1999: James & Cassandra Briscoe

Credit: Executive Office of the Governor

Family Name: The Briscoe Family

James Thompson Briscoe and his two older brothers grew up on their family farm, Stonesby, in St. Leonard. He raised tobacco, corn, wheat, soybeans, hay, straw, and cattle for market, as well as chickens and hogs for family consumption. James earned his Bachelor’s of Science in Animal Husbandry from the University of Maryland, and served as an officer in the U.S. Marine Corps in Japan during the Korean War. Cassandra Parran Briscoe and her younger brother grew up on The Cage, a large tobacco and cattle farm in St. Leonard. Sandra married James Briscoe and together they worked on his family farm. An avid flower and vegetable gardener, Sandra served as president of the Calvert Garden Club and was known for her exquisite freeform flower arrangements. When James injured his back and was unable to drive the tractor for extended periods of time, Sandra, a young mother of three at the time, assisted with the tilling of the land. Although she was used to farm life, that spring marked the beginning of her love of farming and working the land herself. When her children left for college, Sandra became the manager of The Cage farm. She oversaw the cattle operation, and raised tobacco, small grains, soybeans, hay, and straw. Sandra was very active in the farming community; she served on the Calvert Farmland Trust and was a committee member of the Calvert County Farm Service Agency for numerous years. Both James and Sandra were devoted, lifelong members of Christ Episcopal Church in Port Republic. James served as the registrar and as a vestry member of their church. Sandra served on the altar guild and ran the Gifts and Crafts Booth at the annual Jousting Tournament and Bazaar. They were founding members of The Calverton School, an independent college preparatory school in Huntingtown. For many years, James was vice president of the Board of Directors and Sandra served as president of the Mothers’ Club. Their son Parran Broome Briscoe (pictured with his wife, Holly Rogers Briscoe) continues to actively farm both Stonesby and The Cage.

Ceremony Date: 2/3/2000