CAMBRIDGE, Md. — More than 300 farmers, ranchers and agriculture supporters gathered at the Hyatt Regency Chesapeake Bay this week for the Maryland Farm Bureau’s 110th Annual Convention & Meeting of Delegates, where members set 2026 policy priorities and recognized outstanding contributions to the state’s farming community.
Steve Walter of Charles County received the organization’s highest honor, the Distinguished Service to the Farm Bureau Award. Merhlyn Barnes of Howard County was named 2025 Agri-Woman of the Year, while Dave Tribbett of Caroline County earned the Sand County Foundation Leopold Conservation Award for excellence in natural resource stewardship.
Young leaders also took center stage. Sylvia Calabrese of Anne Arundel County and Helen Quill of Howard County were selected as the 2026 Maryland Farm Bureau Ag Ambassadors. Catherine Savage of Montgomery County and Connor Clary of Garrett County won the Francis Moats Discussion Meet and will represent Maryland at the American Farm Bureau Federation national competitions in 2026 and 2027.
The three-day event featured a National Ag Leaders Panel showcasing Maryland farmers currently serving on federal commodity boards: Mary Stewart and Travis Hutchison (United Soybean Board), Jason Scott (U.S. Wheat Associates), Jennie Schmidt (U.S. Grains & BioProducts Council), Andy Mason (National Milk Producers Federation), and Greg Dell (American Farm Bureau Young Farmers & Ranchers Committee).
U.S. Rep. April McClain-Delaney (D-Md.-6), the only Maryland member of the House Agriculture Committee, opened the panel with an update on federal farm policy. U.S. Rep. Andy Harris (R-Md.-1) also attended and met privately with Eastern Shore producers.
Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks addressed the convention and recorded a live episode of the Maryland Farm Bureau’s Old Line Farmer Radio podcast. In recognition of the 110th convention, the Eastern Shore Delegation of the Maryland General Assembly presented an official citation through Delegates Jay Jacobs and Barry Beauchamp.
Delegates spent much of the week debating and adopting the 2026 Policy Book, which sets the organization’s legislative agenda in Annapolis on issues including energy development, land use regulations, hunting laws and farmland preservation.
The Maryland Farm Bureau, founded in 1915, represents more than 10,000 member families across all 23 counties and Baltimore City through its county chapters.
