Leader Magazine: Women in Agriculture

LEADER Volume 26 | Issue 3

Women IN Agriculture Featuring four influential females running farm businesses.

Plus: Check out ourFarmers on the Rise Award program on page 13

In this issue

Leader

Member Spotlight

4

Community and Health Through Homegrown Herbs Linked to her childhood, Katelyn Melvin, owner and operator of Tooth of the Lion Farm in Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, grows herbs, including chamomile.

6

Plant by Plant, Her Future Grows Emma Jagoz of Moon Valley Farm in Woodsboro, Maryland, provides 75 restaurants and a Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) with fresh produce.

8

Home is Where the Heart Lands Amy and Ingrid Hopkins of Lewes, Delaware merged two separate passions on their family’s preserved century farm to create a unique destination wedding venue.

10

Preserving History, Developing New Norms Julie Bolyard is the CFO at Appalachian Orchard Company of Martinsburg, West Virginia, a family business that produces fruits for a multitude of consumers in the United States and abroad.

Farm Finances 12 Five Key Elements

of Farm Succession Planning Our Association

Social Media facebook.com/MidAtlanticFarmCredit @midatfarmcredit

13 Farmers on the Rise 13 Stay Vigilant and

Protect Your Information

@midatfarmcredit

14 Farm Credit Foundation

for Agricultural Advancement

mafc.com/blog

Properties for Sale 15 Property Listings

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VOLUME 26 | ISSUE 3

youtube.com/user/MidAtlanticFC mafc.com/podcast

MidAtlantic Farm Credit, ACA Thomas H. Truitt, Jr., CEO MidAtlantic Farm Credit Board of Directors Brian L. Boyd, Chairman T. Jeffery Jennings, Vice Chairman Paul D. Baumgardner Julie Bolyard John Travis Hastings Laura M. Heilinger Anthony M. Ill Fred R. Moore, Jr. Michael S. Nelson Jennifer L. Rhodes Douglas D. Scott Alan N. Siegfried David R. Smith Fred N. West Charles M. Wright IV

Our next issue will be digital only.

Our next issue will beindigital only.

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If you have any questions or ideas for the editorial staff of the Leader, contact Katie Ward at 888.339.3334, email her at kward@mafc.com or write her at MidAtlantic Farm Credit | 45 Aileron Court | Westminster, MD 21157. This publication is for you, our reader. We’d love to hear from you!

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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 888.339.3334 or writing: MidAtlantic Farm Credit | 45 Aileron Court | Westminster, MD 21157

President's message

EMPOWERED

Women EMPOWER

Women

W

EVENTS and REMINDERS Please visit mafc.com/blog/upcoming-farmer-resources-events to stay updated on all virtual and in-person events.

September 6 Offices Closed for Labor Day 15 Virtual Showcase Application Deadline 30 Crop Insurance Sales Closing: Wheat & Barley

October 11 Offices Closed for Employee Appreciation Day 20 Community Education Program Application Deadline 31 AgBiz Masters Registration Deadline

November 1 Farmers on the Rise Award Application Deadline

e all know it takes a village to be a successful farmer. Maybe you find yours amongst family and friends, or maybe you have found a strong network of fellow farmers you can lean on for advice. Growing up on the farm, my “village” was always my family, the strongest member being my mother. She’s always been my brother and I’s biggest fan and harshest critic, but I wouldn’t be who I am today without her constant support (and occasional discipline).

Women have played a pivotal role in shaping agriculture as we know it today, and the influence they have on its future is growing rapidly. Whether following a passion instilled from generations past or setting out to forge a new path for their family’s legacy, women in agriculture are more determined than ever to ensure our industry’s roots remain strong. This issue highlights four women doing just that.

Our first story features Katelyn Melvin of Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania. She credits her grandmother’s love of chamomile with inspiring her to start Tooth of the Lion Farm. Katelyn grows 30 different herb varieties on six acres, which she then sells as teas and tonics at local farmers markets and on the farm’s e-commerce site.

First generation owner-operator Emma Jagoz runs Moon Valley Farm in Woodsboro, Maryland. Before purchasing the farm’s current 25 acre property in Frederick County, Emma started farming on a half acre plot. Today, Emma’s operation supplies over 75 restaurants with locally sourced food, and her CSA continues to grow in popularity.

The Hopkins sisters, Amy and Ingrid, own Hopkins Heartland, an event venue destination in Lewes, Delaware. After taking some time away from their family’s farm, the two returned, blending their own unique visions together to create one experience-driven operation.

Lastly, we feature Julie Bolyard of Martinsburg, West Virginia.

Julie is not only the Chief Financial Officer of the Appalachian Orchard Company, but she and her husband own Fruit Meadow Farm, raising beef and cattle for meat. Julie believes “empowered women empower women”, and recognizes the strong influence women have had in the orchard business for generations.

These stories are sure to inspire, so for those of you looking to break into farming or expand your current operation, we want to help you set the stage for success. Check out page 13, where you’ll find information about our first-ever Farmers on the Rise Awards program.

