About Us | Cooperators of the Year

2011 Cooperators of the Year - Billy & Jenny Shortall

The Talbot Soil Conservation District is pleased to recognize Billy and Jenny Shortall as our 2011 Cooperator of the Year. The Shortall’s live on their 400 acre Discovery Farm located in Trappe. Billy rents 11 other farms within a 6 mile radius, all totaling 1700 tillable acres, which are used for cash grain production. Most of the farms are share cropped with the landlords receiving a share of the crop and paying a share of the expenses. This arrangement requires a level of trust and cooperation not found in the more common cash rent agreements.

Billy first started farming with his Aunt and Uncle Ethel and William Bryan after finishing high school in 1979. He worked side by side with his uncle until Mr. Bryan’s passing in 1992. Billy is still farming several of the farms that his uncle once tilled. All the work is done with the help of a full time employee Steve Shores, part-time help from his father Mike, and occasional help from his brother Mickey, a real estate appraiser in Easton. The Shortall’s have one son, Bill, who is lives in California.

Billy and Jenny, who were married in 1982, have lived on the farm, first in a trailer, later in a rancher they built on the corner of the farm, and currently in the farm house the Bryans once lived in. The farmhouse was totally remodeled in 2002 and now reflects Jenny’s sense of style.

Billy has worked with his landlords to recognize and repair any erosion problems. There are numerous waterways and drop structures safely conveying runoff from the fields to the streams. Billy has enrolled 185 acres in the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program on land which is better suited to conservation than crop production. Just recently Billy was recognized by the Farm Service Agency for exemplary participation and promotion of the CREP program. Billy regularly participates in the annual Cover Crop Program and is currently enrolled in the Conservation Security Program. The cropland is farmed using no-till practices to further protect the soil and the environment. A Turbo Till is used ahead of corn planting to minimize slug damage and in the fall when seeding cover crops. In the spring, Billy seeds approximately 75 acres of corn and millet in numerous shallow water wildlife ponds as many of the rented farms are managed for waterfowl hunting.

Jenny is equally busy with her new salon “Beautiful Discovery” on Aurora Street in Easton which opened on 1-1-11 after 4 hectic weeks of remodeling. Now that things are up and running she spends 20 hours per week in the salon managing her staff of 9. When not running the salon, she keeps the farm’s books, which is no small task since the income and expenses must be kept separate for each farm so it can be shared with the landlords under the share crop arrangement.

The Shortall’s lives changed in February 2010 when Billy had heart bypass surgery. All winter, Billy was short of breath but put off a visit to the doctor until after hunting season. When he did see the doctor, Billy was scheduled for immediate surgery. By March, Billy was well enough to go on their annual two week vacation to their timeshare in St. Martin and by planting season Billy was back to 100%. In August 2010 the Shortalls purchased a condo in West Ocean City where they spend as many weekends as possible, boating, laying on the beach or by the pool, shopping, and just relaxing.

Heart surgery made Billy and Jenny realize that there is more to life than working all of the time. While work is important they’ve made steps to simplify their lives and to take time to rest and enjoy time together. The Shortall’s goal is to work hard and be successful until retirement. Regardless of who tills Discovery farm in the future it will always be a farm having been permanently preserved in the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program.

Again our congratulations to the Shortall’s for being selected as our 2011 Talbot Soil Conservation District Cooperators of the Year.

2010 Cooperators of the Year - Chip & JoAnn Councell

The Talbot Soil Conservation District is pleased to recognize Chip and JoAnn Councell of Councell Farms as our 2010 Cooperator of the year. Chip and JoAnn along with their son Jason operate Councell Farms, a retail produce market along Route 50 at Skipton, as well as a grain farming operation in the Cordova area.

