Leader: Brothers and Sisters

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Farm Credit Lending support to rural AmericaÂŽ

leader

Turn to page 15 for information about our annual stockholder meetings!

Volume 22 | Issue 1 | $3.95

Brothers and Sisters

s MidAtlantic Farm Credit, ACA

In This Issue

Thomas H. Truitt, Jr., CEO

FARM AND LAND

4 Siblings Transform a Farm Business Shady Brook Farm, located in Yardley,

Pennsylvania, is run by three siblings who have plans to keep on expanding for the next generation.

6 Farming is a Family Matter The Bartenfelders have been farming in Maryland since 1840. Now, the seventh generation is taking over and looking toward the future.

MidAtlantic Farm Credit Board of Directors Paul Baumgardner Chairman Jennifer L. Rhodes Vice Chairman Brian L. Boyd Gary L. Grossnickle Laura M. Heilinger Dale R. Hershey Walter C. Hopkins Anthony M. Ill T. Jeffery Jennings

8 Diversity and Collaboration

Harry, John and Sue Taylor of Berlin, Maryland work together to keep their family’s over 100 year old farm operating and growing.

M. Wayne Lambertson Fred R. Moore Dale J. Ockels Ralph L. Robertson, Jr. Alan N. Siegfried Douglas D. Scott Joseph D. Snapp

10 Brothers Bridge Age Gap Oakwood Farm, located in Jefferson

County, West Virgina, is operated by Eddie and Todd Hough who both grew up on the same farm, 18 years apart.

12 CTheropLeager Insurance Vital to Continuity family of Sudlersville,

Maryland rely on crop insurance to keep their operation profitable through tough times.

Fred N. West

facebook.com/MidAtlanticFarmCredit @midatfarmcredit mafc.com/blog +MafcMidAtFarmCredit MidAtFarmCredit @midatfarmcredit

OUR ASSOCIATION

14 Crop Insurance Facts 15 2017 Annual Meeting 16 #ShowUs100 Photos 16 Women in Ag Photo Contest 17 Soup for the Soul COMMUNITY

18 Tips for First-Time Homebuyers 18 Properties for Sale 2

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questions or ideas If you have any questions or ideas for the editorial staff of the Leader, contact Jenny Kreisher at 888.339.3334, e-mail her at jkreisher@mafc.com or write her at MidAtlantic Farm Credit | 700 Corporate Center Court | Suite L | Westminster, MD 21157.

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. Use “Unsubscribe Leader” in the subject.

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 | 45 Aileron Court | Westminster, MD 21157

s president’s message

4 MPietro ushroom Festival Brings Town Together Industries of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania has

been growing mushrooms and helping their community thrive for three generations.

A True team effort

s events | deadlines MAR

event

place

3-4 Maryland Cattlemen’s Convention Hagerstown, MD 15 Sales closing for corn, soybeans,

and other spring crops 25-26 Eastern Panhandle Home Builder’s

Association Home Show Martinsburg, WV APR

event

place

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Annual Stockholder’s Meeting

5

Annual Stockholder’s Meeting New Holland, PA

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Annual Stockholder’s Meeting Dover, DE

Walkersville, MD

16 Easter 18-20 MAY

Virginia Agribusiness Conference Richmond, VA event

1 Spring production deadline

6-7 Maryland Sheep and

Wool Festival

place

West Friendship, MD

29 Memorial Day Offices Closed

Growing up, my brother and I had what seemed like a million chores to do on our family farm. It was a lot of hard work, and even though we didn’t always feel like getting up at the crack of dawn, it’s a time we both look back on now and appreciate.

We learned a lot during those days. We butted heads from time to time, as siblings do, but we always knew we could count on the other. The customers featured in this issue know how valuable sibling relationships can be. So much so, that they continue to work together every day to keep their operations running smoothly.

Shady Brook Farm, located in Yardley, Pennsylvania, is operated

by David and Paul Fleming, and their sister Amy Lamb. The three of them have transformed what used to be only a wholesale vegetable farm into a retail-oriented destination for area residents, and have found social media to be a fun way to interact with their customers.

The Bartenfelder siblings—Jessie, Joey, and Jamie – are the seventh generation of produce farmers in their family. They started a CSA last summer, and introduced a popular festival in 2015 which brings in people from all over the region, complete with craft vendors, a petting zoo, and a corn maze.

Harry, John, and Sue Taylor of Berlin, Maryland operate over 2,200 acres of grain and hay, chicken houses, alpacas, and more. They refer to themselves as “complete collaborators”, working to keep the farm their family purchased in 1912 thriving and growing.

Over in Jefferson County, West Virginia, Eddie and Todd Hough continue to operate Oakwood Farm, the dairy farm their father started in 1954. Both brothers grew up on the land they remain on today, 18 years apart!

Just as these siblings rely on each other, many of our customers rely on crop insurance services to keep their farms up and running through unpredictable times—like the Leager family of Sudlersville, Maryland. Check out page 12 for their story, and to learn more about how crop insurance can help you plan ahead.

Finally, I’d also like to use this opportunity to invite you to our 2017 Annual Stockholder Meetings, taking place this April. We’re changing things up a bit this year by allowing more time for networking with staff, directors, and other members (all while enjoying some appetizers), a shorter overall program, and new prizes to win at the end of the night.

We hope you’ll be able to join us—page 15 has all the details.

Have a happy and safe spring season,

For a full list of events, please visit mafc.com

VOLUME 22 | Issue 1 | mafc.com | 3

FARM AND LAND

Siblings transform a farm business for the future Story and photos by sally Scholle

| Savvy vegetable farmers in the mid-1900s knew that one vegetable was gold in the bank: a cash

crop investment that could be harvested, stored and sold after other crops were finished for the year.

“In the old farmers’ mentality, what got us over winter time was turnips,” explains David Fleming, one of three siblings currently operating Shady Brook Farm in Yardley, Pennsylvania. “We would harvest turnips in the fall, put them into cold storage and have an asset on January 1st when most farmers didn’t have anything to bridge over the season.”

