09/11/2026
🌱🚜 What a great day yesterday for the annual Soil Smart Farm Tour in Frederick County!
This year’s tour brought farmers, agricultural partners, and legislators together for an inside look at four local farm operations and the conservation practices, innovation, and family traditions that keep Frederick County agriculture moving forward.
We started at Stone Pillar Farm, where Mike and Abby Farhner shared how they’re incorporating regenerative grazing and on-farm processing into their operation, along with investments that are helping them expand their ability to market and store their products.
At Little Creek Farm, Tim Shafer and his family highlighted their beef, row crop, and hay operation. We also celebrated a major milestone as Little Creek Farm officially became a Century Farm, marking 100 years of continuous family farming. Even more special, the sixth generation is already growing up on the farm.
Our third stop was Damazo Farm, where Brad and Lane Damazo demonstrated how soil health practices, cover crops, no-till farming, and innovative equipment are helping build more resilient soils and improve crop production. Brad shared how these practices have helped his fields better withstand drought and extreme heat while improving yields.
We wrapped up at South Mountain Creamery, where the Sowers family gave us a look at the technology and robotics they use to manage milking, feeding, and manure, showcasing how innovation can help farms operate more efficiently while continuing to grow.
Across all four stops, one message stood out: there is no one-size-fits-all approach to conservation or farming. Our local farmers are continually adapting, investing, and finding new ways to protect their land while maintaining viable businesses for the next generation.
Thank you to everyone who joined us and helped make another Soil Smart Farm Tour a success! 🌾
