Maryland Secretary of Agriculture, Kevin Atticks, and 8 staff members from the Department of Agriculture toured Western Maryland on September 19th and 20th. The secretary's tour group was joined by farmers, MDA Staff from the Garrett County Soil Conservation Office and members of the Northern FFA Chapter. The tour was organized by Melissa Bolyard, Garrett County Agriculture Business Specialist, Willie Lantz, University of Maryland Ag Extension Agent and Paul Custer, President of the Garrett County Farm Bureau. The tour began with lunch at the Casselman Creamery in Grantsville. The lunch was sponsored by the Western Maryland Food Council (WMFC). Willie Lantz, Chair of the WMFC gave an overview of WMFC activities and explained the function of the new formed Appalachian Farm and Food Alliance. Ben Riegsecker then described his vision with the Casselman Creamery and other businesses he owned in the Grantsville area. The group toured the creamery learning about cheese manufacturing.
The second stop on the tour was at the farm of Paul Custer. Paul explained their beef operation and granddaughter Autumn talked about their club lamb enterprise. The group also went out to a nearby corn field to look at deer and bear damage. The next stop on the tour was at ALL Produce and Rt. 560 Farm Market. Owner Aaron Lantz explained the farming operation and Gelato business. The group also took a look at no-till equipment purchased by Garrett Growers through a Healthy Soils grant from Maryland Department of Agriculture. Aaron had sweet corn ready to harvest that was planted no-till into rolled down rye cover crop using the equipment provided by the grant. The group also looked at damage to sweet corn by deer which destroyed 3 areas of the crop.
Lucas Turf Farm south of Oakland was the next stop. Owners Adam and Mathew Lucas described to the group their turf operation. The group also looked at and discussed the solar panels being constructed on the farm. The group then drove back to the Northern end of the county to the farm of Austin Kolb. The group discussed grain marketing and the Kolb's beef operation. Austin also explained one of their newest purchases which was a drone that they plan to use for seeding cover crops into standing corn.
The day was concluded with at dinner at Branch Bender Cidery in the cove area north of Accident. Garrett County Farm Bureau and Farm Credit of the Virginias sponsored the all local meal. Several local farmers provided and prepared local foods for the meal. A total of 45 people joined the Secretary for the meal and a question and answer session following the meal. Corey Edmonds from Mt. Laurel Medical Center presented the Secretary with a box of fresh produce which represented the food boxes that Mt. Laurel was giving away as part of their Nourishing Neighbors program. The program which provided 1,800 food boxes in 2024 was funded by the Maryland Department of Agriculture. The produce was grown by members of Garrett Growers Cooperative.
The Secretary and his party retired to the Casselman Inn where they were provided housing and a hearty breakfast the next morning by owner Ben Riegsecker. The groups visit to Western Maryland continued in Allegany County with tours of Peacefully Valley farm and the farms of Bill Beattie and Ian Reikie.
Article courtesy of University of Maryland Extension - Garrett County Office.
