. And the Fink family of Heidel Hollow

Just as our local farm families are proud

place MAFC offices closed York PA Harrisburg PA Exmore VA

Richmond VA

31 Deadline: sales closing for AGR policies

Farm in Germansville, Pennsylvania, who

of what they’ve accomplished over the

have been staying on the cutting edge of

years, I’m proud of what Farm Credit has

FEB event

technology since1852.

done as well. Running a stable and wellcapitalized financial institution, serving

1-4 PASA’s Farming for the future Conference

the Luthy family in Dorchester County,

our customers, and returning our profits

Maryland, who can trace their family’s

are just some of the things that we’ve done

9-10 Women in Ag Conference

roots back to the 1700s. Finally, check out

to help serve our borrowers and to support

15 Deadline: sales closing for green peas

the story of Silver Plate Stables and the

our local communities.

20 President’s Day

I think you’ll also enjoy the article on

Tusing family, who own a century farm in

I’m thankful that you’ve chosen

Virginia and who are welcoming the fifth

MidAtlantic Farm Credit to be your lender.

generation to the farm.

I don’t ever want us to take that for

place State College PA

8-9 PA Dairy Summit

Lancaster PA Dover DE

MAFC offices closed

23-26 PA Horse World Expo

Harrisburg PA

24-26 Better Living Expo & Craft Show Salisbury MD

granted. As we enter this holiday season,

MAR event

spend some time thinking about how

please accept my thanks, as well as my

much has changed in the past 95 (or more)

best wishes for safe and happy times

2-3 MD Cattle Industry Convention and Trade Show Hagerstown MD

years—I know I did. To see precisely how

with your families.

As you read these stories, I think you’ll

place

15 Deadline: sales closing for corn, soybeans, AGR lite, etc 17-18 Frederick County Builders Association Home Show

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

Frederick MD

volume 16 | issue 4 | mafc.com

At a time when businesses seem to

place

events | deadlines

Generations to Come

Three generations of Willards

(left to right) Billy Jr., Billy, De and Matthew continue the family’s commitment to nearly a century and a half of farming in Poolesville, MD.

Like many farmers in the area, the

Willards battle crop damage from large herds of deer. They support a county program that allows hunters to shoot the deer, which are then butchered, and the meat delivered to local food banks.

Six generations and 140 years working the land in Montgomery County

De’s great-grandfather grew corn, wheat, and hay on the farm, which the family sold at local markets. The Willards became central figures in the community and expanded their efforts beyond the farm. Dewalt’s son Harry L. Willard had an entrepreneurial spirit and opened a number of businesses in the growing town, including a sawmill, feed mill, the first telephone company in the area, a general merchandise store

unusually wet and

cold spring, this year’s soybean crop has thrived.

story and photos by SUSAN WALKER

Though it may sound like an unbeatable bargain today, in 1871 when brothers Dewalt Joseph Willard and Charles F.M. Willard purchased their farm in Poolesville, Maryland for $15.67 an acre (For a total of $10,581.60 for 675 acres), the amount was a significant investment. “It was a wise investment,” explains De Willard, who started working on the family’s farm in 1948 at the age of 16. “The land was ideally situated for shipping crops up and down the C & O Canal in the days long before there were paved roads or railroads in the area.”

In spite of an

and post office, and a beer parlor and ice cream shop. He also operated a thresher, was elected mayor of Poolesville, and ran for sheriff of Montgomery County. “My grandfather was a jack of all trades,” says De. De’s father, Joe Willard, was a self-taught electrician. While the family still owned the farm, it lay fallow for a number of years until De, at the age of 16, used money he had earned working at the local grocery store to buy seed and put in a crop of corn with a borrowed plow, planter, and tractor. He also borrowed money from family to buy a combine and used it to start a business harvesting crops for his neighbors. That business was the start of the family’s current agricultural services company, Willard Agri-Service, which custom manufactures and applies liquid fertilizers, micronutrients, and crop protectants on clients’ farms in Delaware, Maryland, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Billy Willard Jr. lives in this 100+

year-old house on the family’s farm. It was a kitchen for the farm’s original house, which no longer stands.

With 1,000 acres of their

land in preservation, the Willards are part of Montgomery County’s 93,000-acre agricultural reserve, the largest percentage of preserved ag land in the nation.

started working with their dad when they were around eight years old and barely tall enough to see over the tractor. Today, De, Billy, and Billy’s son Billy Jr. work the family farm as well as a little more than 2,000 additional acres, a combination of land they own and rented property. They grow corn, soybeans, and wheat and dry and condition the grain before it is sold in nearby markets. Bobby heads up the Eastern Shore operation of the family’s agricultural services business. “When my brothers and I were growing up, we used to spend all day working with my Dad sometimes, riding in the cab of the combine,” remembers Billy Sr. “Those were some of the best times of our lives and where I developed a real passion for agriculture and growing crops. I always loved being outside, watching crops grow, and repairing machinery.” Though he left the farm to attend college at Purdue

of professional and community organizations, including the Montgomery County Agricultural Preservation Committee, the Upper Montgomery County Farmers Club, the Montgomery County Agricultural Center, and The Fertilizer Institute, to name a few. In addition, he served on the Federal Reserve Small Business and Agriculture Advisory Council during the Alan Greenspan years. The family has been working with MidAtlantic Farm Credit since Billy Sr. and his brothers were teens and they secured a loan for their first farming operation on a parcel of rented land. They have relied on MidAtlantic for more than 30 years to help finance the purchase of land and the expansion of their agricultural services business. “The Willards are organized financially and take the time to make well developed strategic plans for all their operations and that underlies their long history of being successful,” says

University in Indiana and earn his degree in Agricultural

loan officer Bill Borsa.

