State and local leaders examined northern Calvert County’s agricultural operations during the 2025 Calvert Farm Tour on Wednesday, October 22, organized by the Calvert County Department of Economic Development to underscore farming’s role in the local economy.
The annual event drew Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks, Calvert County Commissioners President Earl Hance, Vice President Todd Ireland, Mark C. Cox Sr. and Catherine M. Grasso, along with County Administrator Linda Turner. Representatives from the Maryland Department of Agriculture, Southern Maryland Agricultural Development Commission, Maryland Farm Bureau and Calvert Farm Bureau joined producers and partners for stops in Owings and Dunkirk under the theme Agriculture’s Impact on the Economy.
Atticks led a roundtable discussion with local farmers at Sassafras Farms, where participants addressed production challenges and market opportunities. The tour visited four sites showcasing diverse operations, from livestock to equine rescue and produce cultivation.
Wilson Dowell Farms, a fourth-generation, 320-acre operation in Owings, traces its roots to the Dowell-Leavitt family legacy, originally centered on tobacco before shifting to sustainable livestock in recent decades. Established as a limited liability company in 2010 under Judy Leavitt and later her son Jason and his wife Kristen, the farm employs rotational grazing for grass-fed beef and pasture-raised pork, emphasizing regenerative soil health. Products include bulk sides and quarters of beef, whole and half hogs, and limited individual cuts of beef, pork and goat, processed by a USDA-inspected butcher and sold directly to consumers. The farm participates in educational outreach, though specific 2025 events remain unlisted.
Next, the group stopped at Freedom Hill Horse Rescue in Dunkirk, a nonprofit founded in 2004 by Melody Trecartin to save foals from the pregnant mares’ urine industry and later expand to abused, neglected or surrendered horses. The organization has rehabilitated and rehomed more than 470 equines, earning verification from the Global Federation of Animal Sanctuaries. Run by volunteers and donor support, it offers community education and serves as a certified Maryland Horse Discovery Center, providing equine-assisted learning programs. These ground-based activities pair rehabilitated horses with youth and families to develop life skills, tying into broader agricultural themes of animal welfare and rural education.
At Sassafras Farms, another Dunkirk site spanning 226 acres across two locations and owned by the Smart family since 1962, attendees explored a diversified livestock enterprise. Brothers Chad and Curk Smart registered their Black Angus cattle herd in 2010, focusing on natural breeding for high-quality, hormone- and antibiotic-free beef. The operation added registered Berkshire pigs in 2021 for their marbling and flavor profiles. Beef and pork sell at the farm’s Dunkirk storefront, with packages available online and gift cards for direct purchases. Visitors can tour the sites by appointment to observe operations.
The tour concluded at Swann Farms along the Patuxent River, a sixth-generation enterprise dating to the 1850s. Initially tobacco and grain-focused, it pivoted in the 1990s to fruits and vegetables such as sweet corn, peaches, berries and tomatoes. The farm runs a wholesale business supplying Southern Maryland grocers and restaurants, alongside 20 acres of pick-your-own fields and seasonal agritourism like sunflower and pumpkin patches. The Swann family earned induction into Maryland’s Agriculture Hall of Fame in 2016 for conservation practices and community engagement.
Each year, the Farm Tour connects policymakers with producers to discuss economic contributions and innovation needs. Economic Development Director Julie Oberg noted, Each year, the Farm Tour offers a unique opportunity to connect with the people and businesses driving Calvert County’s agricultural economy. This year’s focus highlights the diversity of our farms and their critical role in sustaining both our economy and community.
Calvert County’s agricultural sector, while comprising just 0.04 to 0.26 percent of gross domestic product, anchors community identity and supports related industries like agritourism and value-added processing. The county’s economy evolved from 17th-century farming roots, blending with modern sectors such as nuclear energy at Calvert Cliffs, yet farms remain vital for local food security and heritage preservation. Across Southern Maryland, agriculture generates more than $158 million in annual output and sustains 2,298 jobs, including farming, processing and distribution.
The tour aligns with broader state initiatives, including Maryland Buy Local Week in July 2025, which encouraged support for county farmers through markets and challenges. Calvert’s four farmers markets, running through the 2025 season, feature fresh produce, meats and plants from local operations, bolstering direct sales. Agritourism draws visitors, with sites like Bowles Farms unveiling a 25th-anniversary corn maze in August 2025, open from late September.
Commissioners’ strategies emphasize agriculture alongside business retention and tourism, fostering resilience amid growth pressures near the Patuxent River and Chesapeake Bay. The 2023 Economic Development Annual Report outlined these pillars, noting farms’ role in job creation and cultural events like the Calvert County Fair, which crowned its 2025 ambassadors in September. Atticks’ involvement reflects ongoing state efforts, such as his recent Baltimore food system tour and rural roundtables, to amplify farmer voices in policy.
As Calvert navigates land use changes, these tours inform preservation easements and funding for sustainable practices. The county’s agricultural preservation program, active since 1998, has protected over 10,000 acres, ensuring viability for operations like those visited. Future events, including fall trail maps for farm activities, extend public access to this landscape.