David, his brother Paul and his sister Amy Lamb are the fourth generation to operate the farm started by their greatgrandfather. The siblings have welcomed their parents’ guidance and wisdom

Shady Brook Farm includes a fully stocked garden center with seasonal items to entice customers. From left: Paul Fleming, Amy Lamb, Beverley Fleming and David Fleming.

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as they transformed the Bucks County farm from a wholesale vegetable farm to a retail-oriented business to meet the needs of the surrounding community.

“When we first started,” says Amy, “it was celery, collards, kale, mustard greens, and other vegetables. As farming became more difficult, and when David came back to the farm, we transitioned to more of a retail-oriented business.

Now our wholesale is minimal.”

After the rented land surrounding the farm was sold, the family was limited to farming 290 owned acres. “We made

the decision that the wholesale business was no longer viable and we needed to transition to retail,” says David. “I graduated from college and my dad and uncle wanted to grow the business with a retail store, and they tapped me to manage that part of the business.”

David recalls that when he started as the retail manager, he wanted a farm store with a deli and a bakery. However, the local township required a new zoning ordinance, which eventually took ten years to work out.

Meanwhile, the farm began to

attract more and more people to events hosted on the farm. David recalls that the first haunted hayride they organized about 25 years ago was the start of a major agritourism business for the family. “We were parking cars on a broccoli field because we ran out of parking space,” he says. “We didn’t plan for the influx. We joked that the field of broccoli was probably the most profitable we ever had.”

As the siblings worked on developing what they thought would be their initial business, the special events expanded. “While we were jumping through the hoops to get a farm market built the way we wanted it, the special events took off,” says David. “We started doing a pumpkin patch and haunted hayrides, a strawberry festival, and a festival for every season and crop. After the second or third year of the haunted hayride, we started doing a light show.”

The siblings had already put electricity in the woods for the haunted event, so adding Christmas lights made sense. The light show, which was built around the idea of selling Christmas trees, has become the cold-storage asset for the farm. “Our light show today is what turnips were to us 30 years ago,” says David. “It’s a way to keep cash coming in January and February. It’s just different from one

s Beverley Fleming (on right), operates

Rose Bank Winery with her husband Dave.

Here, she shows Farm Credit loan officer Amanda Knackstedt a bottle of wine.

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generation to the next. It has also created year-round work for an agricultural crew, which is really important.”

The farm market was constructed in 2004, modeled after a Pennsylvania barn. David says that the design goal was to make it look like an old barn with conveniences such as air conditioning and automatic doors so shoppers feel comfortable in a rustic setting.

Customers can stop in for fresh fruits and vegetables, dairy products, deli sandwiches, home made soups, and a variety of other conveniences. The other side of the business includes a complete farm and garden center, with everything from hanging baskets in the spring to fall mums.

One unique aspect of the market is a section devoted to Rose Bank Winery, owned and operated by the siblings’ parents, Dave and Beverley. The vineyard and winery started as a retirement hobby, but has grown into a substantial business on its own.

The three agree that social media has provided a positive opportunity to interact with customers about what’s happening on the farm. Amy oversees marketing, and Paul’s wife Becki handles Facebook and the farm’s website. Twitter and Instagram also help maintain a good relationship with customers.

The Flemings’ vision for Shady Brook Farm to become more than a truck farm endured several rough patches as the family worked on expansion plans. David says that pottery is a big seller.

The siblings appreciate the valuable insight gifted to them by their parents, and are passing that to the next generation. One aspect of their ongoing plan for the future includes working with a consulting company to begin planning for the future of the farm business. The next generation includes ten children, the oldest of whom graduated from high school in 2016.

The siblings want their children to be able to secure jobs off the farm or return to the farm, and also ensure that they are prepared to operate Shady Brook Farm as a legitimate business. They also want to prepare to help their father transition the management of Rose Bank Winery to them in the future, and make sure they have adequate staff in place to handle the various farm enterprises.

“The generation before us was a truck farm,” says David. “We became an entertainment farm, and we can’t be afraid to adapt to something new with the next generation and give our children the freedom to do that.” l shadybrookfarm.com facebook.com/shadybrookfarmstand @ShadyBrookFarm @Shadybrookfarm

s The market at Shady Brook Farm is

housed in a new barn modeled after a typical Pennsylvania bank barn. The market includes a full-service deli.

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Amy Lamb places an orchid in the garden center. Beverley Fleming checks one of the homemade soups offered.

VOLUME 22 | Issue 1 | mafc.com | 5

FARM AND LAND

For the Bartenfelders, farming is a family matter Story by susan walker and photos courtesy of Susan Walker and the Bartenfelder family | At 5 am on the weekend, you’ll most likely find the typical 20-something sound asleep in bed. But 28-year-old Jessie Harding (née Bartenfelder) and her 23-year-old twin brothers Joey and Jamie are not typical. At that hour, they’re up and on the road to farmers markets in Baltimore City, about a two-hour drive away, to sell the wide variety of produce they grow on their family farm in Preston, Maryland.

The Bartenfelder family has been farming in Maryland since the 1840s.

Jessie, Joey and Jamie are at least the seventh generation produce farmers in the family. They farm 350 acres in Preston, with about half the acreage planted with produce and the other half planted with a rotation of corn, soybeans and wheat. The original family farm was located in Baltimore County, where they still have two greenhouses where their mother Robin grows transplants. Their father, Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Joe Bartenfelder, purchased the Eastern Shore farm in 1996 and moved the home farm there because the pressures of development in Baltimore County made it more and more difficult to operate a farm. In addition to growing produce (the family’s greens are sought after by wholesalers and farm stand customers all across the Delmarva region and beyond) and flowers, Jessie’s husband Mark along with Joey and Jamie, started

a poultry operation three years ago where they raise chickens for Mountaire Farms, which expands the farm’s revenue stream. Mark grew up in the poultry business and brought his expertise to the operation. Today, the family has two chicken houses, each holding 23,000 birds per flock.