We’re looking for five up-and-coming agriculturalists in our area who are making a positive impact on the community in which they live and work. If you fit the bill, you could be selected to receive $10,000 to grow your agribusiness.

We hope this issue empowers you to take some time out of your day and recognize the women in ag in your life.

Stay safe this harvest season,

15 Crop Insurance Sales Closing: Pasture, Rangeland & Forage 22 Crop Insurance Sales Closing: Orchard & Vineyard 25-26 Offices Closed for Thanksgiving

VOLUME 26 | ISSUE 3

LEADER 3

Feature Member Spotlight

Community AND Health THROUGH

HOMEGROWN HERBS Story and photos by Michelle Kunjappu

There’s often a link to childhood — the smell of something baking, the sight of an antique rocking chair, or the sound of a screen door banging — that connects you to your past. For Katelyn Melvin, owner and operator of Tooth of the Lion Farm, that “something” is chamomile.

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atelyn, whose 14 acre farm rests in the picturesque hills of Orwigsburg, Pennsylvania, grows 30 herbs on about six acres total, but her personal favorite is chamomile. Since her grandmother grew chamomile, “that’s kind of my favorite crop and our specialty,” says Katelyn.

In fact, that’s one of the things that Katelyn likes so much about the little flower — it’s familiar. The reason for her connection and love for herbs isn’t hard to pinpoint. Her mother, Renee, had a big garden at their home

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in suburban Philadelphia, and her grandparents, who lived down the road from them, also had a large garden.

Her grandfather bred his own tomato varieties and her grandmother grew chamomile. “Little seeds, so to speak, were planted when I was younger.”

She began growing plants in her own herb garden in high school and after a stint at college studying anthropology, Katelyn ended up returning home to start farming, “just to see what it was like,” she adds. “I started farming because I liked working closer with the

land and always enjoyed the work.”

She began studying plants as medicine through Goddard College, “and that was how I started the Tooth of the Lion business,” she says, adding that the name is a reference to dandelions, derived from the French “dent de lion,” a nod to the toothed edges of their leaves.

To begin sharing on a larger scale, Katelyn eventually decided to go ahead and purchase land of her own. So in 2016 she did just that, meeting with a Farm Credit loan officer who gave her advice on her business plan and helped walk her through an equipment loan for a tractor and a small line of credit.

Two years later, she took out her second equipment loan and extended the line of credit as the business grew and she invested in processing and marketing.

Next in her sights was purchasing the Orwigsburg property, and by 2017 Katelyn put in her first full growing season. She’s joined by two full-time farm employees, a part-time employee, and Ben Wissinger, her co-manager at the farm.

The staff she’s worked with at Farm Credit “seem to know about small farm businesses,” she says. “I definitely appreciated that they were willing to work with me and understood a small business, and they’ll come out to the farm. Also, they get to know the property because it is hard to imagine, really, what we do until you see it,” Katelyn adds.

“Katelyn has worked to develop her business based on her end-users’ needs and wants,” shares Kelsey Feeg, Katelyn’s loan officer. “She has carefully crafted specialty products to meet customers’ demands and markets her products in a careful, specific way which has helped with her success.”

Kelsey adds, “She also works to educate others about the work that goes into farming and her business, and is an advocate for other small farming operations. Working with Katelyn is enjoyable and inspiring — her business is truly one of a kind!”

Much of the chamomile consumed in the United States is imported, and one of Katelyn’s dreams is to be able to scale up her chamomile production, introducing Americans to much fresher (chamomile may be months old before it ever hits grocery store shelves), stronger chamomile.

“I think that herbs really shine in the daily nourishment, food-as-medicine way, using them every day over the long term. That’s why the teas and the tonics are kind of our main way that we like to share herbs.”

Harvesting the chamomile crop starts in late May and runs until late June, when they harvest it once a week with hand-held rakes. “It takes one hour to harvest one dried pound of chamomile, so we have to price it accordingly,” she shares. “We harvest it by hand to keep all the flowers intact, and dry them at low temperatures to retain all the essential oils.”

“I just really appreciate that herbs grow so well and that we can share that with people at the farmers’ market,” she says. “People will see our chamomile, and just get so excited to see wholeflower chamomile. We do sampling and people will say, ‘I feel like I’m in my grandma’s kitchen.’” While advertising

agencies tout, “not your grandmother’s product,” for instance, Katelyn feels the opposite. “I’d be honored if this was your grandma’s tea, I think that’s a very special part about herbs,” she adds.

Two years ago, they built a grain bin that they now use as their dryer — an improvement over the loft of the barn, which required going up a ladder and took a week or two until the herbs dried satisfactorily. The grain bin dries the herbs, since its low heat and consistent circulation, aided by occasionally pitchforking the drying plants, can achieve a dried product in 36 hours. “A lot of the growing and processing we have to figure out, because there’s not a lot of herbs grown on this scale,” she says.

