The 2023 Mid-Atlantic Master Farmers encompass all that’s unique about mid-Atlantic and Northeast agriculture.
The 90th class of Master Farmers includes:
Bill and Matthew Beam of Elverson, Pa., who grow 3,600 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and grass hay, and raise 27 head of beef cattle
Bill and Jim Martin of Mooresfield, W.Va., who grow 1,600 acres of corn, soybeans and barley; 4,065 acres of pasture; and raise 4,800 head of beef cattle and 96,000 broiler pullets.
Robert Taylor of Inwood, W.Va., who grows 1,938 acres of corn, soybeans, apples and small fruit — and runs a farm market and restaurant.
Full profile stories and slideshows are being posted this week, starting today with a profile of Bill and Matthew Beam. Tomorrow’s story features Bill and Jim Martin, and Thursday’s story features Robert Taylor.
Coming to West Virginia!
This year’s crop of Master Farmers will be honored July 21 at the Mid-Atlantic Master Farmers Association annual banquet at the Cacapon Resort Park Lodge in Berkeley Springs, W.Va.
The Master Farmer annual tour on July 22 will visit four unique spots, including farms, in the Mountain State.
Banquet tickets are $85 each. Tour tickets, including lunch, are $85 each. A limited number of overnight rooms at Cacapon Resort Park Lodge are available. Make your room reservation by June 20 and ask for the Mid-Atlantic Master Farmers special “reserved block rate.”
For banquet and tour tickets, contact PennAg Industries Association at 717-651-5920 or email [email protected].
Annual tradition
Mid-Atlantic Master Farmers is America’s longest running and most prestigious agricultural honors program.
It sprouted in 1927 as part of a Master Farmers of America program to foster stewardship and leadership. At that point, the program was initiated by Pennsylvania Farmer magazine and USDA.
Today, the award is co-sponsored by American Agriculturist magazine and by Cooperative Extension programs in Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey and West Virginia. Horizon Farm Credit and FS/Growmark are supportive partners.
It is the lifetime achievement award of agriculture that recognizes exemplary role models of outstanding management, land stewardship and community leadership.
The Mid-Atlantic Master Farmers Association puts on the annual banquet and tour in partnership with American Agriculturist/Farm Progress.
For more information on the Mid-Atlantic Master Farmer Association, visit midatlanticmasterfarmer.com.
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