MidAtlantic Farm Credit

lEADERLending support to rural America®Farm Credit

VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 1 | $3.95

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MEET TOM TRUITT, OUR NEW CEO, ON PAGE 12!

Ag as a second career

IN THIS ISSUE

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2 | VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 1 | mafc.com

12 Meet Our New CEO

13 2016 Annual Meetings

14 Agriculture Through the Years

14 Our Integrity Is Important

15 Winter on the Farm

16 Helping our Veterans

16 Properties for Sale

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 [email protected] 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: [email protected]. 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

4 Learning the Organic Broiler BusinessNorman Hoover, of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, traded in his construction hard hat to raise organic broilers on a 67 acre farm with his wife, Eunice.

FARM AND LAND

6 Maryland’s First Farm BreweryAfter practicing law and teaching high school, Tom Barse partnered with fellow educator Carolann McConaughy to open a farm and brewery in Mt. Airy, Maryland.

8 From Academe to AgricultureThough their passion for horticulture started at Cornell University, Richard and Wenfei Uva followed it to a farm in Federalsburg, Maryland where they grow fruit and flowers.

10 A Hobby Turned BusinessBillie Clifton left the insurance business to open Sunflower Cottage in Middletown, Virginia, growing herbs and flowers. It now includes a craft brewery and restaurant.

OUR ASSOCIATION

COMMUNITY

MidAtlantic Farm Credit, ACA

Thomas H. Truitt, Jr., CEO

MidAtlantic Farm Credit Board of Directors

M. Wayne Lambertson Chairman

Paul BaumgardnerVice Chairman

Deborah A. Benner

Brian L. Boyd

Gary L. Grossnickle

Dale R. Hershey

Walter C. Hopkins

Anthony M. Ill

T. Jeffery Jennings

Fred R. Moore

Dale J. Ockels

Jennifer L. Rhodes

Ralph L. Robertson, Jr.

Alan N. Siegfried

Douglas D. Scott

Joseph D. Snapp

Fred N. West

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@midatfarmcredit

mafc.com/blog

+MafcMidAtFarmCredit

MidAtFarmCredit

@midatfarmcredit

SOCIAL

president’s message

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A second career? I honestly can’t imagine what that would look like for me, maybe because I already love what I’m doing (more on that later).

But for many, taking the risk of embarking on something totally new after years of doing the same thing is a thrill. Encore careers—as they are commonly referred to—seem to be a growing phenomenon as people leave behind what they know to follow their passion into something completely different.

The four customers featured in this issue did just that. Today, they are contributing members of the agriculture community—a community I’ve had the privilege of being a part of for a while. But prior to farming, they worked in different worlds. Like Norman Hoover of Ephrata, Pennsylvania, who worked as a construction contractor before he and his family decided to embrace rural living. Today, he raises organic broilers on a 67 acre farm.

Tom Barse, of Mt. Airy, Maryland, was a successful lawyer and high school teacher for years before purchasing a farm with fellow educator Carolann McConaughy, which turned into the state’s first farm brewery, Milkhouse Brewery. Similarly, Billie Clifton was the CEO of a Virginia-based insurance company when she decided to turn her hobby of gardening into her career. She opened Sunflower Cottage in Middletown, which grows herbs and flowers. It has since evolved into a craft brewery and restaurant.

Lastly, we feature Wenfei and Richard Uva, of Federalsburg, Maryland. They met while studying and practicing horticulture at Cornell University. They became taken with the DelMarVa area, and purchased 36 acres where they grow flowers and fruit.

It takes a lot of courage—not to mention business skills—to begin an entirely new venture. I hope you’re as inspired by them as I am when you read this issue.

Speaking of me, I, too, am embarking on a new path. As of January 1, I assumed the role of your new President and CEO. I don’t think it counts as a second career, since I’ve been a part of the Farm Credit system since 1993, most recently as our Chief Operations Officer. I’m looking forward to serving our customers in new ways, and I hope you all will enjoy learning a little more about me on page 12.

Speaking of learning, I hope you’ll come out to our annual stockholder meetings in April. Our speaker—Anirban Basu—is entertaining and informative. Every time I hear him, I learn something new about our region and the businesses that fuel it. If you do come to the meeting, I hope you’ll introduce yourself—I’m looking forward to meeting as many stockholders as possible the next few months.

Until then, whether you’re new to ag or have been a part of the industry for years, I invite you to sit back, relax, and enjoy the first issue of the Leader for 2016—Farm Credit’s milestone centennial year!

Cultivating new careers

VOLUME 21 | ISSUE 1 | mafc.com | 3

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MAR EVENT PLACE

4-5 Maryland Cattlemen’s Convention Hagerstown, MD 7-8 Governor’s Conference on Ag Trade Richmond, VA 11-12 Eastern Panhandle Home Builders Association Home Show Martinsburg, WV 13 Daylight savings time begins 15 Sales closing for corn, soybeans and other spring crops 17 Central Maryland Women in Ag Forum West Friendship, MD 19-20 Frederick County Builders Association Home Show Frederick, MD 27 Easter

APR EVENT PLACE

5 Annual Meeting New Holland, PA 6 Annual Meeting Dover, DE 7 Annual Meeting Hagerstown, MD 20 Delmarva Poultry Industry Annual Banquet Salisbury, MD

29 Spring production deadline

MAY EVENT PLACE

30 Memorial Day Offices Closed

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

events | deadlines

Raising organic broilers for a growing market

STORY AND PHOTOS BY SALLY SCHOLLE | TO AN OUTSIDER, IT MIGHT SEEM EASY TO RAISE BROILERS IN A SYSTEM THAT PROVIDES THE CHICKS, SPECIFIES WHAT TO FEED AT EACH STAGE OF GROWTH, AND DO IT ALL IN BUILDINGS EQUIPPED WITH AUTOMATED TEMPERATURE AND OTHER ENVIRONMENTAL CONTROLS. BUT NORMAN HOOVER FOUND THAT WASN’T THE CASE WHEN HE GAVE UP A SUCCESSFUL CONSTRUCTION BUSINESS TO RAISE ORGANIC BROILERS.