The Councell Family began farming in Talbot County around 1690 with Chip being the 10th and Jason the 11th generation of Councell farmers. Chip’s grandfather was born on the Dolvin Farm near Wye Mills. He purchased the Whitemarsh Farm, where Jason and his family now live, in 1952 . Chip’s father Phil, grew up on the Whitehouse Farm at Presquile and had a dairy herd. Chip grew up on the Slaughter Farm located at the south end of Church Lane. After the dairy, the Councell family raised hogs until the early 1970’s and were primarily grain farmers until their first crop of vegetables in 1981. Interestingly enough, Chip acquired the remainder of the Dolvin Farm 99 years after his grandfather lived there through a transfer of development rights for the Preserve housing development. The current Councell men marvel at the fact that Chip’s Grandfather tilled over 400 acres with horses and mules.

Chip and JoAnn were married in May of 1981 and started Rainbow Farms that summer. The name was chosen because they hoped to find their pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. JoAnn says the “Pot of Gold” has turned out to be all the friendships they have developed with their customers and employees. The name of the produce market was changed to Councell Farms to better reflect that it was a family operation when Jason joined in 2004. Today Jason is in charge of vegetable production and entertainment farming. JoAnn runs the market and Chip handles the grain operation. Responsibilities may sound well defined on paper but everyone pitches in to do whatever needs to be done at the time. The Councell’s daughter, Melissa is a teacher at Ridgely Elementary School and works for the board of education during the summer. When the need arises Melissa is often recruited to help out. Chip’s father, Phil still helps everyday and JoAnn’s mother, Flossie and sister in law, Betsy also help at the market. The newest Councell is Jason and Casey’s daughter, Avery, born on July 1, 2010. Casey is the former Casey Morris of Cordova and works as a paralegal with Miles and Stockbridge. During the fall Casey can be found at Councell Farms on the weekends helping with the ag entertainment activities.

Of the numerous produce markets in Talbot County, Councell Farms is the most prominent with the red barn, giant watermelon, basket of tomatoes, and John Deere combine slide. Chip bought the old combine at an auction and enlisted an engineer buddy to design the slide. The engineer precisely measured the combine and produced CAD drawings. The slide was specially made in California and when all the parts arrived at Councell Farms everything fit together perfectly.

The market opens in the summer when the first local sweet corn is ready; usually coming from the sandy soils around Preston, for the first week, followed by Councell’s own a week later. About 85% of the produce sold, including: corn, watermelons, cantaloupes, and squash are grown by the Councells. Other crops such as string beans and peaches are purchased from local farmers. All of the fall crops are grown on the farm with the exception of apples and cider. During the summer about 60% of their customers are local with local patronage rising to 80% during the fall. The market is open daily from 8 am – 6 pm. Around Labor Day, Councell Farms closes for 2 weeks while they transition from summer to fall crops. The fall activities run through the end of October.

In 2008 the Councell’s expanded into Ag Entertainment and now JoAnn conducts tours for 2500 school children each September and October. The children get to participate in 22 different farm related activities and the Councells make it a point to add a new activity every year. Activities are targeted to families with small children rather than teenagers. In the fall the big attraction is the pick your own pumpkin patch .

The farm land which is not needed for vegetable production is used for grain production with a crop rotation of corn, full season soybeans, wheat, double crop soybeans, and then back to corn. Chip wanted a vertical tillage implement but didn’t think he could justify the cost of a new one so he built his own. He started with a used John Deere disk frame, straightened the gangs out, and added new wavy coulters. He then bought a used field cultivator with a rolling basket, removed the basket and put it on the disk frame, and resold the field cultivator. When completed, Chip’s machine cost less than 10% of what a new implement would have cost. Chip’s vertical tillage implement is used to incorporate poultry manure in the spring prior to planting corn and in the fall on bean stubble before planting wheat. Most corn acreage receives an application of poultry litter which is purchased from a local farmer and spread with a GPS equipped Terragator.

While the busy summer schedule at the market keeps them from being actively involved in many of the local service organizations the Councells do try to support these organizations. Chip and JoAnn regularly donate produce to several organizations, such as the Talbot County Farm Bureau, Talbot Waterman’s Association, Easton Ruritan Club, and local fire departments and churches.