Katelyn’s homegrown herbs, in the form of tonics, teas, extracts, and tinctures, make their way each weekend to farmers markets in Philadelphia, Allentown, and Emmaus, plus the farm’s online presence and several local stores.

About 20 percent of the herbs that aren’t being dried end up being steeped for two weeks in alcohol, water, and a little bit of apple cider vinegar as part of her extracts, which are pressed out with a custom press to become an herbal tincture, an alcohol-based herbal extract.

“We extract each plant as a tincture, then we have a couple different elixir blends, which is a tincture with honey added to help the medicine go down,” explains Katelyn. The elixirs, made with

elderflower, fresh ginger, or rosemary for example, are packaged into dropper bottles and are usually consumed a quarter teaspoon at a time.

“I think that herbs really shine in the daily nourishment, food-as-medicine way, using them every day over the long term. That’s why the teas and the tonics are kind of our main way that we like to share herbs,” she adds.

For a different customer base, Katelyn created a line of herbal tonics without alcohol, but based with apple cider vinegar extracts — an easier way of getting herbal benefits if you’re not into making tea — and have names such as Cloudy Day Tonic, which is chamomile and milky oats, or Ginger Tumeric Tonic, which can be taken as a straight shot or added to tonic water.

The operation is part growing and harvesting, part processing, and part marketing, much like so many other agricultural operations. Although being in the field working is her sweet spot, “I only spend half my time farming because I have to spend half my time on the business,” she says. “Growing is the fun part for me, but then I have to find a market for them.”

To learn more about Tooth of the Lion Farm, visit them on the web at toothofthelion.com or on Instagram: @toothofthelion VOLUME 26 | ISSUE 3

LEADER 5

Member Spotlight

PLANT BY PLANT

HER FUTURE

Story and photos by Andrea Haines

grows

As you pull into the lane at Moon Valley Farm in Woodsboro, Maryland, you are immediately taken by the colorful fields, greenhouses and happily painted delivery truck. It’s peaceful — there’s no machinery running, just the low humming of pollinators flying from bloom to bloom, and the light chatter of farm workers out in the fields. A welcoming feeling and sense of community is present upon visiting.

T

“

his is what people see when we do a ‘walk through’ with customers,” shares Emma Jagoz, first-generation owner of Moon Valley. The organic farm stocks the shelves of over 75 restaurants and provides fresh produce to over severalhundred Community-Supported Agriculture (CSA) members gathered between individuals, families and restaurants in D.C. and Maryland. “We also offer plant sales for gardeners,” explains Emma. “Our CSA is made up

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of individuals, families and friends who are foodies, environmentalists, and parents who want to eat healthy and organically, support a woman-owned business, and know where their food comes from.” The farm sells to many restaurant customers, including Michelin Star restaurants and James Beard award nominees, among other accolades. “We grow for restaurants of all sizes from tiny bars, to catering businesses, cafes, and busy 400-plus seat hotels. For our gardeners, we grow robust, organic

seedlings for folks with balcony gardens in the cities, to people with large suburban or rural gardens, as well as community gardens and other small farms.”

Emma is no stranger to small spaces; she began her farm in 2012 as a CSA and the following year began selling to restaurants. “I started farming on a half-acre of land on my parents’ property in the suburbs of Baltimore,” she shares. “I wanted to expand beyond that half-acre, so I started bartering with neighbors for the use of their land [sometimes neighboring yards]. Fast forward and I was bartering for 15 acres of certified-organic land by the end of 2019. Later that year, I purchased land of my own in Woodsboro, Frederick County, Maryland, and we now farm on 25 acres.”

As a first-generation agriculturalist, Emma has planted seeds within her two children on the business practices, solidifying a promising future for the farm made possible by her hard work.

“My kids are 10 and 11 years old. They’ve known nothing but the farm and are definitely interested in the business.”

Even Emma’s office is adorned with the reminder of the future, with hand-drawn Crayola masterpieces of each employee depicted as a superhero hanging from a warmly-glowing string of lights, a thank you but also subtle reminder of the farm’s purpose of feeding future generations.

Emma gets a lot of support from her community, but there are stereotypical challenges to overcome, too. “Being a woman-owned business, I’ve encountered countless situations in which people assume that I’m not the owner or farmer, or that I inherited the farm, or that I’m the ‘actual’ farmer’s wife. People will look at a male colleague or employee for direction or guidance instead of asking me.”

The stereotype is progressively changing within agriculture as farmers like Emma continue to gather support and awareness. “I do get a lot of support from women-run households – women or mothers buying for their families, who are excited to support a local, woman-run business,” she shares. “Additionally, as a 100 percent woman-owned business, I am able to apply for certain loans or grants as a minority-owned business, which can help provide opportunities for business growth.”