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The Hoover family all pitch in when it’s time to help out with young chicks. In the back row, from left: Jordan, Norman, Eunice and Jeremy; in front are Annika, Dakota and Amber.

Norman Hoover can easily check the automated systems in his fully automated poultry barns throughout the day to ensure bird comfort and safety.


FARM AND LAND

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After their marriage in 1995, Norman and Eunice Hoover raised veal calves while Norman worked full-time in a manufacturing facility. Several years later, Norman’s brother-in-law asked if he was interested in getting into the construction business, so in the summer of 1998, Norman left his job and started working on his own as a sub-contractor for post frame buildings.

By 2008, Norman and Eunice had a young family that they wanted to raise in a rural environment, so they started to look for a farm. “We wanted to raise broilers,” says Norman. “We were pursuing a couple of farms in 2008, but we would have had to put up broiler houses because the farms we were looking at didn’t have houses.”

The Hoovers put their plans on hold, but didn’t give up. When they learned about a farm in Ephrata that was for sale, they also found out that there was another interested buyer for that farm.

“Then we got word that it was our turn,” says Norman. “That’s when I contacted Marvin Charles [of Farm Credit] and got the ball rolling. We weren’t sure if it was going to work out, but Marvin pushed the numbers and the purchase was made.”

The 67 acre farm included six poultry buildings, two of which were constructed in 2009. The other four houses were older and required some upgrades before they’d be ready for certified organic broilers.

Today, the Hoovers raise organic broilers for Coleman Natural Foods, a division of Perdue. Norman says that although he had helped a friend with some basic poultry work, he didn’t know anything about raising birds from start to finish. “We were excited and didn’t think too much about whether or not it was going to be hard,” says Norman. “How hard is it to raise a chicken?”

Eunice and Norman soon learned that there’s quite a bit to raising broil-ers, especially in an organic system. The process begins with broiler chicks that arrive the same day they’re hatched.

Although newly hatched chicks have received nutrition from the yolk sac, they begin to eat starter feed immediately. By day

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three, the yolk sac is consumed and young chicks are eating and drinking on their own. In compliance with certified organic produc-tion, all feed is certified organic.

“At about day 18 or 19, the feed changes to a grower ration,” says Norman. “Then at day 35, they’re switched to a finisher.”

One of the key factors to maintain-ing healthy birds is maintaining good ventilation and the appropriate tempera-ture in the houses. “We don’t want much more than a four-degree swing from overnight to mid-day,” says Norman. “The houses are all computerized, and the Agri-Alert alarm system notifies me if the water pressure drops, if temperatures are too high or too low, or if one of the computer systems shuts down.”

Broilers are especially sensitive to ammonia levels and are at risk of disease and poor weight gain if ammonia is exces-sive. It’s difficult for humans to detect the difference between tolerable and intolera-ble ammonia levels, so careful monitoring is important.

Although the buildings are designed for optimum ventilation, Norman says that air movement is carefully regulated, especially in cold weather. “We can’t run a lot of air because we’d be burning a lot of propane and then sending the air right back out,” he notes. “We have humidity gauges and regulate the fan time accord-ing to humidity.”

When the broilers are about six weeks old, Norman can find out an approximate date the birds might be picked up. By about 48 days, the birds are finished and ready for shipping.

“They like to see birds that weigh about 6.2 pounds,” says Norman. “If there’s a demand for them, sometimes they ship sooner.” The Hoovers are diligent about keeping their birds clean and healthy, and often benefit from Perdue’s grower incentive program. “Birds are compared with all the other growers who shipped birds that week,” says Norman, explaining the program. “If we’re above the average, our pay increases.”

After birds are shipped, there’s a

period of time, usually about 14 days, during which the house is empty before the next flock of chicks arrives. Norman uses this time to prepare for the new chicks.

“I have machinery to remove the top layer of litter,” says Norman. “Then we pulverize the litter and dry everything out. We wash down the fans, inlets and water lines. The litter is recycled for about six or seven flocks.”

Although the Hoovers are constantly fine-tuning the process of raising broilers, they’ve had some unexpected challenges. Eunice recalls the first winter they raised broilers. “We had a foot of snow, and Norman plowed that,” she says. “Then, he got up and it had snowed six more inches. We had birds going out that night, so he had to plow to keep the lane open for the truck.”

After several years in the business, Norman has found that raising broilers is a combination of science and practicality. “Sometimes I think a flock isn’t going to do well, but they do,” he says. “There’s a fine line, and I’m still learning.” z

The Hoover farm, in Ephrata, Pennsylvania, includes six poultry houses where the family raises organic broilers. Solar panels help supply electricity for both the barns and the farmhouse.

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STORY AND PHOTOS BY SUSAN WALKER | IF NOT FOR THE ARRIVAL OF A LAW SCHOOL ACCEPTANCE LETTER, TOM BARSE MIGHT HAVE STARTED OUT HIS WORKING LIFE FARMING. “AFTER COLLEGE, I WAS LIVING ON A FARM IN WEST VIRGINIA THAT MY PARENTS HAD BOUGHT AS A PLACE TO VACATION,” HE SAYS. “ I RAISED SHEEP, MADE HAY AND HAD THREE ACRES OF WINE GRAPES. MY MOTHER’S PARENTS HAD BOTH BEEN FARMERS, ONE IN ST. MARY’S COUNTY, MARYLAND AND ONE IN COUNTY GALWAY, IRELAND, SO I FELT THAT FARMING WAS IN MY BLOOD. BUT THEN I GOT ACCEPTED INTO LAW SCHOOL AND MY MOTHER INSISTED I GO.”

Though he still returned to the farm whenever he was able, Tom eventually swapped farming for a career as a criminal defense attorney. After more than 20 years in practice, he decided it was time for a change, so he got his teaching credentials and taught law and government to students in the English as a Second Language (ESL) program at Gaithersburg High School. “I always liked kids and did a lot of juvenile work when I was practicing law, so I felt teaching was a way I could help kids who needed guidance and keep them on the right path,” Tom explains.

It was at Gaithersburg High School that he met fellow teacher and head of the Special Education Program

Carolann McConaughy. Carolann also had a strong connection to the land and farm life. Not only did she have a degree in wildlife biology, she was also an experienced horsewoman and had worked in therapeutic outward bound-style programs with at-risk kids. She recruited Tom to help with a presentation at school and, Tom says, “It was love at first sight.”

