Farmers on the Rise
FARMING FOR OUR
future
Story and photos by Andrea Haines
The world can look pretty large when viewed from the eyes of a child; imagination and promise of a prosperous future can inspire one’s heart and mind. When Levi Sellers of Boonsboro, Maryland, set foot in “the land” of Epcot at one of Disney World’s theme parks, he witnessed a glimpse into what was promoted as the “future of agriculture” on a tour exposing plants connected to fish tanks. It wasn’t until Levi reached his twenties that he realized that particular “future” hadn’t happened yet, and quickly got to work.
F
amily owned and operated, South Mountain MicroFARM is the world’s first of its kind, growing leafy-green produce and cannabis for hemp production, all in an aquaponics system with fish-providing nutrients. “We have all seen or heard a shift of focus from mass-production breweries to microbreweries nationwide,” explains Levi. “The same shift is occurring within our food industry as well.” The theory behind micro-farming is to do more with less while protecting
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VOLUME 27 | ISSUE 1
biodiversity, limited resources, rural communities, and individuals’ health. Growing up on his family’s bison farm, his love for agriculture inspired a desire to learn more about his interests of sustainable farming, aquaponics, and controlled-environment agriculture. “I had the chance to help some friends start a hydroponic store in Colorado and leapt at the opportunity,” he explains. “It was there I learned where nutrients for hydroponic production came from (mined and manufactured, sometimes petroleum-based), and had a desire to
find a way that this method of cultivation could be performed more organically.” Levi soon figured out the concepts of aquaponics, realizing his passion for a career in the “future of agriculture”. Armed with a certificate in Controlled Environment Agriculture and Aquaponics Systems from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point, I felt I was prepared to pursue my dream,” shares Levi. “After five years of pitching the idea to my parents, Mark and Billie Jo Sellers, and the sale of my family’s recycling business, we all decided to take on the project together.” Levi had been working on the aquaponics project for 14 years in planning, but their facility has been operational for the past six years. His parents’ support, combined with the financial backing from Farm Credit, gave Levi the opportunity to build greenhouses and elevate production. “Farm Credit has helped us receive the funding we needed to make this project happen from the beginning,” he shares. “Through the Farmers on the Rise Award, we are able to begin the process of our vertical expansion, allowing us to reach a broader market with our health-promoting products.” Levi’s parents help with the operation on a daily basis. Billie Jo handles the customer service part of taking orders, inventory control, and bookkeeping. Mark, when he’s not working fulltime elsewhere, helps with maintenance of the equipment and construction for new projects. “Besides contracting the build of our greenhouse, my father and I built all of the cultivation systems within the structure. I could not have done it without their help,” he states. A family tradition he and his “better half” Brittany are already instilling in their fiveyear-old daughter, Sedona, is including her in the process of farming. “She loves learning about the fish and helps with small daily chores,” he shares. Farm Credit loan officer Kelli Wilson has worked with Levi and his family for years. “We initially worked with Kelli on another farm project, and she has been wonderful. We chose Farm Credit because they understand the needs of farmers and the value farmers add to the community,” says Levi. Kelli shares, “There was not a lot of information about aquaponics systems at that initial timeframe. Farm Credit did a lot of research, but it really came down to the Sellers providing us with an excellent business plan.