Emma made the decision to move forward with a CSA program instead of

“I do get a lot of support from women-run households – women or mothers buying for their families, who are excited to support a local, woman-run business.” participating in farmers’ markets due to the workload that going to markets would have required. “The CSA model has been the core of our farm from the beginning. The CSA allows us to focus on growing crops instead of constantly marketing our veggies and hoping that we can get them sold every week of the season. Our members are the backbone of our farm today just as they were from the start. We couldn’t do this without them,” expresses Emma. The farm is also adding a few wholesale accounts including local schools and prisons.

“We have about 15 employees,” shares Emma. “Since 2016, we’ve sold year-round to restaurants and in 2021, we debuted our year-round CSA. We are trying to elevate the diversity we have available in the winter months so that we can keep more customers eating local, and employees working in the ‘off-season’.”

Emma is playing a part in “localizing” the food system, changing the way people eat to be based on Mid-Atlantic grown fare.

As the farm continually grows, Emma has gained a relationship with Farm Credit. “They understand farmers in a way that no other bank that I’ve worked with does,” shares Emma. “It’s very relieving to work with a lender who understands the cash flows of different farm operations, the value of farmland, and the types of accounts that farmers like me work on.”

“We’ve been working with Emma on requests to improve some of the infrastructure on the farm,” explains Kelsey Maslen, Farm Credit loan officer.

“I was impressed with how clearly Emma laid out her request. She always does extensive research on the costs for her different needs and can also really articulate how investing in these areas would improve her farm.”

Kelsey describes Emma as passionate and driven. “She just has this great positive energy, and is excited about the work she is doing,” Kelsey highlights.

“This year, we’re growing over 30 varieties of peppers, over 20 varieties of winter squash, 15 varieties of tomatoes, eight types of basil, eight types of thymes, six eggplant types, and a dozen of specialty potatoes,” shares Emma.

“It’s so fun to grow different varieties, it gives us diversity as a bit of resilience to different weather types and flavors.

We also aggregate from several local farms to expand our offerings to include gourmet mushrooms, fruit, grains, beans, eggs, and more. We want our customers to have access to the ‘coolest’ and most delicious produce that the MidAtlantic region has to offer all year.”

As an organic farm, from the start, Emma utilized organic practices, adopting those detailed in books by Eliot Coleman.

“We became certified organic in 2018, which was a big challenge for us as we were farming six sites and had to create a plan for each site,” Emma explains.

“Our new farm was used for conventional growing before purchase, so we are two years into a three-year transition period now, considered ‘transitionally organic’ until the summer of 2022. It’s important to

me to use organic practices for the health of our bodies, soils, and watershed.”

Emma treads the path for future generations in this concept, “I would recommend that a future farmer or business owner get several years of experience farming on the scale that they’re interested in at the time.

Additionally, work for someone who sells to a customer base that’s the same as your ideal customer base.”

Emma is a self-taught farmer but has gained a ton of experience through others’ teachings. “I’ve learned from books, soil scientists, businesspersons, and environmentalists. Mentors and other farmers in the region learned from making mistakes and just doing ‘the thing’, growing food relentlessly for people,” she says.

Kelsey and the team at Farm Credit are looking forward to seeing how Emma continues to grow. “She is incredibly adaptable,” says Kelsey. “In managing her own farm, she serves not only in the role of the farmer, but also business development, human resources, IT, marketing and more, while also being a mother and finding ways to serve the community through the produce she grows.”

To learn more about Moon Valley Farm, visit them on the web at moonvalleyfarm.net or on Instagram: @moonvalleyfarm and Facebook: @moonvalleybaltimore

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LEADER 7

Feature Member Spotlight

HOME

IS WHERE THE

Heart Lands

Story by Katie Ward, photos by Morgan Figgins

And if you’re the Hopkins sisters of Lewes, Delaware, it’s ‘Home is where the Hopkins Heartland is’. Amy and Ingrid Hopkins are fifth generation family farmers who merged two separate passions on their family’s preserved century farm to create a unique destination wedding location with multiple venues and accommodations.

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he Hopkins farm in Sussex County, Delaware, was purchased more than five generations ago with the intent to start a dairy operation to support the family and generations to come.

That dream beyond succeeded, and is now home to multiple thriving businesses that support three families, the community, and a legacy.

Ingrid Hopkins decided to return

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home to the farm after more than 20 years in the veterinary medicine and horse training industries to turn their 200-year-old family farmhouse into a bed & breakfast in 2015.

“When I was living in Florida, I would read the Leader magazine every quarter,” shares Ingrid. “The inspiration of seeing what the next generation of farmers is capable of, especially people that I knew, is what fueled me to

return to the farm and create something magnificent. It gave me the launch pad to be able to pitch my business models to my dad when I came back.”

Amy Hopkins lead a similar path and returned back to the farm nearly a decade ago to turn her beekeeping hobby into a honey business while continuing her career as an aerospace executive. She purchased a 100 acre farm right across the road from her family’s farm to grow her hives, and leased the tillable land back to her family to farm.

