Governor Wes Moore today honored nine families—representing eight Maryland counties—who have operated productive farms in Maryland for more than 100 years. The governor inducted the families into the Century Farm Program and presented each with a citation, thanking them for their multi-generational commitment to Maryland agriculture and their efforts to work in partnership to further strengthen Maryland’s agricultural sector.
“There is no Maryland without Maryland agriculture. Our Century Farm Families have been cultivating the land for generations, and today, we mark those contributions by inducting them into the Century Farm Program,” said Gov. Moore. “Agriculture is the largest commercial industry in the state and we honor these families because they have cared for and nurtured not just a plot of Maryland land, but a part of Maryland’s legacy.”
“These Century Farm Families represent passion and dedication to Maryland agriculture,” said Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks. “We are proud to honor them and recognize their persistence over the past 100 years. Our Century Farm families have been working for generations to keep agriculture prosperous throughout the state, preserve crucial agricultural land, and keep Maryland’s agriculture legacy going strong.”
The Maryland Century Farm Program honors families who have passed their farming operations down from generation to generation, making it possible for future stewards of the land to continue in their family tradition. Since the program’s establishment in 1994 by Governor William Donald Schaefer, 225 farms have received the Century Farm designation. 32 families have earned the “Bicentennial Farm” designation for farming the same land for more than 200 years and 4 families have been named “Tricentennial Farms” for farming the same land for more than 300 years.
2024 Inductees
- Stoney Ridge Farm (Baltimore County) est. 1895
- Nagel Home Farm (Caroline County) est. 1904
- Molock Farms (Dorchester County) est. 1883
- Falling Branch Farm & Brewery (Harford County) est. 1924
- Boswell Homestead (Prince George’s County) est. 1910
- Hemsley Fortune Farm (Queen Anne’s County) est. 1884
- Old Meadow Farm (Wicomico County) est. 1921
- Castle Farm (Worcester County) est. 1795
- Windmill Creek Vineyard & Winery (Worcester County) est. 1924
Source : maryland.gov