ANNAPOLIS, Md. — Maryland Public Television’s (MPT) acclaimed series Maryland Farm & Harvest, now in its 12th season, will showcase the agricultural heritage of Anne Arundel and Charles counties in its upcoming episode airing Tuesday, March 18, 2025, at 7 p.m. on MPT-HD and online at mpt.org/livestream. The episode, introduced from Church View Farm in Millersville, Anne Arundel County, also features farms in Carroll and Prince George’s counties, offering viewers a glimpse into the region’s vital farming communities.
In Anne Arundel County, the episode highlights Knightongale Farm in Harwood, where Joel Greenwell, Sr., has turned his 90-acre working farm into a fall agritourism destination. For 20 years, his Farm Festival has offered autumn experiences like apple cider, pumpkins, and vibrant seasonal colors, growing from a small venture into a cornerstone of the farm’s sustainability. The festival not only supports the farm but also funds local community initiatives, coinciding with the soybean harvest and exemplifying the rising trend of agritourism in Maryland.
Charles County takes the spotlight with a segment featuring Chef Shalia Coburn of Chef B Meals, who sources ingredients for a private dinner party. Coburn visits Zekiah Farms in Waldorf to pick up pasture-raised beef and lamb, emphasizing the county’s role in farm-to-table dining. She then gathers fresh produce at Miller Farms in Clinton, Prince George’s County, before preparing a hanger steak dish with green beans, kale, and sweet potatoes. The recipe will be available at mpt.org/farm, bridging local agriculture with culinary arts.
The episode also includes a story from Carroll County, spotlighting R F Warner Sons Grain Mill in Lineboro, where third-generation owners Allen and Kate Warner have sustained a 90-year legacy of producing livestock feed, showcasing the region’s agricultural diversity. Since its 2013 debut, Maryland Farm & Harvest has attracted over 19 million viewers, visiting more than 500 agriculture-related locations across every Maryland county, including Anne Arundel and Charles, which together contribute over $150 million annually to the state’s $8.25 billion agriculture industry, per 2023 USDA data.
Viewers can catch encore broadcasts on MPT-HD Thursdays at 11 p.m. and Sundays at 6 a.m., on MPT2/Create® Fridays at 7:30 p.m., or stream episodes on the PBS app and MPT’s online player. Segments are also on the series’ YouTube channel at youtube.com/c/MarylandFarmHarvest/featured. A preview is available at mpt.org/farm.
Anne Arundel’s 1,200 farms and Charles County’s 600 farms face challenges like urban development pressure, with Anne Arundel losing 5% of farmland since 2017, per USDA reports. Agritourism, as shown at Knightongale, offers a lifeline, generating $40 million statewide in 2023, per Maryland Department of Agriculture estimates. The episode underscores agriculture’s role as Maryland’s top industry while highlighting how local farms adapt to modern demands.
