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LEAD Maryland Foundation Announces 22 Fellows

The nonprofit LEAD Maryland Foundation – which works to increase the number of leaders serving agriculture, natural resources and rural communities – has awarded fellowships to 22 emerging leaders from across the state to participate in the 2013-14 LEAD Class.

“LEAD Maryland has been remarkably successful in identifying and developing an on-going cadre of leaders who understand the complexities of agriculture and natural resources,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance, who is also a member of the LEAD Board of Directors. “Agriculture and natural resources, as well as rural development issues are far from simple. LEAD Maryland helps ensure that we have informed and effective leaders working on public policy and public education. I congratulate and welcome all of the new fellows.”

LEAD Maryland fellowships are for two years and provide participants with public issues education, skills building, leadership development, and personal growth. By participating in the program, Fellows become better equipped to solve problems, identify resources, engage and educate others, and influence public policy important to Maryland’s farmers. LEAD selects fellows in a competitive process who have demonstrated emerging leadership abilities and a genuine interest in agricultural, natural resources, and rural community issues.

The new fellows (by county) are:

Anne Arundel County

• Kristen Robinson, Financial Programs Officer, Maryland Agricultural and Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation (MARBIDCO), Arnold;

• Stone Slade, Agricultural Marketing Specialist, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Annapolis; and

• Carol West, Executive Director, Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Foundation (MALPF), Annapolis.

 

Baltimore County

• Ashley Force, Coordinator of Programs, Promotions, and Public Relations, Maryland Agriculture Education Foundation, Perry Hall.

 

Caroline County

• Amy Cawley, Food Solicitor, Maryland Food Bank, Denton.

 

Cecil County:

• Amanda Heilman, Agronomist, AET Consulting, Inc., Elkton.

 

Dorchester County

• Michael “Dale” Brown, District Manager, Dorchester Soil Conservation District/U-Pick strawberry operation, Cambridge;

• Garrett Luthy, Farmer, Greenbrier Farms (grain production), Cambridge;

• Wendell Meekins Jr., Farm manager/ Owner/Operator, Handley Farms Inc., (grain & poultry); Cambridge; and

• Nathan Wolf, Equipment Specialist, Black Gold Farms (potatoes), Hurlock.

 

Frederick County

• Kelli Wilson, Loan Officer, MidAtlantic Farm Credit, Jefferson (Frederick County).

 

Howard County

• Kathy Zimmerman, Agricultural Development Manager, Howard County Economic Development Authority, Columbia.

 

Kent County

• William McCollum, Agronomist, DuPont Pioneer, Galena; and

• Valerie Walthert, dairy farm employee, Fawnwood Farm (dairy), Worton.

 

Montgomery County

• Paula Linthicum, Office Manager/ Proprietor, Seneca Ayr Farms, LLC and Homefront Accounting, Laytonsville.

 

Prince George’s County

• Bradley Miller, Sales Manager, Miller Farms (produce and free range egg production), Clinton; and

• Shelby Watson, Farm Manager, Montpelier Farms (grain, vegetable, livestock, agritourism), Brandywine.

 

Queen Anne’s County

• Nicole Fiorellino, Graduate Assistant, University of Maryland, Department of Environmental Sciences & Technology, Chester; and

• Lenny Miles Jr., Farm Manager/ Equipment Operator, Bluestem Farms LLC and TK Farms LLC (organic production), Chestertown.

 

St. Mary’s County

• Melissa Korando, Manager, Solomons Island Winery, Great Mills.

 

Wicomico County

• Josh Hastings, Policy Manager, Eastern Shore Land Conservancy, Mardela Springs; and

• Robert “Ken” Sterling Jr., Sales Representative, Elanco Animal Health’s U.S. Poultry Business Unit, a division of Eli Lilly, Salisbury.

 

For more information, contact Susan R. Harrison, executive director, LEAD Maryland Foundation, Inc. 410-827-8056 (ext 136) or by email at: leadmd@umd.edu

 

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Contact Information

If you have any questions, need additional information or would like to arrange an interview, please contact:
Jessica Hackett
Director of Communications
Telephone: 410-841-5888

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