“I never would have thought I’d be yearning so hard to come back to the farm,” says Amy. “I knew I had to figure out a way to contribute, but milking cows wasn’t my favorite chore. I enjoyed growing and producing something to sell — so the honeybee avenue was a perfect fit.”

The Hopkins sisters have spent the past few years learning about their new business ventures and how to grow in these new markets. Ingrid took business and marketing classes and Amy took honeybee classes through the University of Delaware Extension. By 2019, Ingrid had expanded the bed & breakfast, called the Covered Bridge Inn, into a full on-farm wedding venue that had taken off, and Amy had successfully grown Hopkins Homestead with up to 25 beehives, selling raw, unfiltered honey to local restaurants, stores, and farmers markets.

And then, they had an ‘aha’ moment.

“We realized that some wedding customers only wanted a single-day venue, but the Covered Bridge Inn is a full weekend package with the bed & breakfast,” explains Ingrid. “It was sort of a ‘what if’ idea to transition the unused barn on Amy’s farm into a smaller, hourly rental venue, and it quickly grew into a detailed business plan.”

By now, Amy and Ingrid were experts at presenting new ideas to their father, Walter Hopkins, who still manages Hopkins Farm. What proved to be the biggest challenge for this new wedding venue idea wasn’t approval from their father, but from local and state legislation.

The Hopkins sisters testified twice on state bills for agri-tourism on preserved land in Delaware — once for the Covered Bridge Inn a few years ago, and again in 2019 for the new wedding venue.

“With our farm being on preserved

“It was our own unique ventures that lead us to the joint business of Hopkins Heartland. Our nephew’s ice cream business is also intertwined and available during the weddings, so it’s a full family affair.” land, we can’t build a new space – we can only renovate what is already existing,” shares Ingrid. “So we had to get creative with our structures and their new uses, while still striving to keep the unique character of the buildings and farm.”

“The other legislation challenge was clarifying the ambiguity between preserved land and the structures on the land,” adds Amy. “The legislation was unclear with regard to the utilization and renovation of the structures on existing preserved farmland. Legislation should evolve, just like technology — today’s farmers are often times unable to store modern equipment in historic barns — so it was either tear the barn down or change its use.”

“No one in the legislature was opposed to it, and they were willing to help us make the change,” says Ingrid.

“It was an opportunity to educate and overcome, working with the members of Delaware Farmland Preservation. It ended up being considered an improvement to an existing parcel. The amendment to the bill was passed with a unanimous vote once everyone realized what was needed.”

Amy and Ingrid believe that amending the agri-tourism bill will open opportunities for other women in Delaware to expand businesses on their family’s farms. They are confident that the ‘farmers of the future’ will look a lot different soon. “You don’t have to do what the generation before you did in order to

be good stewards of the land,” says Amy. This has also afforded the next generation the opportunity to continue expanding the businesses on the farm.

“Traditional farms yield products.

Agri-tourism now allows a product to be an experience,” adds Amy. With the year delay due to COVID, the sisters were able to plot their joint venture and dive into the business planning side of things. “The combination of the pandemic and the tragic loss of our brother really pushed us to get the new venue off the ground and continue the transition,” says Ingrid. She used the downtime during COVID to create an onboarding training manual for new employees, allowing them to run weddings at both locations and manage multiple consecutive weddings all weekend.

The second wedding venue officially opened earlier this year, called Honeybee, a tip of the hat to Amy’s bees and the land where the venue sits. The sisters officially combined their businesses by rebranding to Hopkins Heartland last year as a wedding venue destination with two options — Covered Bridge Inn for the full weekend, or Honeybee for smaller crowds and single day.

Ingrid shares, “It was our own unique ventures that lead us to the joint business of Hopkins Heartland.

Our nephew’s ice cream business is also intertwined and available during the

weddings, so it’s a full family affair.”

Jennifer Feindt, Farm Credit lending manager, shares in the excitement for this growing venture. “Both Amy and Ingrid received loans from us to start their individual businesses, and it’s amazing to see how far they’ve come separately and together over the years. This partnership will hopefully continue to flourish as they plan to expand in the future,” says Jennifer.

“Thankfully, Farm Credit was able to provide us with PPP loans not once, but twice during COVID,” shares Ingrid. “There is no doubt that Hopkins Heartland would have failed without this assistance and guidance from Farm Credit.”

Amy and Ingrid are proud to be female ag leaders in a rather maledominated industry. “The power in our perspective as women with unique experiences both on and off the farm have allowed us to make value added commodity changes and additions to the family farm,” adds Amy. They strive to be a champion for other women who may not have a traditional farm background to say ‘you can do it.’

You can find Hopkins Heartland online at hopkinsheartland.com or on Facebook and Instagram: @hopkinsheartland

VOLUME 26 | ISSUE 3

LEADER 9

Member Spotlight

“

history,

PRESERVING DEVELOPING

NEW NORMS Story and photos by Andrea Haines

The first impression upon entering Julie Bolyard’s office at Appalachian Orchard Company of Martinsburg, West Virginia, is that she treasures memories and has an appreciation for history. Photo collages and remnants of preserved signs and scrapbooks decorate her office, reminding her of the people working before her time.

