Farming and farmland in Montgomery County continue to evolve since the establishment of the county’s Agricultural Reserve nearly four decades ago. While traditional agricultural activities, including grain farms and livestock operations have sustained, Montgomery County has more recently experienced an increase in tabletop food production, horticulture and agritourism industries. Furthermore, access to healthy food and overall health has a direct correlation to wealth, race and ethnicity in the United States. How can we provide healthy food access for all residents to foster an equitable, prosperous future in Montgomery County? Learn from experienced farmers working in urban, suburban and rural areas in Montgomery County and Washington, DC on how to plan for food production. RSVP for this session.
About the Panel
Daryll Perkins, Director of Impact and Co-Founder of Broccoli City Festival
Mr. Perkins is a social enterprise developer focused on building sustainable, engaged, and thriving communities. He has over ten years of experience building social enterprises and national award-winning programs/campaigns that fight poverty and pollution, shift culture towards health and wellness, and mobilize people to action. As a co-founder of the Broccoli City Festival and Conference, he has mobilized his social business ventures to implement innovative programs and campaigns aimed at creating higher standards of sustainable living, environmental sustainability, renewable energy, economic opportunity, and access to high-quality food and shelter in impacted communities.
Hannah Sholder, Co-Founder and Director of Land Stewardship at the Charles Koiner Center for Urban Farming
Ms. Sholder is a housing, community and economic development specialist. She has over ten years of experience working with individuals and organizations both internationally and domestically to support the creation of equitable, sustainable and inclusive communities. Hannah creates conservation land trusts and community land trusts to remove land from the speculative market and preserve it for affordable housing, community-driven economic development, and urban agriculture. Hannah is a Fulbright Scholar, holds a BA from Wellesley College and has master’s degrees from UC Berkeley. In 2016, Hannah started volunteering with Charles Koiner, and over the course of three years tried to absorb as much of his farming wisdom as possible. In 2018, she co-founded the Charles Koiner Center for Urban Farming (CKC Farming) to share Charlie’s knowledge with the next generation and preserve his farm. Hannah now serves as CKC’s Deputy Director, Interim Farm Manager and Program Director for Land Stewardship.
Ben Butler, Farm and Finance Manager, Butler’s Orchard
Mr. Butler is a member of the third generation of Butler’s. He returned to the family farm after graduating from the University of Maryland with a degree in Horticulture and Crop Production in 2010. Ben is responsible for day-to-day farm operations, crop production and long-term planning, as well as overseeing the financial health of the company. He feels a personal commitment to be involved and give back to the community that has supported Butler’s Orchard for nearly seven decades. Mr. Butler has an endless desire for knowledge and is dedicated to growing the finest, most nutritious fruits and vegetables possible for his family and yours. He strives to advocate for the agricultural industry serving on the Board of the Montgomery County Agricultural Center, working with the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair, and participating in Montgomery County Young Farmers, and the Young Growers Alliance, and the LEAD Maryland Class X. Ben is proud of our agricultural heritage and humbled by the legacy and reputation of the Butler name within the community.
Greg Glenn, Co-Founder, CEO, Education Director, Farm & Livestock Manager of Rocklands Farm Winery
Mr. Glenn studied Agriculture & Applied Economics at Virginia Tech University, where he discovered his passion for farming and establishing a local food system. In 2003, Greg and his family moved to Rocklands Farm, where he oversees the entire operation, as well as directly manages the land, livestock, meat & education operations. The Rocklands Farm mission statement is: Feed – stewarding the land and cultivating the harvest through holistic regenerative agriculture. Nourish – providing products and experiences that renew and refresh the mind, body and soul. Engage – immersing our community with their food origins; the who, where, how and why it all matters. Through holistic management, Rocklands Farm Winery feeds, nourishes and engages our community. Holistic management balances the social, economic, and environmental factors for the success of the whole operation, including the greater community and ecosystem. As stewards of our families, community & land, Rockland Farm utilizes regenerative practices, which honors the successes of the past, creates value today, and builds future capacity for a generation we may never meet.
Caroline Taylor, Executive Director, Montgomery Countryside Alliance (Moderator)
Ms. Taylor has worked on environmental and agricultural issues for much of her professional career, including working with a talented group of lawyers and advocates at National Wildlife Federation on a wide range of cases and issues, such as: Spotted Owl, Key Deer, Exxon oil spill, food policy, forest preservation and water resources. Yet, her passion has always been local issues, including protecting the Montgomery County Agricultural Reserve’s natural resources and working lands. Caroline comes from a long line of farmers and ranchers from Pennsylvania, Virginia and Idaho. Growing Legacy, Caroline’s second film project, aims to educate and inspire those, who through the simple act of eating, practice agriculture. She actively participates on behalf of Montgomery Countryside Alliance on county committees to advance a strategic plan for food production, composting, agritourism and a long-range zero waste policy and implementation plan.