Jessie, Joey, and Jamie have worked on the family farm since they were kids. Asked what she likes most about farming, Jessie answers quickly and enthusiastically. “Everything! I like it from start to finish. I’ve always liked working in the fields, from riding the transplanter and planting in the spring to picking corn and tomatoes in the summer to cutting greens in the fall. I’ve always loved working in the greenhouses and at the farmer’s markets. They say it’s not work when you love what you do. I can honestly say I love what I do! I always have and I always will! Farming’s not a job, it’s a lifestyle for me,” she explains.

As they grew older, Jessie and her brothers took on more responsibilities on the farm. Each one has a farmers market they’re responsible for. Joey and Jamie handled more and more of the operations, including planting the crops and fulfilling wholesale orders. But when their father was named Secretary of Agriculture in 2014, he transitioned full responsibility for the operation to his children.

Even though they were very familiar with the day-to-day operations of the farm, taking on full responsibility was different. “It was hard at first,” says Joey. “When something needs to be taken care of, it’s completely up to you to make it happen.” Adds his father, “The best learning experiences for the kids during the transition were the times when I wasn’t there and they had to figure out the solution on their own. And they really stepped up.”

Today, Jessie handles the farm finances, the farm stand in Preston,

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Robin and Joe Bartenfelder made farming the center of family life for their kids even before they could walk.

The Bartenfelders have crops in the field in every season, with greens and cabbage growing and being harvested well into December.

Getting hands-on experience working at farmer’s markets from an early age gave Jessie, Jamie, and Joey the skills and confidence they need to run their markets today.

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As part of the effort to increase the farm’s visibility to potential customers, everything from sweatshirts worn by the staff to delivery trucks and signage include the farm’s name.

marketing, and one of the farmers markets. Joey and Jamie are each responsible for one farmers market in addition to production and managing the farm’s seasonal workers.

While working with your siblings can have its ups and downs, Jessie notes, “I love being able to have the family around all day every day. Although the boys and I don’t always see eye to eye, we figure it out and get it all done by the end of the day.” In addition to working with her brothers and husband, Jessie and Mark’s twin three-year-old daughters are also a regular fixture on the farm.

“The girls are usually at the farm stand with me, but they also love going out on the combine with their dad in the fall or on the tractor with Uncle Joey in the spring.”

To grow the business and build stronger relationships with customers, Jessie uses social media to market the farm on Facebook and has begun advertising in local papers and on area radio stations. She started a CSA this past summer and an annual fall festival.

The festival, which was in its second year in 2016, features local craft vendors, a petting zoo with rabbits, chickens, goats, and a baby pig, face painting by the local Boy Scouts and FFA, a corn maze, pumpkin decorating, and a haunted hayride. “I can’t take credit for the hayride,” Jessie adds. “The boys put all of that together and they did a really good job!” Another innovation is her popular facebook.com/ BartenfelderFarmsPreston/

Thanksgiving produce boxes, which include all the vegetables you need for a delicious holiday dinner.

Looking toward the future, Jessie, Joey, Jamie, and Mark plan to build a warehouse, office, and packing shed on the farm to streamline operations.

They’re also working to increase the number of wholesalers they sell their greens and other produce to. Jessie would like to bring more potential customers to the farm stand. “We’re thinking about other ways to encourage people to come to the farm through agri-tainment,” she explains. “We’re considering adding Christmas hayrides with Santa and birthday parties on the farm. The more you can connect with your customers, the more you solidify that relationship.” l VOLUME 22 | Issue 1 | mafc.com | 7

FARM AND LAND

The Taylor & Sons Farm: Diversified operation with collaborative effort Story and photos by nancy l. smith

| It is not uncommon for siblings to operate a family farm. It is not extraordinary for a

family to be able to trace their farm back more than 100 years. It is not unusual for older family members to have fascinating stories of “way back when” on the farm. It is not surprising for a family farm to diversify. And, it is not unheard of for siblings running a diverse family farm to be “complete collaborators.”

John, Nancy, Susan and Harry Taylor, and Farm Credit loan officer Zach Evans, with some of the family dogs in front of the farm’s grain bins.

Considering these factors, you could say the Taylor & Sons operation of Berlin, Maryland is just another family farm. But you would be wrong.

The Taylor operation, run by siblings Harry, John and Susan Taylor, with John’s wife Nancy, extends over 2,000 acres and encompasses grain and hay fields, chicken houses, a solar power array, alpacas and mini-llamas, an on-farm store for alpaca products, and five chicken houses.

Expanding the definition of a family farm even further, the siblings raise beef cows with their uncle and cousin, Roger 8

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and Alan Hudson. They are also partial owners of a farm supply store with their cousin Alan and his wife Kristin Hudson.

The Taylors’ grandfather, Harry P. Taylor, started it all when he bought 100 acres in 1912 and ran a grain and dairy operation with his two sons. The history of the siblings’ mother’s family in the area goes back even further. Norma Hudson Taylor recalls her grandfather’s tales of hiding when he was a young boy to avoid being discovered by soldiers who came through the area conscripting children to serve as drummer boys in the Civil War.

As a true family farm, responsibilities are shared. Nancy says, “Each of us does what we are interested in.” Susan keeps the farm books and financials in order, John does the technical paperwork and markets the grain, while Harry does the seed purchasing, planting and combining. Nancy, emphasizing the trust the siblings have in one another, says, “We depend on each other.”

In 2011, Susan and Nancy decided to buy “just a few” alpacas. Now, the herd numbers 24 and six mini-llamas have joined the fun. The animals are raised for their fleece, which is shorn by

facebook.com/Berlin-Farm-Supply179220122465862/

a professional each spring and sent to the New England Alpaca Fiber Pool for processing.

Alpacas produce several grades of fleece, depending on the place it grows on the body, Susan and Nancy explain.

The highest quality fleece comes from the mid-section of the animal. Lower quality fleece from the neck and legs also is used; the lowest quality leg fleece is used to produce felted products such as saddle blankets and boot insoles.

The alpaca area of the farm boasts a small two-story barn with storage for equipment and shorn fleece on the lower level and a charming retail shop, the Breezy Barn Farm Store, above. Alpaca yarn and roving (a type of fiber used by individuals who spin their own yarn), knitted garments, gifts, and consigned handmade items are offered in the shop, which is open one weekend a month.