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M

y love for ‘treasures’ began when I was very young — others might refer to these items as trash, but I love the history behind each piece I have found or collected,” expresses Julie. “I strive to preserve the pieces that I come across and archive the heritage of the orchard business in the Shenandoah Valley. Crate labels and beautiful pieces of artwork tell a story of where the fruit was produced and packed in the early 1900s before cardboard began to be used in place of wooden crates or barrels.” Julie spent countless hours designing the Appalachian Orchard Company logo to resemble an old barrel label, but with an updated twist.

The Martinsburg Fruit Exchange crate label is a favorite from Julie’s collection.

Branded as “Queen Shenandoah”, a prestigious womanly figure covers the logo with fruit surrounding her on every side. “The exchange was formed nearly 100 years ago to help area orchards market their apples,” shares Julie. “Many of the prominent orchard families were represented and served on the board of this organization. Some are families that are still associated with the orchard business today in the Eastern Panhandle.

The brand packed apples into barrels and the fruits were then loaded onto trains at the B&O Warehouse.”

One can only imagine the correlation between what the logo represents and how much of an icon it is for a business owner like Julie, who currently oversees the orchard as the Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer (CFO). Branching off during a transitional move, the orchard operates as a wholesale-only operation.

Originating from George S. Orr, Jr. as a multi-generational family-run operation under the brand of My Three Sons, once owning 1,100 acres of orchards during the 1980s and producing 500,000 bushels of fruit annually. “We now have a ‘work family’ that is made up of 15 talented and dedicated individuals who work on the orchard year-round,” she shares.

The current business produces fruits for a multitude of consumers up and down the East Coast, westward to the Mississippi River, and exported to other countries. “We currently raise and sell cherries, plums, apples, and will be adding peaches and nectarines back

“I believe that empowered women empower women, and I’m thankful for those who came before me and those who surround me daily.” into the orchard operation in 2023.” The land worked is 550 total acres of crops, holding 47,600 trees that produce around 300,000 bushels of fruit annually.

She and her husband Philip, along with their three children, also privately run Fruit Meadow Farms, leasing 350 acres of cropland. They raise 40-head of beef cattle and 40 goats, all of which they harvest for meat. “We began the farm diversification into livestock and meat production hoping that our kids decide to return to the farm, providing an avenue for expansion and additional revenue to support their inclusion,” explains Julie.

“As a woman in the apple industry, I am fortunate to be viewed in a genderneutral way by other orchard folks in our area,” she explains. “There have been many strong women, including my grandmother Juanita Orr, in the business in our region. The hard work and commitment of these women paved the way for my generation to be accepted as leaders and empowered us to take on these roles. I believe that empowered women empower women, and I’m thankful for those who came before me and those who surround me daily.”

Julie finds herself often grasping the leadership roles that come across her table. “Embrace leadership roles where you can because you have the power to influence change,” she expresses. Julie also serves as a board member for Farm Credit. “I am honored to have been elected by my peers to serve our member-borrowers across

the MidAtlantic Farm Credit footprint,” she shares. “The work the board is doing is relevant and important.”

Julie began working with Farm Credit in 2008 when she started overseeing bookkeeping for George S. Orr and Sons, Inc. She explains, “I have always enjoyed math, numbers, and spreadsheets so this role fit me well. While in that position, I began to interact with Farm Credit loan officers and personnel. I was asked to interview for a short-term vacancy on the Board of Directors in 2020.” After serving her term, Julie ran in the election for the seat in the spring and is now serving a four-year term on the Board.

It was in this role that she met her loan officer, Jessica Harris. “She handled the set-up and structure for those initial loans and has handled our account since the beginning,” expresses Julie.

“Julie and the orchard have been wonderful. She is very proactive and does a great job of planning and budgeting,” shares Jessica. “Even in tough times, they have faced adversity head on with a strong business plan and positive attitude.”

Julie began attendance at Virginia Tech studying horticulture, but quickly changed her major to agriculture education transferring to West Virginia University because of her interest in agricultural policy, intending to go to law school. “After obtaining my degree in ag ed, I came home to the farm to help out for a season and I never left,” she chuckles. “I am still very passionate

about agricultural policy, and I am currently attending Vermont Law School where I am working toward a master’s degree in agriculture and food policy.”

Jessica views Julie as setting a great example for women. “Being immersed in every aspect of her business, she is not afraid to get involved wherever needed, but also knows how to delegate responsibilities to best fit the business needs. She has taken on leadership roles within the U.S. Apple Association, and is collaborative with other farmers and leaders in the industry to better her own operations, as well as others.”

Julie’s goal is to bring balance to all aspects of her life as a mother, wife, daughter, business owner, and director.