What’s next for Chip and JoAnn and Councell Farms? Their short term goal is to use the market not only as a profitable business but also a venue to educate the public about agriculture. This year, with assistance from Maryland Grain Producers, educational signs will be added to the market and tour areas. Over the longer term Chip and Jo Ann want to be able to transition Councell Farms to the next generation, with the same opportunities given to them, and to make room for any family member who wants to become involved in the operation. Together, they see lots of opportunities in agriculture and are excited to be a part of it. Again, our Congratulations to the Councells for being selected as the 2010 Talbot Soil Conservation District Cooperators of the Year.

2009 Cooperators of the Year - Mark & Vicki Sump

The Talbot Soil Conservation District is pleased to recognize Mark and Vicki Sump, owners of Dunmore Heath Farm as the 2009 Cooperators of the Year. Dunmore Heath Farm came into the family when Vicki’s great grandfather purchased it 104 years ago. Vicki’s grandfather, Kenneth Dulin owned the farm for 50-60 years before Mark and Vicki purchased it in 1987. At 89, Mr. Dulin still lives on the farm in the house next door to the Sumps. Dunmore Heath Farm is a Century Farm recognized by the Maryland Department of Agriculture for being owned by the same family for 100 years and it is forever preserved through the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program.

Mark and Vicki both local to the Cordova / Queen Anne area were married in 1980. They have two daughters; Sherri, 28 who is married to Danny Brown and lives in Cordova with their children Dalton and Olivia, and Courtney, recently married to G.R. Cannon who lives in Royal Oak. Sherri works at William Hill Manor as a Move In Director and Courtney is a massage therapist working at Your Docs In.

Dunmore Heath Farm has been a poultry farm since 1962 shortly after the Bayshore Foods Company came to the area. Mr. Dulin raised chickens until 1985. Mark and Vicki upgraded the two original poultry houses in 1987 when they bought the farm and have been Allen’s growers ever since. Perhaps the most notable event at the farm was the tornado which went through on May 18, 1995. The tornado destroyed every thing but the poultry mortality composter build by the Beechy Construction Company. Lost were; the 6 year old ranch home Mark and Vicki built, two large barns, and the two original poultry houses. Mr. Dulin was more fortunate and only lost his attached garage.

The Sumps rebuilt a nice cape-cod style house and a new shop. Plans already in the works for two new chicken houses turned into plans for three new 42 x 548 houses. Today, on one of the tidiest poultry farms in Talbot County, the Sumps raise 6-7 flocks per year of Allen’s small birds which average 4.6 pounds in as little as 37 days. These birds are processed just around the corner in Allen’s Cordova plant. According to Mark the best part of the poultry business is the chicken check and the worst part is the paperwork. Another prominent farm enterprise is the 3/4 acre of green houses which were built in 2004. These are used to produce annuals under contract with Bell Nurseries of Burtonsville, MD which supplies plants to Home Depot. The green houses can hold 18,000 flats and 5000 hanging baskets and produce two turns of plants from January through July 1. Normally, one person can water and fertilize the plants but the two weeks of the season when plants are brought in or loaded out requires 5 to 7 people. Despite the recession, Vicki said annual plant sales have held up and 2009 was their best year yet. Aside from the poultry and greenhouse operations the farm is also a grain farm which includes the home farm on Kitty’s Corner Road, a farm on Lewistown Road purchased in 2007, and 10 rented farms in Talbot and Caroline Counties. Major crops include corn, soybeans, wheat, and in previous years barley.

Dunmore Heath Farm has a long history of conservation. Mr. Dulin completed a number of drainage projects and installed two ponds in the early 1970’s. Mark has continued the conservation work through the Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program, the Environmental Quality Incentive program, the Maryland Agricultural Cost Share Program, the Conservation Security Program, and most recently has sold carbon credits through a mid western aggregator.

A wet area of sensitive soils around the two ponds was planted to permanent vegetative cover through the Conservation Reserve Program in 2000 (31 - CRP Field). This protects the ponds from sediments and runoff and provides wildlife habitat.