Economics, Billy returned to Poolesville after graduation and has

5 an eye towards the future

4 been working on the farm and with Willard Agri-Services ever

The Willards have placed 1,000 acres of their land in

since. He and his wife, Ann Marie, raised their four children in a

agricultural preservation because they see a growing need

house on a portion of the original 675 acres purchased in 1871.

to protect farmland. “The area where we are has changed a

The family’s love of farming continues with Billy’s oldest

great deal over the years,” Billy Sr. notes. “More and more

son, Billy Jr., who graduated from the University of Maryland’s

farms are being sold for development and we have more

Applied Agriculture program in 2003. “I’ve always liked farming.

neighbors who do not understand agriculture. It’s our job to

I remember going to work in the fields with my dad, learning

educate them and help them understand why what we do is

about the crops and how to fix the machines when they needed

essential not just for this community but for the country.”

it,” says Billy Jr. “Even when he was just six years old, he’d be up at five in the morning, finished his cereal, and waiting for me in the kitchen, ready to head out to work,” his father adds. Billy’s younger brother Matthew, a junior at the University of Delaware, also helps on the farm during the summer, while his twin sister is in law school and his older sister lives in North Carolina. Billy Jr. is responsible for all the planting and tending the farm’s crops as well as running the drying machinery and maintaining the other machines used in the operation. Billy Sr. handles the grain marketing, financial planning, finance and

Billy has seen other changes in agriculture since his first days in the field. “There’s more risk involved in farming,” he says. “The market swings are bigger. Global issues affect supply and demand and there are environmental issues that we need to handle in a responsible manner.” His father De has also seen big changes since he first started farming in the 1940s. “There’s a lot less physical labor involved because the equipment has gotten so much more advanced. We can be more precise with fertilizer and crop protectants thanks to innovations in computerized technol-

volume 16 | issue 4 | mafc.com

De’s sons Billy, Bobby, and Jimmy grew up on the farm and

property issues, and leases. He is also active with a number

farm | land

like father, like sons (and grandson)

ogy. And air conditioning in the cab is a welcome change,” he adds with a smile.

Heidel Hollow Farm is known for its sweet corn grown by Michael; however it also offers seasonally festive decorations and mums. The farm took on its name back in the 1960s, referencing its Heidelberg Township location and how the property is in the hollow of the landscape.

David loads 20 compressed hay bales into an ocean container. A container can be loaded in less than an hour.

Making Hay while the Sun Shines: Heidel Hollow Farm story and photos by Jennifer Hetrick

History is important to David and Sonia Fink. But that appreciation of the past doesn’t mean that they are afraid of the technologies and ideas of the future. This busy couple operates Heidel Hollow Farm in Germansville, Pennsylvania, not far from where the Appalachian Trail cuts through Lehigh County. The original farmstead was 85 acres and has grown to over 300 acres today and has been in David’s family since 1852. Original landowner David Hunsicker was the uncle of David Fink’s great-grandmother, Mary, who married Richard Fink, making David and Sonia the fourth generation to run the farm. Of course, things have changed a lot since the middle of the 19th century. But one thing that hasn’t changed is the family’s role as “early adopters” of technology and production improvements. “My grandfather [Henry Fink] was one of the first to raise 500 bushels of potatoes in the county,” David says proudly. “He got an award for that.” Henry Fink was the second generation to farm this property, located not far from where the Appalachian Trail spans through Lehigh 2 County. The third generation was David’s father, Orrin. “This farm was potatoes and eggs when my dad had it,” says David. “That was when I was first starting out.”

In addition to the potatoes and eggs, Orrin Fink also built the farm’s first chicken cage house. “There were always chickens in the barn,” remembers Sonia, and egg production continued to grow for several decades under the management of David’s mother, Ramona.

Pumpkins, eggs, potatoes and some preserved products are sold at Heidel Hollow’s farm market. The “buy fresh, local food” movement has benefited their efforts.

Michael’s wife Melanie teaches their daughter Emmalyn to pick spent blooms off of mums to keep the hardy perennials pretty.

Today, the Finks have more than 800 acres designated for their hay crop. They also farm 350 acres of corn, 250 of soybeans, 130 of wheat and 70 of barley, but it’s the hay that has taken center stage.

Sonia husks some of the sweet corn grown by Michael and sold at the farm market. In addition to his responsibilities in the farming operation, Michael serves as state chairperson for the Young Farmers and Ranchers Committee with the Pennsylvania Farm Bureau.

The family grows timothy and mixed alfalfa hay, varieties perfect for the equine market. They also produce barley pond treatment kits for algae control.

However, in 1999, the family transitioned from chickens. It was then that hay production became the main focus of their family farm.

hay now!

Five percent of the farm’s hay sales are to the retail market, with cash and carry customers driving from New Jersey, New York, Connecticut, Maryland, Delaware, and Virginia. Of course, if the customers can’t come to the Finks, the Finks come to the customers, shipping hay to them. “We have 35 pound doublecompressed bales stacked with

David and Sonia are always looking to new technology to make their operation more efficient and profitable. In 2010, 896 solar panels were installed and they anticipate they will provide 80 percent of their electric needs.

where he grows sweet corn, pumpkins, zucchini, cucumbers, cauliflower, strawberries and more.

For large orders, pallets are shipped by motor freight through trucking companies, while individual bales are shipped through UPS. Most shipping takes two to four days, David says.

Mike says the produce sales are just one more way of evolving the farming operation to fit the current environment. “The buy fresh, local food movement has really taken off around here in the past few years,” he says.

overseas demand The market that is really taking off for the Finks, however, is the non-domestic marketplace. Thirty years ago, their first international customer contacted them from Bermuda. Today, exported hay represents 80 percent of their total production. The Finks do a lot of their exporting to the Caribbean Islands. David explains that land on the islands is too valuable to be used for hay production and the climate doesn’t allow for raising the forage to supplement its client’s trail-riding horses. Their newest client is in Singapore, using hay for feeding race horses at a track. David estimates that he grows around 3,500 tons of hay per year. He expects to bring 7,000 to 8,000 tons to market this year, and by next year, compressed sales are projected to reach beyond 10,000 tons. “Since we switched to the big bales in 1994, we’ve almost tripled our production,” David says, noting their size as 3-foot-by3-foot-by-8-foot, which average around 750 pounds. Potential customers continue to contact the Finks directly, finding the farm on the internet, hearing about it through referrals, or knowing David as a board member of the National Hay Association.

more great ideas Like the generations before them, David and Sonia are always looking to new technology to make their operation more efficient, and more profitable. In 2010, the Finks installed solar energy on the farm. They financed the installation through Farm Credit, along with several grants, and currently have 896 panels which total 200 kilowatts. They anticipate it will provide 80 percent of their electric needs.

the next generation The fifth generation of Finks is already adding his own thoughts to the mix. In 1996, David and Sonia’s son Michael began his own farming venture, Mike Fink’s Produce. Today, he has 300 acres

Sweet corn is the most popular item that he grows, and customers say that it has a sweet, fresh taste that sets it apart.