Just like the generations of women before her, she wants to honor her agricultural roots. She explains, “I pride myself on being able to step back and look at two sides of every issue before making decisions. I am a ‘young-ish’ moderate woman offering a diversified view of both social and agricultural issues. Embracing where the world is headed feels heavy, but I welcome the challenges and believe that agriculture is now and will continue to be the most important industry.”

You can find Appalachian Orchard Company online at appalachianorchard.com or on Facebook: @AppalachianOrchard and Instagram: @appalachian_orchard

VOLUME 26 | ISSUE 3

LEADER 11

5

Farm Finances

FIVE KEY ELEMENTS OF

farm succession planning One of the most important aspects of your farming business is the planning involved in securing its future. According to the 2017 Agriculture Census, 33 percent of farmers are over the age of 65. Without a proper succession plan in place, those farmers may not see their operations stay in production. Farm Credit’s partnership with Nationwide’s Land as Your Legacy program can help ensure the seamless transition of your farm to the next generation.

To the right is an excerpt from Nationwide.

F

arming and family are intertwined. That’s why developing an effective transition plan is important.

With it, you can prepare for the future knowing that your agribusiness operation will be handled the way you want.

As an owner of a family farm or ranch, many of your assets are tangible items. Land, livestock and equipment may be difficult to divide evenly among your children or desired parties. And when the time comes for retirement, selling those assets to help pay off taxes and expenses can be equally challenging.

With a plan in place, you can gain confidence that the needs of your business, your family and your future will be met.

The five key elements of the transition-planning process are:

1. Farm succession planning In this phase, we’ll think about what’s in the best interest of your farm. We’ll give you the tools you need to hold a meeting so you and the next generation can decide who’ll be running operations in the future.

2. Business planning We’ll examine your operation and evaluate its profitability and health. That way, we can help you determine if the farm can support or grow to support multiple families in the future.

3. Risk management You need to identify, address and prepare for risks. And we can help. We’ll discuss if you should have a plan in place for long-term care expenses, or if supplemental income or insurance is needed by either generation. Learn about: • Long-term care • Disability insurance • Agribusiness safety and risk management

4. Financial independence This phase includes a discussion about the current generation. We’ll help you determine if you can afford to retire and perhaps transition to a mentoring role for the next generation. In this scenario, the current generation helps transition agreements and relationships, while the new generation learns the intricacies of farm management.

5. Estate planning for farmers In this last phase, our goal is to have a fully-formed plan in place for you. That way, you can work effectively with an attorney to create any documents you may need, such as business documents or beneficiary designations.

Whether your farm has been around for several generations or you’re a firstgeneration farmer, we’re here to help you plan for what happens to your operation in the future. To start your journey visit nationwidefinancial.com/ag-financiallegacy/land-as-your-legacy.

12 LEADER

VOLUME 26 | ISSUE 3

Our Association

REWARDING THE

A

Next Generation OF AG

re you a young, beginning, or small (YBS) farmer working hard to be outstanding in your field? Then you should apply for a Farmers on the Rise Award for a chance at a $10,000 prize!

This program was created to honor current or future farm owner-operators within the diverse agricultural community, who excel in their field. Selection of winners are based on their efforts in agriculture, financial character, leadership, community wellbeing, and environmental stewardship.

The program will offer five $10,000 awards to the top five contestants.

Qualified applicants will identify with one or more of the following categories: • 40 years of age and under, • minority operator, • veteran operator, • operate a small farm with annual gross ag income less than $250,000, • or a beginning farmer with less than 10 years of farming experience.

Apply online at mafc.com/rise by November 1, 2021.

Be sure to read the eligibility and judging process online before applying.

STAY VIGILANT AND

Protect Your Information

S

ecurity threats and scams are always changing and many have even used the pandemic to exploit people’s information. Hackers and marketing scammers impersonate friends, family and businesses through mail, email, phone calls, text messages and even social media. It has become more important than ever to remain vigilant in protecting your personal information.

At MidAtlantic Farm Credit, your security is our top priority. In order to help us protect your information, please know: 1. All official correspondence will have the Farm Credit logo, or the MidAtlantic logo (anything related to billing or your statements).

2. We will never request confidential information via email or text message.

3. Unless you exchange cell numbers with your loan officer, we will never request for you to call us at a phone number that is not an office location. We will also never ask you to call a number that leads to an automated recording.

4. Under no circumstance will we ever sell your information to a third-party. Anyone who indicates otherwise is not a reliable source of information.

If you receive a call, postcard, email, or text message that seems suspicious, please call us directly at 888.339.3334 or contact your loan officer to report the incident.

You can find many security best practices on our website at mafc.com/privacy-security-notice.

VOLUME 26 | ISSUE 3

LEADER 13

Our Association

WE’LL MEET YOU ON THE

#OtherSideOfAg

APPLY TODAY:

Community Education Program

14 LEADER

VOLUME 26 | ISSUE 3

T

he Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement is giving away another ten scholarships, each worth $10,000! That’s right — a total of $100,000 is up for grabs in 2022 for students pursuing a career in agriculture.