The Maryland Agricultural Cost Share Program or MACS has assisted with the construction of two manure buildings and two composters on the Sump farm. The first manure building completed in early 1994 was destroyed in the tornado a year later. A replacement manure building was completed in 1996 along with a larger composter to handle the increased poultry production.

The Sumps have done several projects through the Environmental Quality Incentive Program or EQIP for short. In spring of 2006 the mark and Vicki had a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan prepared with EQIP assistance. This plan addresses all aspects of the poultry operation including: manure handling, nutrient management, feed management, and conservation practices. In fall of 2006 concrete Heavy Use Pads were installed at the far end of each chicken house. This provides a stable surface which is easily cleaned where the manure is removed from the houses. In 2008 Mark and Vicki replaced a travelling gun irrigation system with 50% efficiency with two center pivots with efficiencies of 97%. Also as part of their EQIP contract they had an Irrigation Water Management Plan developed which they will follow to fine tune their water use efficiency. An upcoming EQIP practice is the use of litter amendments to reduce the amount of ammonia which is lost and to increase the amount of nitrogen in the manure.

In 2006 the Conservation Security Program came to the Choptank and Nanticoke watersheds and Mark and Vicki signed up for 10 years. This comprehensive program addressed a wide range of management issues including: Energy, Soil, Water, Nutrients, Pests, Air Resources, and Habitat. Some specific items the Sumps chose to do for CSP were: 5 & 10ft buffers along ditches, recycling used motor oil, using manure to supply crop nutrients, using biodiesel, continuous no-till, and including legumes in crop rotations The CSP practice with the most immediate returns was the Energy Audit conducted by a trained expert who reviewed the farm and made recommendations to save energy. As a result of the audit new more efficient tunnel fans and fluorescent lights were installed in the poultry houses. The fans worked well but Mark found the chickens didn’t grow as well with the fluorescent lights and has switched back to incandescent. New fans were also recommended for the greenhouses but the Sumps couldn’t justify replacing 4 year old fans just yet. Mark is so adamant about the benefits of no-till that he has sold his plow for scrap and purchased a Phoenix harrow. The Phoenix harrow has tines which just scratch the soil surface and disturb the residue enough to mix poultry litter into the soil, to prepare a seedbed for cover crops, or to dry out wet ground. The harrow covers 42 ft, can be pulled fast, and requires relatively little horsepower so it is a quick and efficient tool. One side benefit is that the continuous no-till allowed the Sump’s to sell carbon credits through the Chicago Climate Exchange. Mark and Vicki are being paid a per acre payment for increasing their soil organic matter, and thus carbon content, by industries which cannot easily reduce their carbon emissions.

What’s next for Mark and Vicki? While they don’t necessarily see expansion in their future they do want to keep improving on what they are already doing. Mark would like to increase the amount of irrigation on the acreage he currently owns. To him irrigation is a means to insure that he consistently grows the best crop possible from the ever costlier production inputs. Together they’re always striving to be Allen’s best poultry grower or Bell’s best flower grower. While their two daughters have careers and families of their own Mark and Vicki seem to be setting up a pattern of skipping a generation at Dunmore Heath Farm. Grandchildren, Dalton and Olivia are quite at home on the farm and are already expert golf cart drivers. Again we congratulate the Sumps on the conservation work they’ve done and look forward to working with them on future projects.

2008 Cooperators of the Year - The Schwartens

Front: Hans & Helen Schwarten Back: Teresa Kampmeyer & Craig Zinter

The Talbot Soil Conservation District is pleased to recognize Hans and Helen Schwarten as the 2008 Outstanding Conservation Farmers of the Year. The Schwarten's 78 acre Kittys Corner Farm is the picturesque farm with a neat white farmhouse, red barns, and a white fence at the intersection of Chapel and Kittys Corner Roads. Another landmark of the farm is the lighted Christmas Star atop the barn. Shortly after Thanksgiving the church children remind Mr. Schwarten that it's time to plug in his star. Anyone who has been a guest of the Schwartens or served on a committee with Mrs. Schwarten knows that she is famous for her delicious home made pastries.