The farm is near downtown Berlin, dubbed “America’s Coolest Small Town”

by Budget Travel magazine in 2014. As owners of a small local Berlin business, Nancy and Susan use that designation and other local promotions, such as the Delmarva Wool and Fiber Expo in nearby Ocean City, Maryland, to entice customers.

The family raises chickens for Allen Harim Foods in five chicken houses.

Day-to-day management is done by David Tatman, the husband of a cousin.

The farm boasts a 110 kilowatt solar power installation that powers the chicken houses and provides enough electricity that some can be sold back into the power grid, creating another revenue stream for the operation. The barn that houses the alpaca shop is topped with solar panels, as well.

The dairy operation of John Alvah Sr.’s day was shuttered in the 1960s, but Norma remembers the cows on her family’s farm. “As a school girl, I milked before school. I remember ten gallon milk cans being taken in a wheelbarrow to the road where they were picked up and taken to Snow Hill,” she recalls.

Recently, the Taylor family and their cousins Alan and Kristin Hudson purchased Berlin Farm Supply, a small feed and seed facility in downtown Berlin. The existing building was refurbished and, in early December, offered festive holiday decorations and gifts, as well as late-season vegetables, locally raised antibiotic- and hormone-free beef, honey, canned goods and farm and garden supplies. On a late fall afternoon,

Alan Hudson, a Taylor cousin, was handling duties at the front counter.

Having their fingers in so many pies assures that there is plenty of work for everyone and, despite varied interests and responsibilities, the siblings have a collegial relationship. “We all get along pretty well,” says Susan. “We like farm life, and living on the farm.”

Norma is not surprised by her children’s cooperation remembering, “They never did fight or fuss when they were children.”

Contemplating the responsibilities and workload inherent in their large, diversified operation, John says, “You have to get along because you can’t do it yourself.” He notes that there has been increasing pressure to sell land to developers, but says, “We have no plans to do so. We want to keep going.”

The family’s loan officer Zach Evans observes, “The Taylor’s operation is not your typical family farm. It is very diverse.

They don’t shy away from challenges— just since 2010, they have gone into the farm store, alpacas and solar. Their interest in diversity is passion-driven.”

Susan underscores that passion saying, “everybody is important in their own way.” l

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Berlin Farm Supply, a recent addition to the Taylors’ enterprises, employs several members of the Taylors’ extended family including John and Nancy’s son Jesse.

Nancy Taylor visits with clerk Alan Hudson, a cousin of the Taylor family, at Berlin Farm Supply. Several extended family members are involved in the farm and the farm store.

The alpacas draw many admirers, adults and children alike, from the region during their open houses. Each adult animal produces about five pounds of fleece annually.

VOLUME 22 | Issue 1 | mafc.com | 9

FARM AND LAND

(From left) Eddie and Donna Hough gather in Eddie’s home with Todd and Susan Hough. Brothers Eddie and Todd own Oakwood Dairy Farm in Jefferson County, West Virginia.

Brothers bridge age gap with teamwork Story and photos by Stelleda Friend

| With an 18 year age difference between them, Eddie and Todd Hough might not be aS close as

they are if it were not for the fact that they’ve spent their entire lives working together on their family’s dairy farm.

“There’s nothing in the world like being raised on a farm,” Todd says. “It’s just a totally different life.”

Running a family farm is a 24 hour a day, seven day a week commitment for the Hough brothers. Life as a dairy farmer is not just a matter of consistency; it requires them to deal with the routine as well as the unpredictable: a newborn calf, a sick cow, a summer drought, or a tornado takes out a season’s crops.

Eddie and Todd’s parents, Charles and Marie Hough, started Oakwood Farm in Jefferson County, West Virginia in 1954 with 28 milking cows and a bull.

Eddie and Todd have worked on the farm all their lives, but Eddie, who is 18 years 10

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older, got a head start.

The two brothers are the fourth generation of their family to work as farmers. Eddie was 9 years old when his parents started the farm, and quickly began helping his father with the daily chores.

“He worked me like a dog. It would be a crime to do that today,” Eddie jokes, recalling his childhood on the farm. “At that time, we cut all the corn by hand.”

As the farm grew, they purchased a corn binder, then a one-row chopper, then a two-row, and later, a three-row chopper.

Todd was born on the farm and says that while Eddie had only his father as a supervisor, he had both his older brother

and his father telling him what to do.

Yet the farm had expanded considerably by the time Todd was old enough to work on the farm. They’d purchased new equipment that lightened the workload for family members. Forty-three years ago, when Todd was 10, they added a milking parlor.

“We grew up in two different circumstances. By the time Todd came up, it was somewhat easier,” Eddie says.

Expanding the operation has become easier through the years partly because of the family’s close relationship with their lenders, Todd explained. Farm Credit loan officer Scott Swaim has been with Farm Credit for 36 years and has

s Eddie and Todd stand inside their milking parlor. A typical workday begins here at 2 a.m. for the first milking of the day.

s Todd and Eddie with their mother, Marie Hough, during their daily visit with her at the farm.

known the family for 35 of them.

Today, the farm is 1,500 acres, about half of which the Houghs own. In addition to 220 milking cows, they have 200 heifers, 25 beef cows, and they grow corn, soybeans, and wheat. Eddie and his wife Donna live on the farm, while Todd and his wife Susan live about three miles away on a farm they own, where they recently restored an old farmhouse built in 1803.

The Hough brothers’ current business plan involves the possibility of expanding Oakwood Farm’s land base for crop use. Over the years, they have continued to upgrade equipment. The last time they remodeled their milking parlor was in 2002, expanding from a double-six to a double-ten Herringbone style parlor where it takes a little over two hours to milk 200 cows, 20 at a time.

Milk from Oakwood goes to the Maryland and Virginia Milk Cooperative and is sold at grocery stores throughout the region under various labels.

Both Eddie and Todd put in long hours, rising around two in the morning for the first milking. They go home for breakfast and lunch, and finish their day at the farm around five in the evening , after the second milking. Bedtime is usually around 8 p.m.