“Originally, it was basically eggs and potatoes,” David says about the farm’s storefront. “Now we offer a full line of produce seasonally, along with some preserved products, but the main draw is Mike’s produce.” This keeps a local demand fulfilled for retail customers looking to buy as close to home as possible. Mike also sells directly to the four Wegman’s grocery stores around his region. His mom Sonia says that Wegman’s has made fresh produce more readily available in all the local stores. “[Having them in the marketplace] really raised the bar of the other stores in their produce sections,” she says. Mike’s wife Melanie works in the storefront at the farm, and has a background in agriculture herself. She grew up on a local dairy farm. “It’s something that gets into your blood,” she says about farming. “Once it’s there, you can try to get rid of it, but it’ll never go away.” Oldest son Travis is kept busy making deliveries of tractor-trailer loads of hay and produce year round.

a lending partner As Heidel Hollow Farm has grown, Farm Credit has been right there with them every step of the way. David and Sonia first worked with the cooperative lender 34 years ago when they bought a farm down the road from the main farm. “At the time, it was a big deal for us as a young couple to buy land,” Sonia says about the 66 acres she and David purchased back then. “They’re in the forefront. They’re innovators,” says MAFC loan officer David Stutzman about the Finks. “When they do a project, they want to see a good return on it. Their future is always well thought out.”

looking out The Finks see their farm continuing to evolve and grow, just as it has done for the last 159 years. Of course, today their focus is more on advancing methods of hay production, focusing on intensive management, looking to alternative energy sources, and making sure that their website is easy to find on search engines. Some might look at those changes as challenging, or obstacles to be overcome. David sees things much more positively. “There are no problems—only solutions,” David says wisely. “Farming is working with nature, working with it and not against it.” It also is building on the past to ensure a strong, vibrant future. n

volume 16 | issue 4 | mafc.com

Shipping their product also allows the family to serve a wholesale market, which comprises about 15 percent of their business. Among those clients are a handful of zoos from Chicago to New England, with the farm’s website, www.heidelhollowfarm.com, noting the feeding instructions for emus, elephants, bison, gazelles, giraffes, tortoises, yaks, zebras and more.

farm | land

40 on a shrink-wrapped pallet,” David says. “We also have them available individually bagged.”

Carrying on a proud Luthy family farming

tradition in Dorchester County, (left to right) Garrett Luthy, his father Danny, John (Jock) Luthy III, John Luthy IV and John Luthy V, own and operate four Cambridgearea farms.

John Luthy IV’s poultry farming

operation on Luthy Road, adjacent to his father’s farm, includes six houses and close to a quarter-million chickens.

FIVE GENERATIONS HARDLY SCRATCH THE SURFACE Dorchester County’s Luthy Farm

Family Roots Span Continents

story and photos by GARY HORNBACHER

When it comes to farm families, the roots of Danny and John (Jock) Luthy III aren’t just deep. They go back to the 1700s and a small farm in Switzerland where the original farmhouse still stands. The Luthys reside in Dorchester County On Maryland’s Eastern Shore but still have distant relatives in Switzerland who raise cattle and grow hay and potatoes.

a proud tradition

For sure, there’s something special to be said about being able to actually visit that small Swiss farm and mingle with distant relatives, as brothers Jock and Danny and others in the Luthy family have done, but there’s also plenty on the family’s agricultural plate in Dorchester County to be proud about too.

Indeed, Jock and his wife Debbie live just across Little Blackwater River about a mile away from that first Luthy farm, on a farm purchased from Jock’s uncle. Danny and his wife Tammy live about five miles away on the farm where the brothers grew up.

Locally, explains Jock, Luthy’s have been farming in the Cambridge area since the 1890s, not long after his great grandfather immigrated from Switzerland.

That original 1890-era Luthy farm near Cambridge is still being farmed by family. “My grandfather farmed that same land and it eventually passed down through my father’s cousins,” Jock says. “My grandfather and my great uncle started purchasing other farms in the 1930s and 1940s, building a very successful operation.”

The latter, purchased in the 1950s by their father, John Luthy Jr., anchored a prosperous family farming operation that would grow to include land in both Dorchester and Talbot counties.

Farming has been good to the Luthy

family. Here Danny (left) and Garrett take a few minutes from the fields to talk about the family operation.

John Luthy IV and V, who represent the

fifth and sixth generations of the Luthy family, share a moment together and a love for farming.

For now though, this focus is on Jock and Danny and their own extended families. The two brothers represent a fourth generation of Luthys to farm in the Cambridge area; their sons, Garrett and John Luthy IV, respectively, represent a fifth generation; and nine-year old John Luthy V waits in the wings. For many years, the two brothers operated in partnership, farming what mostly was family property plus rental property in both Dorchester and Talbot counties. A decade or so ago, that arrangement ended amicably, prompted by generational planning focused on securing their sons’ Garrett’s and John’s own farming futures.

fathers and sons plan for future Today, although the two brothers still trade occasional work, farming is more a father-son focus for both. In Jock’s case, his farm is about 1,600 acres and he rents another 450, primarily growing corn, soybeans and wheat. Son John, 38, lives close by and works side-by-side with him on the farm. John also farms about 300 acres of his own, operates a six-house (220,000 capacity) poultry operation (with help from a full-time employee), and annually sprays 12-15,000 acres for farmers around the county with his large self-propelled sprayer. “We share equipment and help each other,” says John, whose eyes on the future include not only managing a bigger operation when his Dad becomes less involved in day-to-day farm issues, but also on growing a farm future for his son. Danny and son Garrett have a similar working relationship. Living about five miles from Jock’s farm, Danny farms about 1,250 acres (including rental ground), primarily raising corn, beans and wheat, and has a small poultry operation (two houses and about 34,000 chickens.) “I bought a farm next to me which had two chicken houses,” explains Danny, “and the poultry operation has become a nice side to the farming operation—one that’s especially welcome when times are tough.”