After Tom and Carolann got together, they started looking for a small farm where they could have horses and raise heritage breed Leicester Longwool sheep. Tom planned to plant wine grapes and pick up where he left off when he went to law school. They purchased 47 acre Stillpoint Farm

in Mt. Airy, Maryland in 2008, but rather than grapes, Tom decided to plant hops, a crop that hasn’t been grown in Maryland for more than 100 years.

“I’d been a home brewer since the 70s and we were looking for a value-added approach to agriculture,” he says. “Our first year, we planted a half acre of hops and handed out samples at a beer festival in Union Mills. One of the people we gave a sample to was Hugh Sisson, head of Clipper City Brewing Company in Baltimore. He bought our first crop and used it in a batch of Heavy Seas Loose Cannon, which was a big hit.”

Seeing that there was a good market for locally grown hops, Tom and Carolann expanded the hop yard

Lawyer, teacher, farmer, brewer: How a career change led to Maryland’s first farm brewery


FARM AND LAND

V V VFarm Credit loan officer Mary Jane Roop (right) says Tom and Carolann frequently share their expertise and advice with other farmers interested in starting breweries.

The brewery is not only where the beer is made, it’s also a taphouse where visitors can enjoy beer, snacks, local music and art.

Working with a crew of three in the brewery, Tom expects to brew 500 barrels this year.

to an acre and began growing several varieties of hops including some heritage varieties. They used sustainable agriculture practices and Tom designed and built a custom hop harvesting machine so that the crop didn’t have to be picked by hand, a slow, tedious process. He also designed and built two other machines to sort the hop cones from the leaves and dry and bale them.

For a few years, they sold their hops to local Maryland craft breweries, but in 2012, Tom helped draft a law that would allow farmers to make and sell their own beer as long as it contained at least some ingredients grown on the farm. That opened a new door, and Tom and Carolann started Milkhouse Brewery on their farm in 2013, the first farm brewery in the state. Their first year, they produced about 150 barrels of beer. That grew to 300 barrels this year, and Tom projects they’ll produce 500 barrels next year. They currently

have eight employees, whom Tom says also help out on the farm with planting, harvesting and more.

“I wanted to make an old-fashioned beer using local, farm-raised ingredients and no unnatural ingredients,” Tom explains. “It’s simple, sustainable and tastes like I imagine beer did 100 years ago.”

Milkhouse Brewery now produces seven varieties of beer, which are sold at the brewery, several Maryland restaurants and area liquor stores. This year, they introduced Stillpoint Reserve brews, including a cherry porter and smoked peach beer made with fruit from nearby Baugher’s Orchard.

“The brewery has been extremely successful, producing more than $300,000 in gross revenue this year,” Tom says. “It allows us and other farm breweries to sustain small farming in Maryland. It also brings people to the farm, which builds agri-tourism and

helps people make a connection with the land. And it brings people together. There will be groups of people sitting at different tables at the brewery who start talking and end up sitting together.”

The farm and brewery have also played a role in expanding agricultural education and helping other area farmers interested in growing hops and brewing beer. Farm Credit co-sponsored a conference at Milkhouse Brewery with University of Maryland Extension, the Northeast Hop Alliance, of which Tom is president, and several other Maryland breweries. More than 100 people attended the conference and field day. “The wealth of knowledge that Tom brought together at the conference was a great resource,” says Farm Credit loan officer Mary Jane Roop.

“Farming’s not an easy job, but there’s nothing more rewarding,” says Tom. “And most days, it’s also lots of fun.” z

Abby Casarella handles the brewery’s social media pages and website, getting the word out about Milkhouse.


V V V VCarolann’s Leicester Longwool sheep are a heritage breed prized for their high quality fleece.

Milkhouse offers six to seven different varieties of beer, from dark to light, to please most any beer aficionado.

The wool from Carolann’s sheep is turned into a rainbow of yarns.

facebook.com/MilkhouseBrewery

@milkhousebrew

@milkhousebrewery

milkhousebrewery.com


FARM AND LAND

Now Richard, who lives outside Federalsburg, Maryland with his wife Wenfei, reports that 10 to 15 people cultivate perhaps 25 acres of beach plums. Richard’s three acres annually yield 10,000 to 20,000 pounds of fruit that is sold to a jelly manufacturer, a gin distillery and to Cape May Winery in New Jersey for the production of port wine.

Wenfei and Richard were gradu-ate students at Cornell when they met. Wenfei, a native of Taipei, Taiwan, had a bachelor’s degree in horticulture and earned a master’s and doctorate in both agricultural economics and floriculture at Cornell.

After graduation, she got a faculty position with research and extension responsibilities in the horticultural business management and market-ing program. For eight years, she did

marketing research and cost accounting for the New York greenhouse indus-try, reviewing the books of some 50 greenhouse operations growing mostly bedding plants and poinsettias.

Richard has been engaged in horti-culture since age 15 and received his master’s and doctorate from Cornell. His master’s thesis was published as Weeds of the Northeast, and, 20 years later, he still receives royalties from its sale. His doctorate dissertation was on the beach plum. Following graduation, he worked in Cornell’s botanic garden, but “I am a horticulturist,” says Richard, “I never planned to work at a university.”

After 16 years in Ithaca, New York, the couple decided it was time for some-thing different. They began searching for land, but discovered costs were too high in Massachusetts and New York.

“The whole search took no more than a year,” says Richard, before they chose the Delmarva Peninsula because “land was affordable and it was close to market.”

Wenfei notes, “We didn’t have any personal connection to this region,” but the pair, with son Isaac and daughter Pearl, gave up their jobs and moved to an area they have come to love. “It’s a beautiful climate,” says Wenfei, “You can drive to many places all in a day.”

