Keeping Their Feet Planted in the Soil
Farming for Our Heritage is printed on T-shirts proudly worn by young farmers of Anne Arundel County. Their love of the soil and its bounty is inherited from parents and grandparents.
For many, it’s a heritage as close as it is deep. “Many of the members are active on their own family farms,” says Mark Hopkins, one of about 20 Anne Arundel County Young Farmers ranging in age from 18 to 35. Most work in farming part-time, usually keeping a job while raising corn, barley, soybeans, wheat and hay.
For Anne Arundel’s young farmers, an annual consignment equipment auction helps keep the tradition alive, funding three college scholarships and providing continuing education at conventions throughout the U.S., where the young farmers exchange ideas that keep them abreast of the new while not letting go of the old.
Last year 430 people attended the fund-raiser, which auctioned off 900 pieces of farm equipment.
“It should be bigger this year, judging from all the phone calls I’ve received,” says Hopkins, who revived the auction last year.
Equipment, sold by consignment, is accepted until 5pm Friday, April 8.
This year, auctioneer J.D. Cox says he expects to sell tractors, tillers, spreaders, feeders, at least one chicken coop and lots of other farm stuff.
The auction goes on rain or shine Saturday, April 9, starting at 9am. Follow the handmade signs to an open field at the corner of Route 408 and Farmhouse Lane in Lothian.
For more information: Mark Hopkins: 443-871-6443.