“The straw business is where I got started,” says Garrett, noting that a low interest Farm Credit StartRight line of credit loan was key to his being able to start out and operate on his own. Eventually he will transition to take over the family farming operation when his father retires. Farming, it seems, is the tie that binds past and future for this Dorchester County family. No one doubts that the Luthy family’s time-tested farm traditions will seamlessly move forward with successive generations. “Garrett is a farmer and that is all he ever wanted to do,” says Danny. And echoing Danny sentiments, Jock simply adds, “John loves it.” All agree farming has been good to the Luthy family. And in turn, the Luthys have been good for farming and their farm communities. Jock, for example, was very active in the Talbot County Farm Bureau for many years and is a past president of the Maryland Grain Producers Association. “I am also a director of a local bank here,” adds Jock, “but Farm Credit has treated us very well and I have a line of credit I’ve used to finance a lot of machinery and other loans.” Danny echoes similar sentiments, saying, “I pretty much borrow all my money from Farm Credit, and of course my son Garrett has been involved in the StartRight program.” And maybe StartRight provides a perfect metaphor for the Luthy family’s forward focus.

what about that future? Talk to the brothers, talk to their sons, and while there’s a sense that farming always comes with its share of uncertainties and change, they’re prepared—even excited about their farming future. Both John and Garrett, for example, point to growing world-wide demand for foods and its positive impact for farmers. Acknowledging that today’s farming operation is more hightech than in past generations, Jock adds, “We try to keep up with it but typically we don’t take the lead, waiting to see what works and doing it a little at a time.” And maybe that—doing it a little at a time—best underscores the patience and persistence of this one farm family which marks its progress in generations. After all, with 300-plus years of practice, you can be pretty sure the Luthys are one farm family that has got it right. n

volume 16 | issue 4 | mafc.com

It all makes for a big family tree. Not surprisingly, when the extended Luthy family—most still living in Dorchester County—gets together for a reunion, numbers routinely range from 80 to 100.

farm | land

Garrett, married and living close by, says he basically helps his father but farms several hundred acres of rented ground and additionally does about 20,000 small bales of hay a year.

A conservation easement assures

Silver Plate Stables, a Virginia Century Farm, will live on without the fear of development.

The Tusings know each of their 100

miniature horses by name and give each one the utmost care.

Richard and Carolyn celebrated

their 51st wedding anniversary this year, They are eager to live out the rest of their lives on their family farm that they have

worked so hard to get back in working order.

Silver Plate Stables:

a family farm with a history that lives on story and photos by JENNIFER SHOWALTER

Baccarra’s genetics continue to

succeed in the show ring and trigger interest around the

Every farm has its own story to tell, but those farms that have been in a family for generation after generation are where real history is tucked away. Silver Plate Stables in Mount Jackson, VirginIa is one of those farms that have been fortunate enough to stay in family hands for years and years. Named a Virginia Century Farm in 2008, Silver Plate Stables now welcomes the FIFth generation to the operation. What was once a typical farm used to feed the family, Silver Plate Stable is now a miniature horse farm owned by Richard, Carolyn and Michael Tusing. At the time Richard’s mother acquired the farm from her family, the Zerkels, it was still the breadbasket for the family. With traditional farm animals like cattle, horses, hogs, and chickens along with traditional crops such as corn, wheat, and barley, the Zerkels were able to make a living off of their land. Richard’s parents moved back to the farm in 1941, when he was two years old, and kept the farm going. The farm basically served the same purpose as it did before, but as time passed more modernized farming techniques were adopted.

Following high school and college, Richard met Carolyn and went on to marry her in 1960. Richard has served the insurance business his entire life and Carolyn worked as a school secretary. The Tusings have a daughter, Dawn Burris, and a son, Michael

Tusing. Richard’s mother passed away in 1978 followed by his father in 1987. The farm was then handed down to his brother, who continued to farm it. In 1991, Richard’s brother passed away and the farm was left to Richard and his sister. With conflicting thoughts on what to do with the farm, Richard bought his sister out and started renovating the farm and farm house.

quality genetics embrace successful business While still in the clean-up process, the Tusings purchased their first miniature horse, Misty, as a family pet. “She was just like a dog, but we didn’t have to leave her in the house while we were away at work,” says Carolyn. Michael fell in love with Misty and one horse led to another. His love for miniature horses drew him to spending some time on a miniature horse farm in Indiana. While there in 1997, Michael picked out a six month old stud named Baccarra that everyone thought was too long and gangly to have a successful show career. To their surprise, Michael showed Baccarra all over the country and earned the World National Champion title with him in Fort Worth, Texas in 2000. Michael was also named the Champion Amateur Showman at the same show that year. The Tusings brought Baccarra home and bred him to some of the mares they had raised over the years. In 1997, one of their mares was named the

world. Photo by Stuart Vessey.

The Tusings credit MidAtlantic Farm

Credit for helping them with the finances needed to build new fences on their farm. “They (Farm Credit) were there for us when we needed the help,” says Carolyn.

farm | land 2

World National Reserve Champion Senior Mare in Lexington,

of competition that they use to. “The shows used to have 20 to

Virginia. Richard and Carolyn give full credit to Michael for

40 horses in the ring for each class. Now they have ten or so.

having the eye to pick out the right kind of miniature horses.

Yes, you can win a trophy, but it doesn’t mean anything. It’s

“It doesn’t cost any more to feed a good horse than a bad

easy to get a ribbon, but it costs a lot,” says Tusing. Once the

horse. It’s just the initial costs. That’s why we bought good

economy picks back up, the Tusings hope to get back in the

ones to start with,” explains Richard. The Tusings have devel-

show ring more often. The Tusings are not breeding any of their mares to foal

the mares and stallions they have ever shown have made it in

next spring due to the current inventory level. Foaling typi-

the top ten at the National Show. “We don’t send any of our

cally keeps the Tusings tied down to the farm for a good two

horses out to shows, unless our trainers, Ed Sisk and Valerie

months, with the foals coming at all hours of the day and

Escalara of Texas, think they are going to be in the top ten,”

night. They are currently up to 100 plus head of top quality

says Richard.

miniature horses and are finding that their foreign market is

same farm—new hands—new look After countless days of getting the farm and farmhouse

actually gaining strength. “The top horses still sell for good money. It is the middle ground horses that are being bought for breeding purposes that have drastically dropped off. This year

back into working order, the Tusings moved their miniature

we have sold more horses for more money than in the last five

horse herd to the family farm in 2005. The machine sheds and

years. This is due to the strong European Market. Baccarra’s

bank barn that were already there were remodeled to be horse

foals have been consistently winning all over Europe and so

friendly. Additional run-in sheds and lots of new fencing was

that has helped,” says Michael.

added to make the facilities functional for the herd. The Tusings live on the farm today and with the help of their two part-time employees manage the day-to-day task. Michael

farm land lost is land gone forever With every intention of the farm remaining a farm, the

splits his time between his business in Staunton, Virginia and

Tusings placed a conservation easement on their 150 acres

the horse operation in Mount Jackson but is the one who actu-

back in 2006. “The farm has always been a farm and we want

ally runs the horse business. He oversees the farm’s breeding,

it to say a farm,” says Richard. Carolyn adds, “There are so

foaling, herd health, and marketing programs.

many advantages to conservation easements. We don’t want

Due to the struggling economy, the Tusings are not showing

our land to be built up, and we have begged our neighbors to

as much as they once did. Most of the big shows are in Texas

put their land in conservation easements too because we don’t

and California and even those shows do not have the amount

want to see theirs built up either. We want our land to be a farm and stay a farm for generations to come.”