The farm was purchased in 1907 by Mr. Schwarten's father who was an immigrant from Germany. Hans Schwarten has run the farm since he was 15 when his father passed away and in 1956 he bought the farm from his mother and 6 siblings who were not interested in the farm. Over the years the farm has been home to dairy cows, beef cows, pigs, sheep, ponies, a horse, and chickens. Milk from the cows was originally used to make butter which was bartered in town for needed supplies. The sheep, the last of the large animals, left about 4 years ago and now only 3 chickens and the farm dog "Windy" remain.

The Schwartens have produced a variety of crops including corn, soybeans, barley, pumpkins and sweet corn. The 3-4 acres of sweet corn was hand picked for the fresh market with 75 dozen being delivered to Fluharty's Market everyday. Any extra corn was sold around Easton. Pumpkins were a cash crop as well as an attraction for the many school children who visited the farm with their classes over the years.

The Schwarten Farm in Cordova, Md

Along with the crops and livestock Hans and Helen Schwarten raised 3 daughters on Kittys Corner Farm. Linda lives in Easton and works for Hospice in Denton, Luann lives in Sparks, and Lois works for the Talbot County Roads Department and lives just down Chapel Road on the edge of the farm. Son-in-law Phil McDonald and grandson Phillip, loggers by trade, now do much of the farm work under the watchful eye of Mr. Schwarten. In his prime Mr. Schwarten would be milking cows at 5:30 am, change his clothes to drive the school bus he operated for 32 years by 7, home again at 9 to do field work and in the bus again at 2. Dinner was at 4 followed by milking and working in the fields half the night. Hans Schwarten called himself "thrifty" while his girls used the terms "tight" and "cheap." Whatever it was there was work to be done, not much money to hire help, so the entire Schwarten family pitched in to get the work done. Even with a busy farm life the Schawtens found time to give back to their community. Both are very active in their church, Fairview Church of the Brethren. Mr. Schwarten served on the ASCS County Committee for over 30 years and Mrs. Schwarten is just now completing her third 3 year term on the FSA County Committee.

The bus route resulted in contacts with the teachers which began the elementary school tours for which the Schwartens are well known. The first tour was Mrs. Jane Hart's kindergarten class in the early 1970's, the exact year has long been forgotten. Over the years the tours grew to include Chapel, St. Michaels, White Marsh, Tilghman, and the Montessori schools. Tours included seeing the livestock and crops, perhaps a pony ride, picking a pumpkin in the fall, and petting the baby animals in the spring. When asked how many children have visited the farm the Schwartens aren't sure how many classes came each year or even how many years they gave tours but the number is well into the thousands. Though the Schwartens never charged for tours they were practicing "entertainment farming" long before it became popular. Even today when strangers meet the Schwartens they often mention visiting the farm as a school child many years before.

Helen & Hans Schwarten with their dog, Windy

Conservation has always been a priority at Kittys Corner Farm with the original Cooperative Agreement signed in 1961 by Mr. Schwarten and District Supervisor Earl Hutchison. Hans Schwarten is probably the original Talbot County cover cropper. Long before there was a state cover crop cost share program Mr. Schwarten grew cover crops for winter forage and then plowed under what the cattle left in the spring. After the cows left Mr. Schwarten continued to plant cover crops to feed the soil. Neighbors would ask Mr. Schwarten why he was plowing under such nice looking wheat and barley. Some of the earlier Conservation District projects were drainage ditches constructed in 1978. Several rock lined outlets were added to the ditches in 1985 and 1987 and a sediment pond was built in 1988. In 2000 and 2002 eleven acres of filter strips which prevent nutrients, sediments, and pesticides from entering the drainage ditches were planted through the CREP program. In addition to the structural practices listed above, crops are rotated, a nutrient management plan is kept current and followed, and no-till is used when practical.

