Much has been reported about the nationwide decline of family farming , with loss of farmland to suburban development and a host of other challenges . At Butler ’ s Orchard , however , today ’ s third generation of Butlers — siblings Hallie , Tyler , and Ben — defy the odds and show that family farms can thrive when they bring a creative , joyful , and businesslike mindset to everything they do .
Like other legacy farms in Montgomery County ’ s Agricultural Reserve , Butler ’ s Orchard benefits from strong roots steeped in family history and tradition . It began in the 1950s when George and Shirley Butler bought a log cabin built in 1844 on 37 acres in the Germantown-Damascus area . They managed 25 acres of peach trees , and sold peaches through a farm stand and grocery stores , while raising their four children Todd , Wade , Susan , and Carol . Wade , his wife Angela , Susan and Todd all earned degrees in horticulture from University of Maryland and went into the family business .
When the Ag Reserve was created in the early 1980s , the new zoning made it affordable to expand , and the family purchased an additional 200 acres adjacent to the original property , building it into one of the largest direct-toconsumer farms in the County .
Wade continues to provide guidance and advice as he passes the baton to his millennial chil-
plenty I autumn photos : courtesy harvest of 2023 Butler 13 ’ s Orchard