5 volume 16 | issue 4 | mafc.com

oped an impressive name in the miniature horse world. All of

home and garden

The Unfulfilled Gardener

by Sandy Wieber

I know it’s almost Thanksgiving and I should be overwhelmed with gratitude (and potato filling in a couple of days, if I’m lucky).

But instead of feeling full and happy I am feeling empty and ripped off. And I’ve been feeling this way for about a month now.

why? “October snowstorm”???? Can you say

What the heck was it with that snowstorm, anyway? There we all were, still wrapping up the work in the fields, when BLAM! Inches and inches of the white stuff. And about two months early, by my count.

In addition to the damage that the storm did to the fields, and to the electric lines, and the poor people stuck in planes on the tarmac for hours (really now…how hard would it be to push stairs over to the plane and at least let them get out and use a bathroom for heaven’s sake???), it wreaked havoc on the few plants that were still alive and blooming.

frost on it. My mother-in-law had dusty miller that lasted all winter…it’s my plan to try that this year so I can save a little money next spring.

whatever happened to four seasons? Speaking of spring, it’s one of my two favorite seasons. Like a lot of people, my other favorite season is fall.

I was still enjoying cosmos, and zinnias (they are truly workhorses when it comes to sending up flowers for months and months), and cutting some dusty miller for filler. And I was especially enjoying the few leaves that were falling and crunching underfoot.

I’ll have to check the weather channel to confirm this, but it seemed as if spring lasted two weeks and fall was roughly 11 hours. (And it probably rained the whole time!)

Then, in a few hours, that was all taken away from me.

If it is, I’m going to have to learn to embrace it. To do that, I visited one of my favorite nurseries the other week. I wanted to start my normal winter gardening buys: my annual amaryllis, a couple of muscari bulbs to force, and a conical, tree-shaped rosemary plant (it just smells like Christmas to me—and I always use it to make rosemary roasted potatoes for brunch during the holidays).

My flowers were crushed under the weight of the snow, and the tree leaves were all knocked off (in some unlucky neighborhoods, the leaves weren’t knocked off at all—they just came crashing down along with the whole branch!) The only thing that still looked okay was the dusty miller, but that always looks like it has a thin layer of

Is this what they call the “new normal”?

The saleswoman was friendly, but apologetic. “I’m sorry,” she said, “but we don’t have the rosemary yet. It was really wet this year, and our growers are having a hard time keeping up with orders.” Just like I’m having a hard time keeping up with the seasons. n

NOTE: While it’s possible that the snowstorm in October will be the only inclement weather we get this season (not likely, of course, but possible!!), if it does happen to snow again in the upcoming months, there’s an easy way to find out if your local Farm Credit office is open. Just go to www.facebook.com/midatlanticfarmcredit and

look for up-to-the-minute information. We’ll let you know if it’s a snow day or not!

The deadline to apply for one of twelve scholarships being offered by MidAtlantic Farm Credit is fast approaching! We’ll need to have completed applications in our hands no later than January 13, 2012. There is

your association

o oo oo

Calling all Scholars!

$18,000 which will be awarded to

Save the date 2012 annual meetings Where did 2011 go? The year passed quickly and we’ve got the plans well underway for our 2012 annual stockholder meetings. While we’ve noted the dates of the meetings on our MAFC calendar (be sure to stop by one of our offices to pick one up)— we wanted to announce the dates here too so we are sure you have them! More information on the meetings will be provided in the next issue of the Leader. April 2

Wicomico Youth & Civic Center*

Salisbury, MD

April 3

Modern Maturity Center

Dover, DE

April 4

Yoder’s Restaurant

April 10 Walkersville Fire Hall

members or children of members— regardless of their field of study. Complete rules and applications are available at any of MAFC’s offices or you can apply online at mafc.com.

New Holland, PA Walkersville, MD

April 11 Millwood Station Winchester, VA *NEW LOCATION

And best wishes for a healthy and joyful

New Year!

volume 16 | issue 4 | mafc.com

Season’s Greetings!

Your Farm Has Changed: We Have Too! This year marks 95 years of Farm Credit. That’s 95 years of serving agriculture, and evolving and growing to suit the industry’s changing needs. How much has agriculture changed in those 95 years? Well, there are approximately 922 million acres of farmland in the United States, and that’s only 5 percent more than there was in 1916. However, there are nearly 217 million MORE Americans to feed. That’s a 306 percent increase! To bring the efficiency necessary to feed that many people, the average farm has nearly tripled in size in the last 95 years. While the land has gone up, the number of people working the land has dropped by more than 96 percent! We’re very proud of the huge advances that agriculture has made, and we’re equally proud of how Farm Credit has changed to keep up with those advances. We thought it might be interesting to take a look at some of the other big changes in ag since we were created in 1916.

1916

2011

U.S. Population

91,972,266

308,745,538

Estimated Farm Population

32,077,000

951,810

Proportion of Farmers

Farmers made up 31% of the population

Farmers make up less than 1% of the population

Number of U.S. Farms

6,366,000

2,204,792

Average Farm Size Total Estimated U.S. Farm Acres Communications Technology

138 acres

418 acres

878,508,000

922,095,840

• Less than 10% of U.S. farms had electricity, although it was available in the majority of urban areas • Telephone access was not universally available, and was provided primarily by locally developed systems

• There is universal access to electricity and telephone service, thanks to the Rural Electrification Administration (1935) and the Rural Telephone Administration (1949) • 57% of farmers have Internet access; 58% of these have high-speed access • A growing number of farmers are using computers, satellite imagery and Global Positioning Systems to manage their field operations

Irrigation

Farming Technology

• 16 million acres of farm land were irrigated

• 54.9 million acres of farm land are irrigated

• Most farms depended on the ever-changing weather patterns of rain to water their crops; typically by gravity-based irrigation that directed flowing water down channels that water crops row-by-row

• 30.9 million acres are irrigated with sprinkler systems, including center pivot irrigation systems, which create the circles visible on farm land when seen from above