Again, the Talbot Soil Conservation District is pleased to recognize Hans and Helen Schwarten for a lifetime of conservation work well done. With everything the Schwartens have done in life they've done it because it was the right thing to do. It's nice to know that the Schwartens are still doing their part to care for their little corner of Talbot County.

>> Newsclipping from the Star Democrat, Easton.

John Swaine III, Teresa Kampmeyer, Holly Foster, Eric Foster & Jack King

This year we would like to honor Holly and Eric Foster. This young couple has made a tremendous statement about their faith in tomorrow as they have forged ahead to develop a grazing dairy farm. Developing a sustainable agriculture enterprise that would encompass family participation, make a profit, and develop a lifestyle that had more time at home for everyone were some of the goals that Eric and Holly wanted to encompass in their enterprise. There is no doubt that milking cows twice a day will help keep you home. Their ultimate goal is to manufacture their own cheese products and ice cream from their herd of grazing Jerseys and Holsteins.

Holly has already made a variety of cheese products on a small scale as they started milking just one Jersey in their garage several months ago to give some of their ideas a trial run. After discussing their ideas and dreams with our staff they signed up into the EQIP Program for cost share on Waste Storage, and Heavy Use Area Protection for their feed area, travel lanes. and holding pen. To enhance their rotational grazing system, Fencing, Watering Facility, and Pasture Planting practices are being added. The Roof Run Off practice is also being installed. This project got off to a fast start last June and hasn’t taken too long to completely change the landscape at this farm. They are now up and running, milking around 42 Jerseys, with about 40 more Holsteins and Jersey heifers to calve and enter the milking herd next spring.

This farm is the first farm in Talbot County to have a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan developed for its operation. This is a requirement by NRCS to receive cost sharing on the waste storage system installed. CNMP’s are designed to address all resources on the farm and take into account any pollution or environmental issues that may be present or might possibly arise. The management scheme for this farm is to do rotational grazing on the entire farm. High quality forages are being planted and a fencing and watering system are being developed to allow this herd grazing for up to 8 months each year. Grazing systems lower feed cost up to 50% and offer a more environmentally friendly system for handling cows. The real key to Eric and Holly’s success will be the adoption of their “value added” concept of selling cheese and ice cream made at the farm. They are among a growing number of farmers now trying to capture a higher percent of the food dollars spent in our country. They hope to turn the growing, affluent, population into an asset instead of a problem for farming.

A lot of work still remains to be done but much has been accomplished already. We congratulate you and wish you the very best. We look forward to continuously working with you in what has become a rewarding project for our District Staff.

John Swaine III, Eric Asmussen & Craig Zinter

The Talbot Soil Conservation District presented Eric Asmussen, president of Hans Asmussen & Sons Inc., with our 2003 Cooperator of the Year Award at the District’s Christmas lunch. Eric’s grandfather started their farming operation in the 1930’s. Throughout the years, Eric and others in his family have participated in a cooperative way with many of our programs. Congratulations for doing such an outstanding job for many years. Their central farm is location in Trappe.

Lisa, Doug & Steven Raymond

Lisa Jones-Raymond, Doug Raymond, and son Steven owners of Dogwood Farm in Sherwood were selected as the 2003 National Small Farm of the Year by the USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS). The Raymonds are involved in many aspects of sustainable agriculture, from greenhouse production of micro vegetables and customized hog and beef operations, to grazing fields, and using grasses to protect the Chesapeake Bay. Congratulations on winning this prestigious award.

Peggy Swann met with not one but two of Talbot SCD's planners in the fall of 2000, to review her farm. They identified a few erosion problems. Ms. Swann and staff from the Talbot SCD worked out a plan to repair these problems. A few of the places were working their way into the fields aggressively. There were several of these problem areas on the farm. She decided to repair the most aggressive problems first.

Overall, repairs to her farm, consisted of 740 ft of grassed waterways and 3 Drop Structures that outlets onto a stone pad, as well as installation of 475 FT of 6' Tile that was added to help with the groundwater seeping into the site. These efforts were deemed worthy of naming Peggy Swann as Talbot SCD's Cooperator of the Year for 2002.