State Agriculture Department Announces ‘Homegrown By Heroes’ Program

Federalsburg Dairy Farmer Honored at Event in Easton

Left to Right: State Senator Stephen Hershey; Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Joe Bartenfelder; Bob Miller, Nice Farms Creamery; Tim Cureton, Rise Up Coffee; Noah Kegley, Rise Up Coffee; State Delegate Johnny Mautz; Paul Baumgardner, Board Chairman, MidAtlantic Farm Credit

ANNAPOLIS, MD  – The Maryland Department of Agriculture—in partnership with the Farmer Veteran Coalition and MidAtlantic Farm Credit—announced the Maryland’s Best Homegrown By Heroes program at an event on Wednesday in Easton. In an effort to support Maryland veterans who have returned home to the farm, the program will provide unique signage to identify and promote products at farmers’ markets and local groceries grown by local veterans.

 “I am proud to announce this new program in support of our state’s military veterans,” said Agriculture Secretary Joe Bartenfelder. “These brave men and women have served and protected our country, and they deserve all the support we can give. I encourage all Marylanders to seek out products with the ‘Homegrown By Heroes’ label.”

Dairy farmer Bob Miller of Nice Farms Creamery in Federalsburg is the first farmer to register with Maryland’s Best Homegrown By Heroes program. Miller was honored at Rise Up Coffee Roasters in Easton, where Secretary Bartenfelder and leaders from MidAtlantic Farm Credit presented him with the first official Maryland’s Best Homegrown By Heroes signage.

Miller started his micro-creamery in 2009 after serving five years as an officer in the United States Army. His was one of the first farms in the state to adopt an intensive grazing approach in lieu of conventional confinement. Nice Farms Creamery is one of the few remaining dairy operations in Caroline County.

“I am honored to be the first official participant in the Maryland’s Best Homegrown By Heroes program,” said Miller. “In today’s highly competitive marketplace, many unique products are overlooked by consumers. This program provides Maryland veterans with a valuable tool to help them stand out from the competition.”

The department’s family of Maryland’s Best logos was created to identify and promote products as locally grown or produced. The addition of the Homegrown by Heroes logo expands on this effort and recognizes a small but important group of farmers who have served honorably and returned to the land.

The Farmer Veteran Coalition was granted the honor of administering the “Homegrown By Heroes” program nationally on Veterans Day 2013. The program currently boasts over 550 members in 48 states plus Puerto Rico. The “Homegrown By Heroes” program is available free of charge to Maryland farmers who have served in any branch of the armed services. Eligible farmers interested in joining the program are encouraged to visit the Farmer Veteran Coalition website.

Look for the Maryland’s Best and the Homegrown by Heroes logo at your favorite groceries and markets. If you don’t see it, ask for it!

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