• Most farms used intensive manual labor and animal-drawn machines to prepare, plant and harvest crops; steam-powered plows and cultivators were less common

• Farm mechanization is widespread, with specialized equipment designed for every step of the process: soil preparation, planting, irrigating, fertilizing, harvesting, processing and packaging

• Internal combustion-engine tractors became widespread only after 1920

Productivity

• Producing 100 bushels of corn took approximately 35 to 40 hours

• The increase in mechanization enables fewer farmers to produce more food, fuel and fiber • Producing 100 bushels of corn takes less than 3 hours

2012 Cover:

Katlyn Sheppard, Crownsville, MD

July:

Sam Miller, White Post, VA

January:

Betty Wilson, Lancaster, PA

Callista Miller, Fleetwood, PA

Donna Dawson, Kennett Square, PA

August:

Patty O’Brien, Quarryville, PA

Mariah Purtee, Union Bridge, MD

February: Patricia White, West Chester, PA

Sandy Stahl, Fleetwood, PA

September: George Harple, Bel Air, MD

March:

Lorraine Baugher Jones, Westminster, MD

Darlene Shirk, Kutztown, PA

Cathy Biddle, Greensboro, MD

October:

Callista Miller, Fleetwood, PA

April:

Victoria Jenkins, Point Pleasant, PA

Lorraine Baugher Jones, Westminster, MD

Tammy Price, Eden, MD

November: Amber Brenneman, Quarryville, PA

May:

Patty O’Brien, Quarryville, PA

Carolyn Jolley, Snow Hill, MD

December: Amy Smith, Elkton, MD

June:

Kelly Deppen, Mount Joy, PA

Eric Wilson, Street, MD

Carolyn Jolley, Snow Hill, MD Jerry Weller, Quarryville, PA

If you have not received one of our custom photo calendars, you can pick one up at any of our office locations.

volume 16 | issue 4 | mafc.com

your association

The 2012 calendar photo winners are…

PROPERTIES FOR

SALE

Dover, Delaware

16.4 acre farm sits 1,000 feet off the main road. The house has 3-5 bedrooms and three baths. Two fenced pastures, 30x36 barn, and a few other outbuildings. Several acres of woods with trails. Lots of deer and wild turkey. $359,900.

5.8 +/- acres of possibilities. Large renovated farmhouse, 24x50 two story barn, 24x60 pole barn, lots of potential. House offers three bedrooms, two baths, living room, dining room, den, side porch & deck. Enormous barn has basketball court. $285,000. Contact Doug Moore, Bob Moore Realty Co., 302.674.4255.

Contact Andy Whitescarver, 302.242.5557.

53 acres, mostly clear farmland. Mostly Sassafras soils. Tree lined stream. Property is in the growth zone of Kent County. $495,000. Contact Jack Kling, RE/MAX Horizons, 302.678.4324.

Harrington, Delaware

Milford, Delaware

Baldwin, Maryland

32.75 acres, 1/3 wooded. Beautiful custom four bedroom, 3.5 bath Colonial with many upgrades. Huge 40x60 pole barn, ½ insulated. Great deer hunting! $519,900. Contact Wes Cromer, Masten Realty, 302.448.1032.

Farming operation with updated home and several barns/ outbuildings. 89.8 total acres almost entirely irrigated. Great area, plenty of road frontage for future lots. Two lots recently recorded with gravity septic. $897,777. Contact Jamie Masten, Masten Realty, 302.422.1850.

Classic updated farmhouse. Situated on 18.99 acres in Long Green Valley, with great horse barn with space for sheep and goats too. Enjoy your private in-ground pool, patio and deck. Short distance to Gunpowder trails. $783,250. Contact Jessica Maher, Riley & Associates Realtors, 410.207.0329.

Conowingo, Maryland

Delmar, Maryland

Denton, Maryland

23 acre farm in historic Cecil County at the head of the Chesapeake Bay. Mostly all in crops. Older three bedroom farmhouse, barn, garage, springhouse, pond and small orchard. Convenient to Lancaster, Philadelphia, Baltimore & APG. $439,900. Contact Charlie Roosa, Key Realty, Inc., 410.287.7241, 855.590.1818 or 410.398.1247, Ext. 16.

Farm on the Mason-Dixon line with 20 acres and approximate two acre pond. Classic country home with newer kitchen cabinets, recessed lighting, three bedrooms, 1.5 baths. Being sold “as is.” Barns, nice workshop, shed and mature landscaping. Numerous possibilities. PRICE REDUCED $25,000. $274,900.Contact Rhonda Evans, ERA Martin Associates, 410.749.1818.

Cambridge, Maryland

Summit Point, West Virginia

Century Farm on Maryland’s Eastern Shore. 103 acres with 3,500 ft. waterfront on Mill Creek, Neck District, Dorchester County. Excellent farmland, hunting, fishing. Privacy unmatched. Choptank River at mouth of creek. Estate sale. $1,500,000. Contact Carlton Nabb, Nabb Real Estate, Inc., 410.463.0563.

27 acres +/-; nine remaining lots of subdivision. Property features underground utilities and is asphalt ready. Located in beautiful, historic Jefferson County. Commute to VA or DC. Rick Boswell, Broker. $579,000. Contact Candace Snowden, Century 21 Sterling Realty, 304.676.8740.

As you come up the tree-lined drive, picture your horses & ponies welcoming you home. Their stable just a few yards from the house. Your two-legged friends & family will enjoy the spacious country kitchen. Sit on the airy porch & soak up the sunsets. $365,000. Contact Deb Dawkins, Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate Co, LLC, 410.822.9000.

Dorchester County, Maryland

Dickerson, Maryland Private 25 acre lot with million dollar view of Sugarloaf & Blue Ridge. Restored 36x63 dairy barn, milk house & silo. Ready for your dream home. Off Route 28 & Beallsville Rd. $699,000. Contact Pat Smith, PBS, Inc., 301.530.9152.

Felton, Delaware

26 +/- rolling acres with stream, 7 +/wooded acres, 3,000+/- sq. ft. barn with electric & perked for home site. $200,000 “as is” or $250,000 with two bedroom, two bath finished apartment in barn. Contact Traci Jordan, Benson & Mangold Real Estate, 410.822.6665, Ext. 303 or 410.310.8606.

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.