They currently have three employees who live in houses on the farm. “It works so much better, if you’re a dairy farmer, if you want them to be here early, for them to live here,” Todd says.

s The brothers check on their dairy cows on a sunny December day between milkings.

Hiring farm workers willing to put in the kind of hours necessary for their operation has always been one of their biggest challenges. Even though they provide housing, not many people want to work on a dairy farmer’s schedule, Todd says.

Twelve years ago, they began contracting with a family from Clear Spring, Maryland, to plant and harvest their corn, soybeans and small grain. Not only is custom hiring of the planting and harvesting more time efficient, it’s also more cost effective than owning and maintaining the equipment necessary for the work. It used to take two weeks to chop the corn and fill the silos. Now it takes a day and a half.

“It’s just cost-prohibitive for us to own all this machinery,” Eddie says. “Contracting the labor for planting and harvesting makes crop farming easier, with the hectic dairy farming schedule,” Todd adds.

“Labor’s a terrible problem for dairy farmers,” Todd says. “Nobody wants to work these hours.”

Yet neither brother ever seriously considered another occupation.

“I did go to work as a construction worker many years ago,”Todd says, recalling a very short stint at work on a construction site with a relative who’d offered him the job.

“I stayed four hours and I came back home to the farm. I said, ‘I’ll never leave again.’”

“The thing I respect about Eddie and Todd is, they’re good team members,” Scott says, “When I visit their farm, they are always working side by side.”

s Todd is an avid hunter

and has been on several successful overseas hunting trips.

And the brothers do spend some time apart. Todd is an avid big-game hunter whose hunting expeditions have taken him as far as Africa.

Eddie, on the other hand, joked that he’s only traveled as far away as Rippon, West Virginia, a few miles down the road from home, and he doesn’t have many hobbies or interests outside farming.

Eddie and Donna have been married for 48 years. They have three grown children who live in the region. Todd and Susan have been married 26 years, and their 24 year old daughter lives with them. Neither of the brothers’ children are involved with the Oakwood Farm operations.

“We’re probably going to be the end of the dairy business in this family because there isn’t anyone to take over,” Todd says.

The Houghs say their land is some of the best Jefferson County has to offer for farming. Even still, what was once a largely agricultural region has become more heavily populated in recent years with new residents moving in to commute to jobs in Northern Virginia and Washington, D.C. Much of what was farmland in their county has been converted into housing developments.

But like their father, who worked the farm until he died in 2014 at age 94, Eddie and Todd don’t plan to retire or sell their land. Their 90 year old mother, Marie, still lives on the farm.

“We’ll farm together until the last breath leaves our bodies,” Todd says. l VOLUME 22 | Issue 1 | mafc.com | 11

FARM AND LAND

Leager Farms looks to the future: Crop insurance vital to continuity Story by Nancy L. Smith and photos courtesy of Betsy Leager

| “I look at crop insurance as just another expense, not an extra. It

is just another necessary input like fuel and seed needed for the farm to be profitable,” says Betsy Leager of Sudlersville, Maryland, reflecting on how crucial crop insurance is to Leager Farms.

Betsy and Tom Leager pose with their family in front of grain bins. All four sons have their own farms and all carry crop insurance to protect their income.

Spread over thousands of acres of northern Queen Anne’s County, Betsy, husband Tom and their four sons operate multiple farms in a diverse operation. All four sons have their own farms, but “the family works together as a unit,” Betsy explains. The sons work in the shop all winter, keeping the family’s equipment in top condition. “They keep our repair bill very low,” says a grateful Tom. Daughter Danielle, who studies biology at Salisbury University, works on the farm during breaks. In addition to corn, wheat, soybeans and straw, the Leagers grow vegetables for commercial canning 12

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including sweet corn, spinach, string and lima beans, squash, and tomatoes. One son grows chickens for Mountaire Farms and does commercial spraying.

Livestock is represented by a few beef cattle. “We sell a little to family and friends,” Tom explains. There are hogs raised by three grandsons as 4-H projects, just as their father, Tommy, did when he was young. The grandsons will be the fifth generation to farm in Queen Anne’s County.

When he is not working in the fields or doing paperwork, Tom raises and trains standardbred racehorses for harness racing. Betsy and Danielle show pleasure

horses and have a house full of ribbons attesting to their talent.

With their hands in numerous ventures, there are many ways something could go wrong for Leager Farms. Betsy and Tom say crop insurance is the way to prevent catastrophe. “It’s a safety net that catches you when the market and weather are not in your favor,” Tom notes.

“With crop insurance, you have something coming in even if things go wrong.”

“Even with irrigation, you can have losses in wet years,” he adds, noting that vegetables were hurt this past year by excess rain.

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Faith. Family. Farming. The Leager family’s guiding principles are displayed on the wall of their home.

Tom Leager trains a standardbred race horse on a chilly morning. Tom raises the horses with his father, Bob Leager at Bob’s farm just across the road.

Horses are not covered by crop insurance.

They are not alone in relying on crop insurance; in 2015, more than 298 million acres of farmland—90 percent of planted U.S. cropland—were protected by crop insurance.

Kathi Levan, crop insurance manager for Farm Credit, explains there are two types of crop insurance for corn and soybeans—a yield policy that guarantees bushels and a revenue policy that is essentially an enhanced yield policy. “The revenue policy [generally] pays more. It is a better policy because it protects price, not just yield,” she explains.

The federal government subsidizes the farmer’s premiums to reduce the cost to farmers. The government also reimburses private insurance companies to offset operating and administrative costs that would otherwise be paid by farmers as part of their premium.

Betsy says, “We are surely glad we had revenue crop insurance this year when grain prices moved down.”

Crop insurance has been a part of Leager Farms for a long time. “We have had crop insurance since 1988, the year we got married,” Betsy recalls. Tom adds, “We have had total disaster years when we got 30 bushels of corn [per acre.]” Betsy says, “In 1993, we got around 17 bushels.”

Why buy crop insurance from Farm Credit when it is available from many sources? The Leagers don’t hesitate, “They’re great people to deal with and always make the best recommendations,” says Tom. “Farm Credit has always been there for us during good years and hard years.”