The #OtherSideofAg recognizes jobs in the agricultural industry that go beyond farming — like becoming a veterinarian, food nutritionist, soil scientist, or an ag educator, just to name a few.

Applications will be accepted online only from September 24, 2021 January 7, 2022. Please visit FCFoundationForAg.org for eligibility requirements and to apply.

W

e are proud to announce the second year of the Farm Credit Foundation for Agricultural Advancement’s Community Education Program. This program provides funding to organizations that provide agricultural education opportunities in MidAtlantic Farm Credit’s territory.

Funding options include up to $2,000 and up to $10,000.

Phase 2 applications will be accepted online until October 20, 2021.

To learn more about the Community Education Program and to apply, visit FCFoundationForAg.org today!

Properties FOr Sale Federalsburg, Maryland

Golts, Maryland

Hampstead, Maryland

Live the dream in this beautiful bungalow home with two poultry houses (340’ long with metal roofs, approximately. 16,400 birds each). There are pads in place for two more houses with water and electric hookup, two wells for houses, and a separate well supplies home. Property includes a detached garage, two storage sheds, and a large tractor/maintenance shed with electric and heat. $350,000.

A picture perfect setting 106 acre property with 61 wooded acres and a 27 acre field with ponds and impoundments. Very special setup with a renovated farmhouse and wildlife. $1,290,000.

Country living at its finest! Includes a post and beam bank barn, equipment shed, and a wonderful four bedroom, three bathroom home. $679,000.

Contact Karla Wieland-Cherry, Meredith Fine Properties, 410.310.8421, dkcherry4@aol.com.

Contact Phil Riordan, Meredith Fine Properties, 410.310.2951, realtorphilriordan@gmail.com.

Contact John Hull Jr., Remax Advantage Realty, 443.690.2290, jhull@jhpropertymatch.com.

Keymar, Maryland

Trappe, Maryland

This recently remodeled farmhouse situated on nearly 130 acres of private, rolling farmland with panoramic views is just what you have been dreaming of. Featuring four bedrooms and two and a half baths, red oak hardwood flooring throughout, stainless steel appliances, and numerous outbuildings. $1,380,000.

Enjoy the country and wildlife on this property with five separate parcels, each with their own perc approved home site. All must sell together, totaling 285 acres with 160 tillable acres. Including a 40 x 60 steel building with a concrete floor and electric on one parcel. $2,400,000.

Spread out on 204 acres of pristine land with over one mile of waterfrontage on Raccoon Creek and the Choptank River. Roughly 35 acres of tillable land, a few elevated home sites, and mature trees with wildlife adorn the property. No Conservation Easements. $1,900,000.

Contact Beth Ohler, J&B Real Estate, 240.315.5376, bethohlersells@gmail.com.

Contact Traci Jordan, Meredith Fine Properties, 410.310.8606, tljordan520@gmail.com.

Contact Henner Gibbons-Neff, Meredith Fine Properties, 410.829.0698, hennerneff@yahoo.com.

Westminster, Maryland

Perfect farmette waiting for its next owner! Featuring a three bedroom and three and a half bathroom custom contemporary home with potential in-law suite set on 16 picturesque acres with fenced paddocks, a five stall barn with tack room and loft.

Gorgeous views, easy commutes, soaring ceilings, privacy, and a user-friendly layout. $750,000.

Contact Elisabeth Yeager, Keller Williams Realty Partners, 443.878.5088, elisabeth@yeagerhomes.com.

Trappe, Maryland

Kempton, Pennsylvania

A beautiful, spacious and secluded log home high on a hilltop looks onto a chain of the Blue Mountains.

This is truly a lifestyle property. Current owners redid just about every aspect of the home when they purchased it. The barn has four matted stalls equipped with automatic waterers and a tack room. $825,000.

Contact Cindy Stys, Cindy Stys Equestrian & Country Properties, Ltd., 610.849.1790, cindy@cshorseproperties.com.

Need financing for any of these properties?

Call Farm Credit at

888.339.3334 *Financing availability subject to loan approval and property eligibility.

VOLUME 26 | ISSUE 3

LEADER 15

PRESORT STANDARD U.S. POSTAGE

PAID

BALTIMORE, MD PERMIT 1608

45 Aileron Court Westminster, MD 21157

GROW WORG YO U R K N OW L ED G E

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AgBiz Masters

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A Learning Series for Young & Beginning Farmers

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Are you ready to take your business to the next level? ?level txen eht ot ssenisub ruoy ekat ot ydaer uoy erA Register for our learning program at AgBizMasters.com moc.sretsaMziBgA ta margorp gninrael ruo rof retsigeR to master the growth of your operation.

888.339.3334 | mafc.com | .noitarepo ruoy fo htworg eht retsam ot | moc.cfam | 4333 .933 .888