farm and land
THR
E E P L A I N B AY S
living the dream STORY AND PHOTOS BY SUSAN WALKER | WHEN DAVID DALE FIRST SAW THE 29.5 ACRE EQUINE FARM IN CONOWINGO,
MARYLAND IN 2005, THE GRASS WAS AT LEAST THREE FEET TALL, THERE WAS MANURE EVERYWHERE, AND THE HOUSE WAS IN ROUGH SHAPE. HE WAS HOME ON LEAVE FROM ACTIVE DUTY IN IRAQ, WHERE HE WAS A SENIOR INSTRUCTOR PILOT FLYING BLACKHAWK HELICOPTERS AS PART OF A COMBAT UNIT OF THE DELAWARE NATIONAL GUARD DEPLOYED IN SUPPORT OF OPERATION IRAQI FREEDOM III.
at several top Maryland equine farms,
Freedom. “It was very challenging, being 55 and flying over the mountains
Pat stood back, saw the farm’s potential,
FRONTLIN includesA14 acres under pasture,Ea 100’
and knew this was the place where
by 70’ ring, a 95’ by 50’ loose school,
pilots talked about the adventure, but
they belonged.
and barn.
when I looked at them, I saw their wives
Even though the farm wasn’t much
now has 13 horses on the farm, which
to look at, David says he and his wife
of Afghanistan. Some of the younger
family tradition While David loves life on the farm,
“I learned in Iraq that life is short,”
and young children waiting for them to
David says. “If you have an opportunity,
he feels just as strongly about serving
come home, and I hoped I influenced
you should grab it. This was our chance
his country. His 37 year long career
them to do their best and do it as safely
to live the dream.” And that’s exactly
in the Delaware National Guard was
as possible,” he adds.
what the Dales did with the help of Farm
inspired by his older brothers, who
Credit. David returned to duty in Iraq
were guardsmen themselves. They used
Afghanistan, David’s loan officer, Jason
and Pat started the process of getting
to take David to the airfield as a child,
Reep, reached out to him to share that
the loan that would help them purchase
where he fell in love with aviation.
rates had dropped and he could lower
But his path to military service
their new home and business. getting financing for a business, so it
G THROUG DIERIN
wasn’t a direct one. David earned a
“I didn’t have a lot of experience
S
While he was serving in
the interest rate on the Dales’ loan. “The process was extra fast and easy,” notes
L in agricultural economics, thenH A David. “And we saved $100,000 over the Odegree
sustainable tactic worked for the USDA and Southern
course of 10 years. I don’t know of any
remembers. “I drove to Farm Credit
States, but that career path didn’t
other financial institution that will bring
with a crate full of financial documents
feel quite right. He then took a job
that opportunity to you.”
and they made the process easy. We
with DuPont, working as a computer
wouldn’t have been able to purchase
specialist, in his mid-20s and joined the
achieved the rank of Command Chief
this farm and turn it into a successful
Delaware National Guard part-time. He
Warrant Officer of the Delaware Army
business without Farm Credit.”
continued to serve part-time with the
National Guard and was a senior mentor
guard for several decades, becoming a
for the corps of soldiers coming up the
senior instructor helicopter pilot.
ranks. “It was a great opportunity to
could have been overwhelming,” Pat
With a tremendous amount of hard work, Pat and David turned the farm, Three Plain Bays, into a successful
bring on the next generation and it’s something I truly miss,” he says.
operation that gives racing horses a new
up and do more,” David says. In 2002,
life. The farm buys thoroughbreds whose
he became a full-time senior instructor
racing career is over, retrains them for
pilot and was deployed to Iraq for 18
David has retired, the Dales are planning
eventing (or, in a few cases, fox hunting),
months at the age of 50, where he flew
to downsize their farm operation,
and sells them to new owners. Pat also
numerous missions and instructed
focusing on breeding and competing,
buys colts and trains them for eventing.
junior pilots. Four years later, he
so they have more time to travel and
deployed to Afghanistan in the same
relax. “We love the solitude, the animals,
role as part of Operation Enduring
and the lifestyle. We’re not done yet!” l
Pat, whose more than 30 year long career includes working as a manager 4
“After 9/11, I felt the need to step
When he retired in 2017, David had
| VOLUME 24 | ISSUE 3 | mafc.com
Now that they’re in their 60s and
