Glen Burnie, MD – Governor Larry Hogan and Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder inducted the Swann Family of Calvert County into the Governor’s Agriculture Hall of Fame, making the family the 47th recipients of the prestigious recognition. Accepting the honor from Governor Hogan were J. Allen and Patricia Swann, Jody and Donna Swann, and Joe-Sam and Kelly Swann. The family was inducted in front of nearly 700 agricultural leaders and legislators from across the state during the annual “Taste of Maryland Agriculture” event, held at Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie. Governor Hogan and Secretary Bartenfelder also presented the first annual Maryland Outstanding Young Farmer award to Robert Wesley Miller, Jr. of Cecil County.
“It is hard to think of a family more deserving of this distinct honor than the Swann family,” said Governor Hogan. “Their commitment to preserving our environmental resources and giving back to their community is a great reminder of how important agriculture is to the state of Maryland.”
During his remarks, Governor Hogan focused on the outstanding leadership, stewardship and accomplishments of the agricultural community. He cited the importance of agriculture to the state’s quality of life and to the economy by directly supporting 45,600 jobs.
“Each year, it is a pleasure for me to watch another hardworking farm family enter the Governor’s Agriculture Hall of Fame,” said Secretary Bartenfelder. “The Swann family is very important to Maryland’s agricultural community, and a great example of the dedication our state has to promoting the industry and preserving the environment.”
About the Swann Family (Governor’s Agriculture Hall of Fame)
Swann Farms spans more than 360 acres of land along the Patuxent River in northern Calvert County. For more than 160 years and six generations, the Swann family has grown tobacco and traditional field crops including corn, wheat, barley and soybeans. In 1994, the family began to diversify their crops and developed a reputation throughout Southern Maryland for producing high volumes of high-quality fruits and vegetables. The farm also grows malting barley which is often sourced by local breweries. More recently, in an effort to directly engage with consumers, Swann Farms opened its U-Pick operation, an agritourism attraction which allows consumers to pick their own fresh produce.
With its close proximity to the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay, Swann Farms has embraced its responsibility as stewards of the environment. The farm engages in many environmental best practices including the use of cover crops and minimum-till production of fruit and vegetables. Swann Farms was among the first to participate in the department’s then-voluntary nutrient management program and has remained in compliance ever since. The family has also been consistently involved with the University of Maryland Extension’s educational programs. Through their sensitivity to the environment and cultivation of high-value crops, the Swann family has created a farm that is economically and environmentally sustainable.
Beyond their work on the farm, J. Allen, Patricia, Jody, Donna, Joe-Sam and Kelly have each shown a great commitment to engaging the local community and raising awareness of local food production and issues affecting family farms. The Swanns are also involved with several charities and have donated produce to the Maryland Food Bank, End Hunger Calvert, and many local churches, fire departments and nonprofits. The family also remains dedicated to the Calvert County Farm Bureau and Young Farmers, where they have collectively held several leadership roles throughout the years.
This brief slideshow featuring the new Agriculture Hall of Fame family was played during the dinner:
Video source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3_0oF4m71to&feature=youtu.be