Earleville, Maryland

Frederick, Maryland

Goldsboro, Maryland

Five acre setting with easy access to Frederick. Large rooms, wood floors and two fireplaces. Windows, exterior pane and main appliances new. Deck, three outbuildings (two with electric). Outside wood furnace heats house and water. Pasture, stream and springs for horses or other livestock. Zoned ag. $299,999. Contact Mike Pue, Hutzell & Sheets Realty Associates. 301.662.6111.

Country living at its best. Three bedroom, two bath rancher on seven acres is full of upgrades. Full basement for tons of possibilities. $279,900. Contact Chris Rosendale, Rosendale Realty, 410.758.0333.

121 acres, great mixture of fields & woodlands with pond site. Lovely farm with creek frontage off the Bohemia River near two marinas. Perc approved, private home site near the water, driveway installed, surveyed. $795,000. Contact David Leager, Sassafras River Realty, Inc., 410.778.0238 or 410.708.0891.

Frederick, Maryland 3-6+ acre country lots available. Wooded with great views, ready to build your dream home. Good wells and septic areas. Close proximity to shopping and recreational amenities. $180,000-$195,000. Contact Tony Checchia, Frederick Land Company, 301.662.9222.

Henderson, Maryland

59+ acres of rolling hills, multiple Morton buildings, 19 stalls, three pastures, & six paddocks. 150x65 lighted center aisle barn with 11 stalls (and mats). Indoor arena & two outdoor arenas. House has been updated & includes three bedrooms & 2 baths. $599,900. Contact Janet Reynolds, Old Westminster Realty, Inc., 410.871.1110.

7.65 acres with two pastures, 24x30 three stall barn, 24x24 storage shed with septic, well, electric and three pastures. Property has workshop with two bay doors, HVAC and separate electric/water/cable/ phone with office. Home features 1,792 sq. ft. rancher with four bedrooms, two full baths, new deck, landscaped and more. $299,900. Contact Brenda Abel, Champion Realty, Inc., 410.819.4300 or 410.310.4475.

Middletown, Maryland

Myersville, Maryland

Hampstead, Maryland

community

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

Henderson, Maryland Caroline County contemporary home with 2,600 sq. ft. Offers beautiful kitchen, dining and living rooms, breakfast area, three bedrooms, two full baths on main level with a huge family room and half bath on second level. 30+ acres, two stall horse barn, two fenced 4+/- acre pastures and woods. $550,000. Contact Becky Trice, EXiT Latham Realty, 410.463.0077.

EQUAL HOUSING

New Market, Maryland

OPPORTUNITY

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

REALTOR

Two – 2 acre lots with mountain views. Percs approved with wells on each lot. One of these lots could be your little slice of heaven. $140,000-$160,000. Contact Tom Rozynek, Frederick land Company, 301.662.9222.

Rising Sun, Maryland Unique farmhouse. Nicely maintained with many upgrades. Scenic property with plenty of space & privacy. Unique beamed ceilings, fireplace, sunroom, large country kitchen with island. Renovated baths. Two-car garage. Bring your horses or livestock, numerous outbuildings and fenced fields. $319,000. Contact Brenda Jolly, Integrity Real Estate, 443.451.4316.

Stevensville, Maryland 23+ acres directly on the Chester River in the sought after Love Point area on Kent Island. Enjoy shore life, private pier. $1,799,000. Contact Megan Rosendale, Rosendale Realty, 410.758.0333.

EQUAL HOUSING

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REALTOR

volume 16 | issue 4 | mafc.com

Immaculate farmette on over seven acres. Home offers three bedrooms, 3.5 baths, screened in porch, granite counters, finished lower level. Over three acres of three board fence, two stall barn with water. $500,000. Contact Marvine Jenkins, Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., 410.596.4756.

1+ acre country lots with easy access to I-70 & commuter corridors. Ready to build on with approved well and septic. Located in a small rural neighborhood, close to schools, shopping & recreational amenities. $120,000-$124,000. Contact Scott Gove, Frederick Land Company, 301.662.9222.

REALTOR

PROPERTIES FOR Stevensville, Maryland Two lots to choose from or buy both for 30 acres directly on the Chesapeake Bay. Perc approved, rare find. $849,000. Contact Tammy Rosendale, Rosendale Realty, 410.758.0333.

SALE (continued) Taneytown, Maryland

Two story, four bedroom dwelling in good condition. Replacement windows, some updates, wood floors refinished, newly painted, new kitchen and appliances and new septic system. Bank barn and outbuilding, fenced pasture. Silo and equipment excluded. Working farm in Farmland Preservation, crops reserved. $725,000. Contact Garry Haines, Haines Realty, 800.689.1214.

Taneytown, Maryland 61 acre farm with contemporary four bedroom home. Enjoy the privacy! Large pond, unique dwelling, barn and outbuildings. Beautiful rolling land in hay and pasture. $495,000. Contact Larry E. Haines, Haines Realty, 800.689.1214 or 410.876.1626 or email larry@hainesrealty.com.

Thurmont, Maryland

Trappe, Maryland

Westminster, Maryland

Spacious five bedroom, 3.5 bath modified Cape on 22 acres with pond, stream, barn, greenhouse & gorgeous in-ground pool. Breathe taking views and easy commuter location. $499,900. Contact Cindy Grimes, J&B Real Estate, Inc., 301.271.3487, Ext. 24.

Miles Creek Farm, 165 acres, approximately 100 acres tillable. Six ponds & 22 acres of impoundments. Six bay garage, large pole barn. Converted dairy barn has two bedrooms, two baths & wood burning fireplace. $2,595,000. Contact Eddie Matthews, Benson & Mangold, 410.310.4957 or visit milescreekfarm.com

162 acre farm that can be sold in its entirety or as four separately deeded farms. Each farm varies in size and price. $4,285,000. Contact Nancy Maguire or Peter Oâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;Sullivan, Long & Foster Real Estate, Inc., 410.627.7669.

Westminster, Maryland

White Hall, Maryland

Worton, Maryland

Circa 1872 farmhouse with woodlands, pastures, fields and original stone outbuildings. Recent family room/master suite addition, four fireplaces, original detail. Walk to NCR trail, only six minutes to Hereford/I-83. Quiet and private setting with 35.40 acres. $985,000. Contact Cindy Riley, Riley & Associates Realtors, 410.458.2405.

Perc approved, ready to build with no builder tie-in or HOA. Pastoral and rolling 2.39 acres overlooking wooded area. Near schools and county park. Near waterfront, shops and dining. $179,000. Contact Richard Budden, Eastern Shore of Maryland Real Estate, 410.778.0561.