Betsy adds. “They know our operation and Kathi keeps on top of things.”

“We have a relationship with Farm Credit with our farm loans. It is beneficial

to go through them. We get more service than we might get somewhere else,” she says.

Tom says, “Kathi has a lot of patience.” Betsy chuckles and agrees, “She has a lot of patience with all four of our sons.”

On the practical note, Betsy is grateful to Kathi, “I get responses to my questions within the hour.”

Looking ahead, both Betsy and Tom hope to leave a strong farming operation to the next generations. Betsy explains, “If not for crop insurance, the farm wouldn’t be as vital as it is today. That’s important for us, for our children and grandchildren.”

“As we get older, we look forward to passing things down. We want to look to many more generations on the farm. It’s a hard life but a good life,” she concludes. l

Important Crop Insurance Dates for 2017 March 15

Sales closing for corn, soybeans and other spring crops

May 1

Spring production deadline

July 1

Wheat and barley premiums due

July 17

Spring acreage report deadline

August 15

Spring crop premiums due

October 2

Sales closing for wheat and barley

November 15

Sales closing for pasture, rangeland and forage

November 20

Sales closing for orchard and vineyard volume 22 | issue 1 | mafc.com | 13

OUR ASSOCIATION

Farm Credit Makes Crop Insurance Easy Crop insurance doesn’t have to be confusing.

Our experienced agents are here to help!

What is crop insurance?

Farm Credit Contacts

A risk management tool that is used to put a safety net under cash income in times of low production or damaging weather.

For more information about Farm Credit crop insurance, please contact us:

Why Choose Farm Credit?

Kathi Levan Klevan@mafc.com 302.734.7534

Teresa Gleockler tgleockler@mafc.com 410.479.2323

Kelly Bailey kbailey@mafc.com 410.479.2323

Emily Walbert ewalbert@mafc.com 410.479.2323

•

We’re experts focused solely on crop insurance and protecting your bottom line.

•

We have over 25 years of crop insurance policy writing experience.

•

We have access to a large Farm Credit network nationwide that provides added crop insurance knowledge that other agencies can’t match.

•

We write for top rated insurers who have experienced adjusters and superior technology.

•

We review all policies at each sales closing, provide comprehensive quotes and keep you informed of any new options.

•

We’re a convenient service offered where you already do business.

•

Transferring your policy and production history is as simple as signing an application.

•

We offer free, no obligation, comprehensive reviews of your existing policy with another agent and can make recommendations that may improve your coverage and save you money.

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| volume 22 | issue 1 | mafc.com

Delmarva

Western Maryland AND West Virginia Jason Wisecarver jwisecarver@mafc.com 540.662.3473 Pennsylvania Joanna Blessing jblessing@mafc.com 888.339.3334 Virginia Matt Ritenour mritenour@mafc.com 540.662.3473

We couldn’t have done it without you!

It’s true—Farm Credit wouldn’t be here today without the support of our member-borrowers. Each year, we look back on the challenges we’ve faced and the successes we’ve celebrated. They vary, but one thing that remains constant is our mission to help our customers in good times and bad, which is something we are very proud of. We want to thank you for your support, and we hope you can join us at our annual stockholder meetings this year to enjoy some delicious food and fellowship, and see what your association has in store for the next year.

2017 Annual Meeting Dates:

Meeting Agenda:

April 4: Walkersville Fire Hall Walkersville, MD

5:45pm* – Registration

Networking & Appetizers

April 5: Yoder’s Restaurant

New Holland, PA

6:45pm – Call to Order

April 6: Modern Maturity Center

Dover, DE We’re switching up the agenda this year, and have some exciting new things planned! Join us a little earlier than years past for tasty appetizers and networking with Farm Credit directors, staff members, customers, and industry representatives. If you have a question about your association or agriculture in general, this would be a great time to come out and learn more.

7:00pm – Dinner 8:00pm – Business Meeting *New, earlier start time!

This year, your cooperative will be distributing over $12.6 million in cash patronage payments. We will be mailing the checks directly to our members at the end of March.

Registration: There are two ways you can register for our annual meetings: • Visit mafc.com and complete the online registration form.

• Complete the RSVP postcard in your annual meeting information statement, which you will be receiving soon.

All of those who attend can enter to win a 2017 John Deere Gator, and have the chance to win some new prizes—including a Yeti cooler!

As always, if you’re unable to attend, you can follow along on social media using #MAFCAM. We hope to see you in April!

Let Us Return The Favor…

Farm Credit continues to support agriculture and rural America because of the support of our member-borrowers, and for that, we want to thank you!

One lucky winner will be awarded a brand new Gator XUV 560 Crossover Utility Vehicle. This model has a powerful V-twin engine, independent four-wheel suspension, and the ability to use over 75 attachments (not included). It will not only help you get all the work around the farm

done, but the custom Farm Credit wrap will keep you looking sharp while doing it!

Enter to win by attending one of our three annual meetings and completing an entry form. Once all of the meetings have ended, we will choose a winner. If it’s you, we’ll contact you directly. We will also post the winner’s name on our social media networks, and in our next Leader. Please be sure to read the following legalese below or go to mafc.com for the complete rules.

No purchase necessary. Sweepstakes only open to invited stockholders and approved guests who are legal U.S. citizens and at least 18 years of age, who are in attendance at one of the venues of the 2017 annual stockholder meetings. A copy of the full official rules of this promotion will be available at each meeting venue. Approximate retail value of the prize is $8,600; however, the winner may accept a $2,000 cash alternative. Drawing for the grand prize will be held on or about April 21, 2017, under the supervision of an independent sweepstakes administrator. Void where prohibited.

s Jacob Keeney of Woodsboro, Maryland took home the 2016 John Deere Gator after our annual meetings last year. You could be riding around in your own this summer!

volume 22 | issue 1 | mafc.com | 15

OUR ASSOCIATION

And The Winners Are… Thank you to everyone who submitted photos into our #ShowUs100 photo contest to celebrate Farm Credit’s centennial! You all showed us what 100 means to you in creative ways, and we enjoyed seeing them. The winners in each category are below, and were awarded a $100 Visa giftcard!

