You can bet the farm on these sisters
BY WIB MIDDLETON
Spring planting on the hundreds of farms in Montgomery County ’ s Agricultural Reserve is happening . With all the conversations these days about food insecurity , food shortages , and surges in new customers at local farm markets and CSAs , it seems we ’ re beginning to understand the vital role that local farming plays . In that regard , there is a timely and moving documentary with a local agriculture connection called Losing Ground . It exposes the impact of urban sprawl on American agriculture where 2000 acres of agricultural land are lost every day . The film profiles a handful of farmers , including two local Maryland legacy farm families , the Stablers and the Cropps , who have farmed in this area for decades .
We recently spoke with the newest generation of Stabler farmers : Kelsey , 29 , and Shelby , 26 , daughters of Randy Stabler , who , like his father , Bob , is well known in Maryland agriculture for his leadership — and many activities beyond his successful farm operation , promoting regional agriculture . The good news ? Legacy farms like the Stablers ’ Pleasant Valley Farm in Brookeville , Maryland , amidst challenges of over devel-
Kelsey Thomas and Shelby Stambaugh of Pleasant Valley Farm in Brookville , MD .
opment and climate change , are pregnant with their first child . Life thriving and the future looks bright . on the Stabler farm is truly a family
Kelsey and Shelby were kind affair . Every day they work alongside their dad and grandfather . And enough to give time for the interview . They had just lost their in summer Kelsey ’ s kids , the sixth grandmother after a long illness generation of Stablers , are close by . and warned that at any minute
The farm ’ s 2300 acres of traditional row crops ; soybeans , corn they might have to cut the interview short . “ We have five cows and wheat are the main operation . currently in the barn getting ready Kelsey and Shelby have carved out to calve so were on nursery duty ,“ specific areas of the farm operation and of course are always at the laughs Kelsey . Married to a farmer from a nearby farm family , they ready for anything else that needs have a four-year old son and two attention . “ We run a herd of about year old daughter . Shelby married 120 Angus cows , and the produce a dairy farmer and is five months stand is our baby ,” beams Kelsey .
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