Perhaps because of their horticul-tural and extension backgrounds, the couple did not experience significant upheavals in their move. “Horticulturally, there were no surprises,” says Richard. Wenfei adds, “We knew what we were getting into except the scale was larger. We don’t plant anything by hand. You can’t plant 5,000 plants in a day by hand. We have to adjust to everything getting

From Academe to Agriculture:Wenfei and Richard Uva’s second life

STORY AND PHOTOS BY NANCY L. SMITH | PITY THE POOR BEACH PLUM. FOR HUNDREDS OF YEARS, THE LITTLE TREE HAS GROWN ALONG THE NORTH ATLANTIC DUNES, BEARING SMALL FRUITS THAT FEW PEOPLE NOTICED AND EVEN FEWER BOTHERED TO HARVEST. BUT RICHARD UVA, WHILE A GRADUATE STUDENT AT CORNELL UNIVERSITY, DECIDED TO STUDY THE NATIVE PLANT AND DEVELOP IT AS A NEW CROP.

Wenfei and Richard pause among their holly trees. “We are hitting the place we want to be,” says Wenfei. “We need to maximize what we have.”

Colorful berries adorn twigs in one of the Uva’s chillers. Fresh magnolia leaves are just visible on the shelves to the right.

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bigger. You have to know how and when to scale up.”

On their 36 acres, the Uvas grow fruit and cut flowers. “We are relatively large for this region in flowers, but miniscule in fruit,” says Wenfei. They are moving in the direction of all flowers, except for the beach plums which will stay, even after the pawpaws, peaches and Japanese plums are phased out. “We can grow flowers every day of the year,” says Richard.

Wenfei agrees, “With flowers, I can be in front of my buyers every week. With fruit, I show up just one month of the year.” Summer flowers are grown from seed started in the farm’s greenhouses. Other plants, like dahlias, are grown from purchased cuttings. Most tree seedlings are purchased.

Other than the beach plums, fruit sales have been limited to one farmers market in Lewes, Delaware and sales to local farmers who resell the produce at their roadside stands. “Years ago, we

were doing five or six farmer’s markets, but we got away from that,” says Wenfei.

Flowers are the mainstay of the operation. The Uvas wholesale cut flowers in New Jersey, Maryland and Washington, DC. They even have “a couple of customers on Long Island a few times a year,” says Wenfei. They had a small retail shop in Easton, but now concentrate on the wholesale operation and weddings.

Providing flowers for weddings began “five or six years ago, but for three years it has been really serious,” says Wenfei, who had experience in floral design in Taipei. The Uvas, with one full-time and one part-time floral designer, provide flowers for about 100 weddings a year—from Kent Island, Maryland to Rehoboth, Delaware—without any advertising.

In addition to cut flowers, they sell plant cuttings, such as holly and other berry-bearing stems, for the holidays. Wenfei says she had a lot to learn when

she first offered holly to wholesalers. She called them in the fall, only to discover they contracted for Christmas holly during the summer.

Another product is large tree limbs, sometimes six feet in length. “The branches are sold for big events, through wholesalers and distributers,” Richard explains. They grace hotel lobbies and dramatic floral arrangements for large functions.

The farm employs six workers, but “we need people willing to take on responsibility,” says Richard. “It’s not hard to find labor, but it is hard to find skilled middle management.”

Lisa Cunningham, their Farm Credit loan officer, says “The Uvas have succeeded because they are committed to their business and to learning the ins and outs of the industry. They are committed to growing their business to make it a success,” she says. z

Henry Lauder’s walking stick, or corkscrew hazel, an ornamental grown for its intricately twisted branches, is also grown by the Uvas.

A worker displays a bunch of freshly cut holly. Wenfei displays a holiday arrangement ready for a client. “Flowers just took off,” she says.

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seaberryfarm.com

facebook.com/seaberry-farm

STORY BY STELLEDA FRIEND, PHOTOS BY STELLEDA FRIEND AND RYAN CLOUSE | BILLIE CLIFTON WAS IN HER MID-40s WHEN SHE DECIDED SHE WANTED TO SWITCH CAREERS. SHE’D BEEN WORKING IN THE INSURANCE INDUSTRY SINCE GRADUATING FROM COLLEGE AND WAS PRESIDENT AND CEO OF HERNDON, VIRGINIA-BASED 1ST WASHINGTON INSURANCE COMPANY.


“I really wanted to do something different. I looked for things I was interested in and things I would enjoy,” Billie says.

For a time, she considered studying architecture, but she knew that would require a major investment of time and money. She was also interested in herbs and gardening, so she decided to take classes at Northern Virginia Community College in plant propagation and greenhouse crops. She learned how to build greenhouses and in 2000 started growing herbs in her back yard and selling to garden centers.

Billie named her business the Sunflower Cottage. Her husband Arnold and three teen children helped her get it off the ground, working in the greenhouses and on the farm. Now, the children are grown and living on their own and Arnold is semi-retired, but he still assists in an advisory role at the herb farm, where they

recently added a hops field, microbrewery and restaurant.

Since both Billie and Arnold had backgrounds in business, the Cliftons didn’t have all the same challenges as other new business owners when it came to learning how to do bookkeeping and payroll. For Billie, starting the business was an opportunity to learn things about plants and agriculture that she had always wanted to know.

“Most small business owners would say they already knew how to grow (plants) and the hardest part was the back office stuff – the marketing, the payroll. I already had all that. What I had to learn was the fun stuff. I wouldn’t even say I had challenges. What I had were opportunities to learn what I really wanted to do,” she says.

Prior to starting the Sunflower Cottage, Billie says she would have described herself as a “wanna-be” gardener. “I was CEO of a $36 million insurance

company. No, I didn’t have time for gardening,” she said.

Her herb-growing operation grew quickly as she found garden centers eager to buy her plants. “I ran out of space the first year,” she says.

She purchased 40 acres of farmland in Middletown, Virginia, in 2006. A Farm Credit customer, Billie maintains a line of credit and a mortgage on the property, where plants grow in six greenhouses.

Sunflower Cottage grows more than 120,000 herb plants a year for other garden centers and its own retail customers. They also sell seeds, perennials, annuals, vegetable plants, hanging baskets, flowering shrubs, containers, tools, gloves, books, and herbal jellies.

Billie says the plant garden centers purchase most is sweet basil. “I guess it’s their customers’ favorite,” Billie says.