Federalsburg, Maryland

Fogelsville, Pennsylvania

65 acres +/- of productive farmland with improvements of a tenant house and several barns. Property backs to woods. $429,000. Contact Tim Miller, Benson & Mangold, 410.310.3553.

Exceptional 29+ acre equestrian estate features five bedroom contemporary ranch with exquisite kitchen. Newer barn with five 12x12 stalls & 100x200 arena. $739,000. Contact Cindy Stys, Cindy Stys Equestrian & Country Properties, Ltd., 610.849.1790.

Build your custom home on this beautiful 9.48 acre lot with fenced pond, partly wooded and perked. Located at Mayberry and Old Taneytown Rd. Broker/owner. $209,000. Contact Charles Reed, Charles Reed P.C. Real Estate, 410.751.1005 or 443.375.8235.

Coplay, Pennsylvania Tremendous orchard operation with pick-yourown fruit and retail store with deli and bakery. Over 139 acres includes ownerâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s residence, barn, store, cold storage, garage, schoolhouse and other outbuildings plus pond. Terrific revenue plus opportunity for development or other uses. $1,950,000. Contact Doug Frederick, The Frederick Group, 610.398.0411, Ext. 218.

Parksley, Virginia 6,000 sq. ft. home on 20 acres, two lakes, three living areas, outstanding quality. Restored as new. $1,498,500. Contact Christine Murphy or Charles Alan, Colwell Banker Eastern Shore, 800.258.5843.

Hamburg, Pennsylvania

Harrisburg, Pennsylvania

Kutztown, Pennsylvania

Historic farmhouse with wraparound porch on 28 acres. Four car garage, two car garage with workshop attached to barn with full second floor at ground level. Two car pavilion. Zoned for one acre lots. Farmed for the past 15 years as sustainable/organic use. Owner is Pennsylvania Realtor. $635,000. Contact Wasyl M. Onulack, Jr., Century 21 Keim Realtors, 610.823.7950.

Luxurious redwood and mountain stone custom architecture executive home on 11 private acres. Full master suite, wrap around balcony, pool, patio and greenhouse. Whole house diesel generator, garden shed. Near racetrack and casino. $1,499,000. Contact Vito Lanzillo, Jr., RE/MAX Delta Group, Inc., 717.586.9339.

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

Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Saylorsburg, Pennsylvania

Wind Gap, Pennsylvania

Edinburg, Virginia Three bedroom, two bath home on 66 acres of pasture, woodlands & majestic mountain views. Ideal for horses. Small stream and several springs. Located near George Washington National Forest. Property is fenced. $435,000. Contact Cynthia Dellinger, United Country Shenandoah Valley Realty, 540.477.9791.

Pristine ranch home with 7+ acres & a six stall barn set up beautifully. Garages for 8-10 vehicles. $325,000. Contact Ron DeCesare, The Great American Real Estate Company, 610.863.6205.

Fort Valley, Virginia Beautiful 137 acre working farm. Also included is an 1800s farmhouse awaiting your renovations and personal touch. Two barns, one three-sided shed, assorted outbuildings and more. Start your farm here! Passage Creek runs through the property. Borders the National Forest. $1,300,000. Contact Victoria Stallings, ERA Beasley Realty, 540.335.1004.

4,000 + sq. ft. converted barn by the owner/engineer. It has all the bells and whistles. 30x70 heated building on 1.2 acres. Three more acres available. $399,900. Contact Ron DeCesare, Jr., The Great American Real Estate Company, 610.863.6205.

Marionville, Virginia Updated home on 34 +/- acres. Includes a 3-stall barn with electric, water, tack room & pasture with electric fencing. Five parcels being sold together offers the new owner the rare opportunity and flexibility to reconfigure the farm. Majority of the contiguous farm is protected by easements. $489,900. Contact Liz Goffigon, Ralph W. Dodd & Associates, LLC, 757.678.5377.

Middletown, Virginia

Nassawadox, Virginia

Kearneysville, West Virginia

Custom log home with Ontario giant northern white pine log. Six private acres borders stream. Australian cypress hardwood floors, granite counter, 32 ft. ceiling, tile floors in foyer, kitchen and baths. Red oak cabinetry, stone fireplace in great room and basement, baths with Jacuzzi tubs and separate tiled showers. Dual zone heat/cool. Garage. $479,000. Contact Teresa Feathers, Long & Foster Webber & Assoc., 540.335.1375.

Two story, 1,800 sq. ft., four bedroom, 1.5 bath farmhouse on 55 +/- acres. Enclosed back porch, walkup attic. Three car detached garage. Conveniently located mid-county. $349,000. Contact Ralph W. Dodd, Ralph W. Dodd & Associates, LLC, 757.678.5377.

12 acre horse farm. Fivestall barn with tack room. Workshop with heated office, two paddocks with run-in sheds, three pastures, 30x40 steel barn with five stalls, electric, water, tack room. 12x56 equipment shed. Two run-in sheds. 40x20 steel storage building or workshop with concrete floor and 10x10 office. $389,000. Contact Dorothy Vance, Keller Williams Premier Realty, 703.801.3689.

EQUAL HOUSIN

OPPORTUNIT

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EQUAL HOUSING

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REALTOR

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volume 16 | issue 4 | mafc.com

1800s bed & breakfast manor home with five bedrooms, 3.5 baths, separate stone mill house that has two half baths and 1,200 sq. ft. apartment. Historic and incredible! Premier property. $1,175,000. Contact Michael B. Yingling, RE/MAX Delta Group, Inc., 717.648.8303.

community

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

REALTOR

速

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

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

BALTIMORE MD PERMIT NO. 7175

PLEASE NOTE: Our payment processing center has a new mailing address: PO Box 650831, Dallas, TX 75265-0831. You’ll find the new address pre-printed on your remittance coupon, which will show through the window envelope. Want more details? Visit mafc.com.

Meet Our Founding Fathers. Ninety-five years ago, President Woodrow Wilson signed the Federal Farm Loan Act, which created what is known today as the Farm Credit System. President Wilson knew then what we all know now: that agriculture is a unique business, and it requires a unique lender. A strong, stable lender, one that will be here for the long haul. We’ve been here for almost 100 years. And we don’t plan on going anywhere. So take some “fatherly” advice: call your local Farm Credit office today.

888.339.3334 mafc.com

Lending support to rural AmericaTM