Most Creative

Most Popular

Most Submissions

Lori Troutman – Bernville, PA

Ashley Larrimore – Rising Sun, MD @miss_ashleymarie

Angela White – Elizabethtown, PA @rozearabians

Stay tuned for more photo contests, coming soon!

Calling All Women in Ag: We Want YOU for the Next Leader!

Agriculture wouldn’t be what it is today without women.

To celebrate the hard work you put in every day, we’re looking for some farming females to be featured in our next Leader issue, which will highlight the women of agriculture!

If you’d like your photo to be included, snap a picture while you’re working in the barn, driving the tractor, or tending to your animals on any Friday from now through April 28, and post it on social media using #FarmGirlFriday, or email jkreisher@mafc.com. If your photo is selected for our next Leader, you could win a bag full of Farm Credit goodies!

Thank you for everything you do to impact the ag community. Farm Girls Rock!

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| volume 22 | issue 1 | mafc.com

Soups for the Soul The cold winter weather can be brutal! What better way to warm up than with a delicious hot soup? We compiled three of our favorites to help us get through our winter blues. Send in your favorite soup or stew recipes to jkreisher@mafc.com and you could be featured on social media or in a future issue of the Leader!

Loaded Potato Soup 5 large Russet potatoes diced into cubes 5 cups chicken stock 4 cups milk 2 large carrots diced 3 celery stalks diced 1 medium onion diced 8 ounces cream cheese cut into cubes 1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (plus more for garnish) 1/3 cup butter 1/3 cup flour 3 garlic cloves minced green onions 1/2 lb bacon salt and pepper to taste

Classic Crock Pot Chili 2 lbs. of ground beef or turkey 2 (14 oz) cans of crushed tomatoes 1 can (14 oz) of tomato sauce 4 tablespoons of chili seasoning 1 teaspoon of garlic salt 1/2 onion chopped (can be frozen) 2 (15 oz) cans of kidney beans shredded cheese or sour cream to serve (optional) 1. Brown your beef or turkey, then toss it into the crock pot.

2. Add all other ingredients on top of the meat (except for the cheese and sour cream).

3. Cook on low for 6-8 hours, or high for 3-4 hours.

4. When ready to eat, serve with cheese, sour cream, and tortilla chips, or any of your other favorite chili toppings!

1. In a large heavy bottom pot add stock and potatoes. Cover and bring to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer for 20-25 minutes, or until potatoes are fork tender.

2. In a large skillet on medium heat, cook the bacon until crispy, remove and drain on paper towels. When cooled, finely chop and set aside for garnish.

3. In the same skillet, toss all but 1 tablespoon of bacon grease and add carrots, onions and celery and cook for 5 minutes or just until softened. Add this mixture to the potatoes.

4. Meanwhile, in the same skillet, add butter and garlic and melt on low heat.

Then add flour and cook for 1 minute, whisking constantly to cook the flour just a bit. Add the milk and cream cheese and whisk together. Bring to a simmer—until thick and bubbly, and stir into the potatoes. Add in the cheddar cheese and mix until combined and simmer another 10-15 minutes, or until your desired consistency.

5. Serve in bowls and top with extra cheese, bacon, green onions.

Balsamic Pot Roast with Caramelized Onions and Potatoes 2 lbs. beef chuck roast 1 lb russet potatoes, quartered 1 lb carrots, cut into 2 inch cubes 1/2 cup balsamic vinegar 1 cup beef broth 1 tablespoon Dijon mustard Salt and pepper to taste 6 cloves garlic 4 sprigs fresh thyme 2 sprigs fresh rosemary 1/4 cup white whole wheat flour 1 large onion, thinly sliced 1 tablespoon vegetable oil 1. Place chuck roast, potatoes and carrots in a 4 quart slow cooker. In a small bowl, whisk vinegar, broth, Dijon mustard, and salt and pepper to taste.

Pour over beef roast and arrange garlic cloves, thyme and rosemary on top.

2. Cook pot roast on low for 7-8 hours until the beef is fall-apart tender and vegetables are fork tender.

3. Remove 1 cup of the liquid and whisk flour into it. Return all to crockpot and keep warm.

4. In a medium skillet over medium heat, caramelize onion slices in vegetable oil, stirring occasionally until onions are a deep golden brown. Spoon over pot roast and serve pot roast warm. Enjoy! volume 22 | issue 1 | mafc.com | 17

COMMUNITY

First Time Homebuyers: Things to Keep in Mind By: Jason Reep, Mortgage Loan Origination Manager

| Looking to buy a home this year? We know that this is both

exciting and overwhelming all at the same time. By doing a little research, understanding the process and partnering with an expert that will explain what is going on, homeownership can be a seamless process leaving you feeling confident that you got your dream home with the perfect individualized financing.

Quickest loan structure to pay it off? Least amount of fees? Low interest rate?

Once you talk these through with your loan officer, they will help you to understand the loan process. It’s changed quite a bit over the past ten years due to regulatory and compliance requirements. Understanding the process from prequalification to negotiations, appraisal, inspections, and settlement will alleviate unnecessary pressure and anxiety throughout the process.

It’s important for first time homebuyers to understand all the costs associated with a home purchase. Partner with an expert that can explain all closing

costs, title fees, local taxes, escrow accounts, and anything else that may be on your loan estimate. Also, discuss the cost of real estate taxes, homeowner’s insurance, and electric and gas bills with your lender. Creating a budget in advance is a great exercise to make sure the house is affordable. The only thing worse than not getting your dream home is losing it if you are not aware of all the costs of upkeep.

We’re here to help—give us a call anytime to talk through the home buying process. We welcome all of your questions. Make 2017 the year your dream of home ownership comes true!

Aberdeen, Maryland

Chestertown, Maryland

Finksburg, Maryland

Properties for sale

There are many factors that go into structuring a loan for your personal needs.

You always hear about interest rates, but there are equally important questions to think about, like: • Who will be listed on the loan and/or deed to the property?

• How much money do you have for a down payment and/or closing costs?

• How much money can you afford monthly towards your living expenses?