Since she bought the Middletown

FARM AND LAND

Herb grower trades insurance for agriculture

Arnold and Billie Clifton stand behind the counter at the Backroom Brewery, a microbrewery and farm-to-table restaurant Billie opened on the same property as her herb farm, the Sunflower Cottage, in Middletown, Virginia.

The new brewery building was constructed in 2015. This portion was added to the existing structure which Farm Credit helped finance in 2005.

Billie looks at trays of microgreens at the Sunflower Cottage. The business grows and sells plants and herbs and also uses them in dishes served in their restaurant.

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property, customers have come to Sunflower Cottage to buy plants and visit the various gardens there, which include cottage, perennial, vegetable, and sunflower gardens, and a lavender field. In the spring and summer there is a cutting garden for use by garden clubbers, brides, florists, and anyone who wants to pick their own flowers. A 50-foot-wide, 11-circuit meditational labyrinth at Sunflower Cottage is listed on the National Labyrinth Walkers Association website.

Billie is founder of the Shenandoah Herb Society, a chapter of the Herb Society of America, and she started the Virginia Herb Festival, which draws thousands of visitors annually to the Sunflower Cottage over a weekend in June.

In 2013, the Sunflower Cottage added a hops field, craft brewery and farm-to-table restaurant, the Backroom Brewery. The business has five full-time employees, all of whom are “multi-talented” and can work at both the farm and brewery as needed.

“The herb farm was truly the springboard for the farm brewery,” Billie

says. “We are growing the ingredients for our beer.”

The best-selling beer at the brewery is Lemon Basil Wheat. Farm-grown plants such as arugula, peppers and tomatoes are used in dishes served at the restaurant, where the most popular meal is the beer-bread grilled cheese sandwich.

“Food is a big part of the business. People love to come here and bring friends and family. We’re kid friendly and pet friendly,” Billie says.

Loan officer Ryan Clouse has been with Farm Credit since 1999 and has known the Cliftons for more than a decade. Ryan says Billie and Arnold Clifton’s background in business made them ideal clients when they came to Farm Credit.

“They had done their homework. Billie had done extensive research when she came to me,” Ryan says. “With Billie, you had the general sense that there was something to that (plan).”

Ryan says most of his clients are similar to the Cliftons in that they start out with only part-time income from

agriculture, although many want to make it their full-time occupation. His advice to those transitioning from another field into agriculture is to take it slowly.

“You’ve got to love what you’re doing because if you’re getting into something only for the profit motive, that’s not going to work here,” Ryan says.

Billie says someone who wants to leave the corporate world and go into agriculture or agri-tourism needs two things in addition to agricultural skills: money and land. The land can be purchased with a loan, but Billie says it’s also helpful when switching careers to have enough savings to support yourself for a while—ideally a couple of years—so that you can put all of your earnings back into the business.

With a background in business and a passion for growing, transitioning from the corporate world into agriculture wasn’t hard for Billie. And she doesn’t regret not becoming an architect. “I think that after the housing market crashed, I might have had trouble finding a job, and I would have been disappointed.” z


Brewer Daniel Flory pours barley into a mash tun to start the process of making beer for the Backroom Brewery.

The brand new brewing equipment was delivered on a flatbed truck. Shipped from California, it included a mash tun, brew kettle, fermenters, and a brite tank. It made it all the way to Virginia in perfect condition.

Arnold and Billie Clifton, center, are shown with employees Daniel Flory (left) and Darren Queen (right), both brewers.

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facebook.com/BackroomBrewery

@Backroombrews

virginiaherbfestival.com

sunflowercottage.net

backroombreweryva.com


OUR ASSOCIATION

Meet Our New CEO: Tom TruittSTORY BY JENNY KREISHER | “I HONESTLY CAN’T IMAGINE A CAREER OUTSIDE OF FARM CREDIT,” SAYS TOM TRUITT, MIDATLANTIC FARM CREDIT’S RECENTLY-APPOINTED CEO, AS HE GLANCES AROUND HIS OFFICE.

Many others would agree. Tom started his career in 1993, working in the audit department for the Bank of Baltimore. In 1995, a merger prompted him to have a short stint in commercial banking. “I lasted 30 days and came back to work for Central Maryland Farm Credit as a loan officer in Westminster,” says Tom.

When MidAtlantic was formed in 2000, he became the Chief Information Officer. Though he enjoyed the new challenge of working with technology, Tom missed the daily interactions with customers. So, when Valley Farm Credit became part of the association in 2008, he took on the role of regional manager. He held that position until 2013, when he became the Chief Operations Officer and returned to Westminster. “I’ve seen every bit of this association, and I feel privileged to have been able to gain that insight,” says Tom.

Growing up in a small town just

south of Berlin, Maryland, Tom has been around farming all of his life. “We lived in a two-story farm house in the middle of a corn field, with two chicken houses. My parents still live there, and my brother built a house on the farm,” he says. After high school, Tom graduated from Salisbury University with a degree in business administration, with plans to be a stockbroker.

He earned his master’s in business administration from Hood College in Frederick, Maryland and also attended Stonier Graduate School of Banking. “I may have thought I wanted to be a stockbroker, but I was drawn back to agriculture. The community within this industry is so strong. I find those same values within Farm Credit, both in our employees and in our customers.”

Professional accomplishments aside, Tom is a true family man, spend-ing as much time as possible with his wife, Anne, a high school math teacher,

and their two children. “We live in a log cabin out in the middle of nowhere, bordering the Appalachian Trail, so the outdoors have always been a huge part of our lives,” he says. When he’s not busy running Farm Credit, you can find him running outdoors (he’s signed up for a rollerblading marathon this fall—how cool is that?), golfing or traveling. “I used to spend a lot of time bringing my kids to and from activities, but with them both at driving age, I find myself getting out of that business.”

In his new role as CEO, Tom looks forward to keeping Farm Credit relevant as the industry, and those who work in it, adapt to the changing times. “Ag is evolving in every aspect, just like the rest of the world, and it’s important we evolve with it,” he says. “But what will always remain true is our commit-ment to our customers. Regardless of what technology brings, our focus on customer service is our top priority.”

