Farmers on the Rise
REMOVING obstacles TO GROW A BUSINESS Story and photos by Andrea Haines
First-generation farmer Emma Jagoz of Woodsboro, Maryland began her farming venture in a unique setting. Knowing that she wanted to make a positive impact on the environment and in how consumers view food, she started gardening in her family and neighbors’ backyards (read more about Emma and Moon Valley Farm on page six in our Women in Ag Leader issue at mafc.com/leader).
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he has come so far in her journey to produce healthy, high-quality products for her customers that range from their 500-member CSA subscribers to restaurant chefs. Upon gaining more clients and land management opportunities, Emma has obtained the need for more tools to achieve her yield demands. As a Farm Credit member, she has been able to fulfill certain needs with the assistance from Kelsey Maslen, Farm Credit loan officer. Working with Farm Credit inspired Emma to apply for their inaugural Farmers on the Rise award program, earning a monetary prize of $10,000 for use within her farming operation. “The process was at first, very similar to any other grant application,” shares Emma. “A series of questions requiring lengthy answers explaining who I am, what our farm does, and what we would do with the funding if granted.” The top ten finalists were invited to interview with a panel of judges in order to clarify proposals and answer additional questions. “Getting to talk with the judges in person about my farm and project was exciting,” explains Emma. When asked why Emma is a farmer on the rise, Kelsey expresses, “How is Emma NOT a farmer on the rise? When COVID threw many for a loop, she rose to the occasion. She flipped her business model and thrived, all while settling into a new farm. I can’t wait to see how she grows from here!” Moon Valley Farm grows vegetables on fertile loam soil on Gravel Hill Road in Frederick County, Maryland. Emma shares, “True to name, it’s home to many rocks. Due to the heavy rock percentage, we are ruining our soil tillage implements, breaking our tillers and cultivation equipment at a rapid and expensive rate.” Emma notes that to make things worse, the rock pressure is preventing them from significantly decreasing their plastic mulch usage. “Our tractormounted seeder has trouble driving over rocks to sow seeds,” she explains. The search began for a tool that would assist with their rock problem. “We have been searching for the right solution, and in late 2019, we trialed a rock burier (bed former) implement by Forigo, which not only works extremely well to bury rocks, but also forms raised