• What are your short and long term goals for the property? Do you plan on paying it off some day, or is this a starter home to be sold in a few years?

• What is most important to you— Lowest total monthly payment?

Horse farm in place on property. Buildings include a large riding arena, a stone barn (in need of repair), four-bay garage, concrete block building for hay storage, and a 1,764 square foot manufactured home. Swan Creek runs through the property. Bring horses and build your dream home. $800,000.

Contact Stephen Ferrandi, Maryland Land Advisors, 866.910.5263.

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| volume 22 | issue 1 | mafc.com

Waterfront Eastern Shore 20 acre building site is located in exclusive Fairgale Community, near the Chesapeake Bay. Tranquil setting on Fairlee Creek is ideal for hunting, horses, and enjoying the local wildlife. Boat slip at community dock conveys. Less than two hours from Philadelphia and Washington, DC. $549,000.

Contact Richard Budden, Coldwell Banker Chesapeake Real Estate, 443.480.1181.

28 acre horse farm with 30’ x 50’, six-stall brick barn with storage above. Lighted riding ring, four fenced paddocks, three fenced pastures, pond, and board fencing. Large brick rancher with spacious room sizes, three fireplaces, and loads of storage space. Great location. Estate sale – sold “as is”, also some subdivision potential. $479,900.

Contact Garry Haines, Haines Realty, 410.876.1616.

Frederick, Maryland

55.15 acre lot near Sugar Loaf Mountain, pastures, and woods with Bennett’s Creek running through property. Unique A-frame house with additions and updates done over the years. Property has potential for a tenant dwelling. Located just down the road from PB Dye Golf Club, I-270, and in the sought-after Urbana school district. $725,000.

Located in the shadows of Sugar Loaf Mountain, near PB Dye golf course. Estate on 50+ secluded acres with gated entry, quality craftsmanship with attention to detail. Grand piano gallery entrance, vaulted ceiling with stone fireplace, and chef’s gourmet kit. Two level master bedroom suite, and large four car garage. $1,999,950.

Contact Buzz Mackintosh, Mackintosh REALTORS, 301.748.3696.

Contact Abby Sievers, Mackintosh REALTORS, 301.662.0155.

Hagerstown, Maryland

Partially cleared three acre lot with private driveway to a large clearing for a possible building sight. Situated in the woods for privacy.

Conventional perc. Conveniently located to I-70, Meritus Hospital and medical complex, community college, shopping etc. $69,000.

Contact Florence Wise, Coldwell Banker Innovations, 240.527.0349.

Jefferson, Maryland

Middletown, Maryland

Highly productive 105 acre beef farm in Middletown Valley. Farm buildings, barns, loafing sheds, stream, and pond. Many options possible. Easy location for commuting. $1,249,950.

This custom log home showcases unparalleled craftsmanship and sits on 39+ acres with stocked pond and stream. Special features are the beautiful stone fireplace, vaulted ceiling, 2 open loft areas, master suite and wrap-around covered porch. It’s completely private yet only minutes to major routes. $650,000.

34.37 acres, nice bank barn, small farm pond.

Pasture and farmland. $210,000.

Contact Sue Kelley, Kelley Real Estate Professionals, 240.674.1089.

Contact Shirley Happ, HAPP Realty & Associates, 301.371.7101.

Contact Larry Haines, Haines Realty, Co., 410.876.1616.

New Tripoli, Pennsylvania

Quakertown, Pennsylvania

Spectacular 19+ acre luxuryEQUAL equestrian estate!

EQUAL HOUSING HOUSING OPPORTUNITY Stunning 6,000+ square foot energy-efficient OPPORTUNITY custom home with separate living quarters on the lower level. Beautiful four-stall stable overlooks acres of fenced pasture and outdoor and indoor arenas with top-quality footing.

Luxurious and breathtaking! $1,875,000.

Easy commute to Philadelphia. 23 acres with custom ranch home, 6+ stall barn, fenced pastures, and large detached garage. Just a few minutes from the NE Extension of the PA Turnpike, 23 acres all open for pasture and/or hay. Perfect set-up for any type of horse operation, personal horses, or cattle. $699,000.

REALTOR Contact Cindy Stys, Cindy Stys Equestrian & ®

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY Country Properties, Ltd., 610.849.1790.

Contact Barbara Winn, Keller Williams Realty Group, 484.547.3098.

Properties for sale

Frederick, Maryland

Westminster, Maryland

Shepherdstown, West Virginia

Talk about location! Close to 13 acres of unrestricted land. Less than five minutes from downtown Shepherdstown, Cress Creek Country Club & Golf Course, Shepherd University, MARC train, and the Bavarian Inn. This peaceful park-like setting offers pastoral views and tranquility, along with privacy. Call today! $269,000.

Contact Eric Butler, Century 21 Sterling Realty, 304.261.8255.

volume 22 | issue 1 | mafc.com | 19 EQUAL HOUSING

REALTOR

®

OPPORTUNITY

EQUAL HOUSING

OPPORTUNITY

PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID BALTIMORE, MD PERMIT NO. 7175

45 Aileron Court Westminster MD 21157

Stay connected to Farm Credit Our customers have their hands in everything these days—from farm markets and fairs to vineyards and dairy operations. With agriculture constantly evolving, we like to keep up by covering industry news and hot topics that are important to you. Stay in the know by signing up to receive our blog posts directly to your inbox. Visit mafc.com/blog today!

Crop Insurance

facebook.com/MidAtlanticFarmCredit @midatfarmcredit mafc.com/blog +MafcMidAtFarmCredit MidAtFarmCredit

And don’ t forget to follow us on our other social networks!

@midatfarmcredit

We’ll Help You Weather Whatever Crops Up. We know that farming is a risky business. Let us help you manage your risk with crop insurance.

We have experienced, full-time agents on staff who focus on making sure you have the right level of coverage tailored for your individual needs.

And you will always receive the customer service you deserve, because crop insurance is all they do!

Give us a call today to learn more about managing your risk with crop insurance.

Lending support to rural America® Farm Credit is an equal opportunity provider and employer.

888.339.3334 | mafc.com |