Ag is evolving in every aspect, just like the rest of the world, and it’s important we evolve with it.“ “


Anirban Basu: As Chairman and CEO of Sage Policy Group, Anirban is one of the top economists in the Baltimore, Maryland area. He has consulted with many clients in a wide variety of industries, and has written several economic development strategies for government agencies and non-profits. Anirban currently lectures at Johns Hopkins University in micro-, macro-, international, and urban economics, and has been recently appointed to both the UniversitySystem of Maryland Foundation Board and the Board of the Archdiocese of Baltimore School System. He was named one of Maryland’s 50 most influential people in 2007, and the Baltimore Business Journal named him one of the region’s 20 most powerful business leaders in 2010.

As we celebrate Farm Credit’s centennial milestone this year, the annual meet-ings serve as the perfect time for our customers, staff members and board members to gather and reflect on our past. They also give us a chance to update you on all that we have planned for the future. We hope you can join us as we come together to kick off the next 100 years of Farm Credit!

We’re rolling into the next century by giving away a brand new John Deere Gator as the grand prize during our 2016 annual stockholder meetings!

One lucky winner will be awarded a brand new Gator XUV 550 Crossover Utility Vehicle. This model has a powerful V-twin engine, independent four-wheel suspension, and the availability to use over 75 attachments (not included). Not only will it help you get to wherever it is you’re going, but it comes with a custom, one-of-a-kind Farm Credit wrap!

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 social media. Please be sure to read the following legalese below or go to mafc.com for the complete rules.

Good Luck!

Drive into the future with a 2016 John Deere Gator!

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 2016 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 22, 2016, under the supervision of an independent sweepstakes administrator. Void where prohibited.

meeting agenda6:15 Registration

6:45 Call to Order

7:00 Dinner

8:00 Business Meeting

9:00 Guest Speaker

2016 annual meetings dates

April 5 .................................................. Yoder’s Restaurant New Holland, PAApril 6 ...................................... Modern Maturity Center Dover, DEApril 7 ................................................................. Hager Hall Hagerstown, MD**New location for 2016

registrationThere are two ways you can register for our annual meetings:

mafc.com and complete the online registration form.

in your annual meeting information statement, which you will be receiving in early March.

Can’t make it this year? No problem! You can follow the action live on social media with #MAFCAM. We’ll be sharing all the fun!

this year’s speaker

This year, your cooperative will be distributing approximately $16.7 million in patronage payments, all in cash. We will be mailing the checks directly to our members at the end of March!

Marty Desmond, regional lending manager for Farm Credit, handing Marcia Spence of Dover, Delaware, the keys to her new 2015 Gator. You could be the lucky winner this year!

V

Reflecting excellence

Agriculture through the YearsJuly 2016 marks the official 100th year of the Farm Credit System! We have a lot of exciting things planned to celebrate this momentous occasion, and we’d love for our customers and friends to help us with our preparation. Please email [email protected] with any old photos of your farm, farming family, equipment, or the like. Be sure to include your name, the location that the photo was taken, and a year (if you know it). We will be featuring some later this year on social media, in the Leader and on our blog!

Thank you for helping us illustrate the changes agriculture has gone through over the past century!


OUR ASSOCIATION

Our Integrity means everything to usWe are very proud of our reputation as a lender that does not succumb to unethical behavior. We plan to keep that reputation, and we’ve implemented several processes to help protect it. There are several internal venues for employees to be “whistle-blowers” if they ever see or suspect business practices that are anything less than living up to the highest standards of integrity. We also realize our customers, our vendors and our peers may become aware of

unethical business practices before we do, such as accepting kick-backs from vendors, or promising our borrowers special treatment in return for favors or monetary payment.

To facilitate the communication of issues like those listed above, we have a tip line available to the general public. If you suspect or have seen actual wrongdoing involving MidAtlantic, its employees, and/or our directors, you can report it anonymously through our whistleblower hotline (Listen Up) at 888.789.6627, or

ListenUpReports.com. Of course, if you ever have a complaint about MidAtlantic Farm Credit (one that isn’t necessarily an ethical lapse), please send it to us at [email protected].

As important as ethics are to us, customer service is important as well, and we want to hear about your experience. We’re always looking to improve our service, and maintain our high standards. Thank you!


We sure do love #winteronthefarm!

THIS WINTER STARTED OUT MUCH WARMER THAN USUAL, BUT OUR FRIENDS SENT IN SOME GREAT PHOTOS OF HOW A COLD, SNOWY WINTER LOOKS ON THEIR FARM. THANK YOU TO ALL WHO PARTICIPATED. BE SURE TO FOLLOW US ON SOCIAL MEDIA FOR MORE PHOTO CONTESTS, COMING SOON!

Amber Kemble — Middleburg, PA

@Jennideere

Frances Baker — Lewes, DE Karen Zuck — Lebanon, PA

Casey Houtz — Spring Mills, PA Cindy Cohagan — Fawn Grove, PA

@KarlFamilyFarms

SOCIAL

USDA approved area! Very nice rancher on a 1.25 acre lot featuring four bedrooms and one and a half baths. Well cared for home with full basement, large partially covered deck. Updated kitchen with granite counters. $229,900.

Contact Florence Wise, Coldwell Banker Innovations, 240.527.0349.

Clear Spring, Maryland


SOCIAL

The Veteran Staffing Network (VSN), a program offered by Easter Seals, helps our nation’s veterans transition from active duty to civilian life. This road is often rocky for those leaving the military, but the VSN is there for them, with the mission to teach veterans how to job search and help them find their next career path. The VSN places those eligible with employers for a fee and those revenues pay for the delivery of social services and career coaching. Since the program’s start in December of 2012, over 600 veterans across 14 states have been matched with a job and another 2,000 have benefitted from job coaching.

If you or someone you know may qualify for help through the VSN, or if you are looking for employees for your farm, please visit veteranstaffingnetwork.org for more information. You can also reach a representative by calling 1-855-VETS111 or emailing [email protected].

Helping Our Veterans Embark on New PathsPr

ope

rtie

s for

sale

COMMUNITY

Fantastic Cordova property offering many possibilities. Situated on eight acres and offering two fenced paddocks with two run-ins, huge 55’ x 75’ pole barn, with pit and huge storage area. Three-four bedroom rancher with finished basement, huge living room with pellet stove, concrete pool, and much more. $629,900.

Contact Bryan Wieland, Benson and Mangold, 410.829.5913.

Cordova, Maryland

King’s Prevention Farm, circa 1695. A 143 acre historic estate situated on the East Fork of Langford Creek with deep water dock (7+MLW), tenant and guest houses, lap pool with pool house, horse stable barn, tennis court, and great hunting! $3,900,000.

Contact Joe Hickman, Cross Street Realtors, 410.778.3779 or 410.708.0536.

Chestertown, Maryland

Need financing for any of these properties? Call your local Farm Credit office.All of the properties listed on these pages are offered for sale by local, licensed Realtors and Auctioneers. MidAtlantic Farm Credit is not affiliated with these properties, nor are we responsible for content or typographical errors. Please call the Realtor or Auctioneer listed for more information.

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COMMUNITY

Sportsman’s retreat on 240+ acres offering 5,290 feet of waterfront with seven ponds, tillable acreage, and a marshy area for hunting. There is a main residence, pool and pool house, guest cottage, and two additional homes. Property consists of four parcels and is located next to Fishing Bay Wildlife Management Area. $785,000.

Contact Walt Trice, Exit Latham Realty, 410.463.0500.

Crapo, Maryland

Nice farm lot with 25 acres featuring panoramic views. Private setting in an area of custom homes with similar sized lots. Property is rectangular in shape and includes a pond. Approximately 738 feet of road frontage and does not have a shared driveway. Well installed, 15 gallons per minute. $299,900.

Contact Jim Bass, Real Estate Teams, LLC., 301.644.2607.

Quality constructed stone home. Two car side-load garage, 12’ x 24’ shed, three bedrooms, two full baths, two stone fireplaces (one is currently propane, other is wood burning). Andersen windows were installed in 1992. Solar panels and kitchen updates, including cabinets, countertops, wall oven, and cooktop. Beautiful lot on 1.03 acres. $289,000.

Contact Melinda Wimer, Harlan C. Williams, Co. REALTORS, 410.287.0037.

Property includes two perc approved water-front lots of five and 20 acres. A 6,800 square foot residence with seven bedrooms and seven bathrooms. Large heated indoor swimming pool. Water views from almost every room. $2,450,000.

Contact Kurt Petzold, Chesapeake Bay Properties, 410.820.8008.

Very private 49+ acre farm offering shoreline adorned with majestic oaks, westerly views and deep water channel. There is approximately 36 acres of top-producing tillable acreage and located in an estate area. Excellent for goose and duck hunting. $1,450,000.

Contact R. James Latham, Exit Latham Realty, 410.822.2152.

Twenty open acres of prime, fertile and produc-tive farmland! Seller thinks it would be perfect for growing grapes. Morton building with electric and separate barn with electric and water. Brick rancher with spacious living room and cozy fireplace. Hardwood floors through-out. Replacement windows, new roof. $429,000.

Contact Linda Borgmann, Riley & Associates, 443.286.1725.

Known as the “Collins Farm”, offering 110 acres of tillable ground, 21 acres of CREP, 106 acres of woodland, and 136 acres of wildlife on the Choptank River. Offering numerous possibilities with exceptional wildfowl and deer hunting. $1,950,000.

Contact Bill Wieland, Benson and Mangold, 410.310.0803.

Frederick, MarylandElkton, Maryland

Easton, Maryland Easton, Maryland

Freeland, Maryland

Hurlock, Maryland

Great opportunity to own a small farm in Queen Anne’s County on 27.17 acres! Productive soils with 22 tillable acres (could also support horses/livestock). Great hunting poten-tial with five wooded acres. Original structure lost to fire, but foundation remains. Bring your plans and build your dream farm! $199,000.

Contact Sarah Dean, Cross Street Realtors, 410.778.3779 or 410.708.2528.

Millington, Maryland

Totally rebuilt stone house in the heart of Galena. Top-of-the-line stainless steel appli-ances, walk-in closets, roof deck, and tile show-ers. Beautifully landscaped lot with fenced-in yard. Endless possibilities with commercial zoning and professional office/library. $449,000.

Contact Wm. David Leager, Sassafras River Realty, Ltd., 410.778.0238.

Galena, Maryland


COMMUNITY

This spacious four bedroom, two and a half bath Colonial is set on 7.5 acres. Home offers a large sunny kitchen that opens to the family room with a fireplace and hardwood floors, formal living and dining. Four fenced paddocks, four stall horse barn with tack room and barn-yard! Small orchard with fruit trees and berries is also on the property. $374,900.

Contact Cynthia Grimes, J&B Real Estate, Inc., 301.788.5354 or 301.271.3487.

Beautiful country setting on 49+ acres with tillable land, private woods, marshy cove, and view of the Choptank River. The farm features a three bedroom rancher with attached two-car garage, large detached two-bay garage with workshop and large dog kennel. Great for hunting or enjoying the wildlife. $750,000.

Contact Skipper Marquess, Exit Latham Realty, 410.822.2152.

Move your horses in today and be ready to ride tomorrow in your indoor arena. Established turn-outs (total of seven) with auto waters in all of the stalls and pastures (double fencing). Run-in sheds, an isolation barn, and an1880s stone house. Need to be close to DC or Baltimore? Near Routes 70 and 270. $1,250,000.

Contact Kitsi Christmas, Long & Foster, 301.509.4552.

Pristine cottage with huge views of Jamaica Point and the Hyatt on the Choptank River. Protected docks behind and sunset views from the front. Everything has been updated. Offers a swim deck, detached shed, boat lift, new roof, and HVAC. $450,000.

Contact Tim Miller, Benson & Mangold, 410.310.3553.

Three bedrooms, two full baths, professional office, cathedral ceilings in kitchen and living room. Side-load two car garage, blacktop driveway, whole house can run on Generac generator. Concrete front porch, back deck, shed, near Calvert Elementary and Rising Sun Middle and High Schools. $274,999.

Contact Barbara Young, Harlan C. Williams Co., REALTORS, 410.287.2149.

Beautiful rolling countryside. Thirty acres of farmland—build your dream estate or make it a small farm. Currently has crops planted, road frontage on Hoff Road. Commanding views from elevated hill top. Great spot for a home. Very good soils. Suited for all types of ag use. $250,000.

Contact Garry Haines, Haines Realty, 410.984.6556.

Thurmont, Maryland

Preston, Maryland

New Market, Maryland East New Market, Maryland North East, Maryland

Union Bridge, Maryland

Silver Run Union Mills area. 34.37 acres, nice bank barn, small farm pond. Pasture and farm-land under cultivation. $240,000.

Contact Larry Haines, Haines Realty, 410.876.1616.

22.9 acres. Total renovation on this attractive two-story farmhouse. Large farm pond with plenty of fish, five acres woodland, great views. Main floor has large kitchen/dining room, living room, den, laundry, and half bath. Second floor has three bedrooms, full bath. Rear and side decks, central air. Move right in! $485,000.

Contact Karen Carroll, Haines Realty, 410.876.1616.

Westminster, Maryland

Taneytown, Maryland

Two, possibly three, bedroom Colonial in beautiful Northern Harford County on 1.32 acres. Property has a garage and a shed. Only five minutes to North Harford elementary, middle and high schools. $179,900.

Contact Mary Beth Archer, Long & Foster, 410.459.3379.

62.56 acres just off Route 15. Endless possibilities for farming or building a dream home. The property is being sold with outbuildings: two equipment sheds (40’ x 40’ and 60’ x 64’), hay shed 40’ x 48’, and two cattle sheds (45’ x 65’ and 20’ x 38’). Also, electric fencing and gates, and three cattle watering stations. $575,000.

Contact Stephen Ferrandi, Maryland Land Advisors, 866.910.6253.

Pylesville, Maryland

Thurmont, Maryland

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Blackline Farm. Gorgeous, picture-perfect Clarke County farm, currently active beef cattle farm. Spacious 3,300 square foot cedar-sided home. Big master bedroom, woodstove in breakfast nook and an attached greenhouse. Wonderful, affordable chance to own acreage in Clarke County! $675,000.

Contact Richard Hampton, United Real Estate, 703.505.9277.

Shenandoah Valley 52 acre farm with frontage along the South Fork of the Shenandoah River. Majestic mountain views and good road front-age. Four bedrooms and two and a half baths in a custom built home with over 3,000 finished square feet. Full unfinished basement with workshop. Near Luray Caverns. $749,000.

Contact John Mauzy, Funkhouser Real Estate Group, 540.908.7123.

Blue Gate Farm. Sits on 50 acres with two ponds on two large pastures. A long paved driveway leads up to the stables and residences. This property offers a 5,500+ square foot farmhouse, a carriage house, small apartment, indoor and outdoor riding arenas, 68 stalls, and several pastures and paddocks. $1,200,000.

Contact Cindy Stys, Cindy Stys Equestrian & Country Properties, Ltd., 610.849.1790.

Turn-key 43 acre horse farm, four bedroom Colonial with sun porch, in-ground pool, indoor and outdoor arenas, run-ins with electric and water, board fencing, barns with seven stalls, and a large equipment building. Solar electric generating panels. Central to all horse activities. $849,000.

Contact Frank Durkee, O’Conor & Mooney, 410.409.5067.

Beechdale Farm. A gorgeous horse farm on 65 acres in Lancaster County. This 16 room lime-stone home features magnificent and luxurious amenities. It’s an understatement to call this a horse farmer’s dream! Magnificent, state-of-the-art horse barn and indoor riding arena, with so much more. $3,500,000.

Contact Greg Hostetter, Hostetter Realty, 717.354.6416.

Build the farm and/or home of your dreams on this 20 acre agriculturally-zoned land lot in this gorgeous area of North Lebanon town-ship! Sixteen tillable acres with four acres of wetlands. Public water and sewer available at street. $309,900.

Contact Shawn Koppenhaver, Century 21 Krall Real Estate, 717.273.1631.

Amazing 360 degree panoramic views. Guest house, pool, patio, sunroom, and covered front porch. Only 10 minutes from town. Breathtaking 75 acres in beautiful Luray, Virginia that has it all. Nature surrounds you on this magnificent farm with original home dating back to the 1830s! $799,000.

Contact Jennifer Avery, Team Waller Real Estate, 540.683.0282.

Looking for a getaway home? Look no further than this stunning 35 acre secluded timber frame log construction. Three bedroom, two and a half bath home built in 2006 with 18 level river front acres on the north fork of the Shenandoah River. Stone front porch, floor to ceiling windows and river views. One and a half hours from DC. $689,000.

Contact Chip Schutte, Remax Roots, 540.323.0732.

Berryville, Virginia

Luray, Virginia

New Tripoli, Pennsylvania

White Hall, Maryland Bird-in-Hand, Pennsylvania Lebanon, Pennsylvania

Luray, Virginia

Middletown, Virginia

Located on US Highway 340. Gorgeous farmhouse on approximately 27 acres. Porches, sunroom, hardwood, tile, and wood stove. Additional building for a possible guest house! Four acres zoned residential with town water and sewer. Beautiful mountain views, fenced, two storage sheds, and cattle/dairy barn. True beauty! Great location. $599,900.

Contact Wendy Thrane, Coldwell Banker Premier Properties, 540.683.1597.

Stanley, Virginia

888.339.3334 | mafc.com

HERE TO HELP YOU GROW.

America never stops. Thanks to the financial support of Farm Credit, neither do the farmers and ranchers who call her home. But the job is far from over. And as rural America grows further, we’ll be there. mafc.com/fc100.php

45 Aileron CourtWestminster MD 21157

PRSRT STDU.S. POSTAGE

BALTIMORE MDPERMIT NO. 7175

Calling all photographers:Enter to be in our 2017 Farm Credit calendar!

The search for our 2017 calendar photos has begun! Do you live near a beautiful country landscape? Is there a certain fair you can’t miss each summer? Grab your camera, snap a photo and send it to us for your chance to be featured in next year’s calendar!

Even if your photo isn’t selected for the calendar, it may end up in a future issue of the Leader, our annual report, or on our social media networks.

The deadline to send in your photos is August 12th. Contest rules and the submission form can be found at mafc.com/photo-contest.php.. We can’t wait to see ag through your lens!

MidAtlantic Farm Credit

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