Montgomery County Council marks National Agriculture Day; community leaders urge county incubator farm and expanded land access

Montgomery County Council members and local agricultural leaders marked National Agriculture Day with a proclamation and public remarks pressing the county to expand land access and create an incubator farm for beginning and small-scale growers.

The proclamation, presented by Councilmember Marilyn Balcom and Councilmember Dawn Lukey, recognized the county’s Agricultural Reserve and noted “more than 500 farms” and “over 10,000 employees” tied to the county’s agricultural economy. The proclamation was signed by Councilmember Balcom, Councilmember Andrew Friedson (listed as a co-sponsor), and Council President Kate Stewart.

Speakers from local farms and food-service enterprises told the council that agriculture is both an economic driver and a cultural resource for Montgomery County. Chris Miller of Lone Oak Farm Brewery thanked the county and county agencies, saying the brewery and other farm-based businesses depend on “economic opportunity” to preserve farmland and operate successfully. Trofina Chote, who works with AvriThrive and represents immigrant farmer interests, described growing up on a family farm in Kenya and urged the county to act on land access: “Without land, [beginner farmers] cannot build a sustainable business, supply culturally appropriate food, or contribute to our local food system.”

Chote said the county Department of Parks in 2010 proposed an incubator farm vision that has not yet been implemented and urged the council to prioritize county funding and lease policies so small organic and culturally focused growers can access appropriately sized parcels. She said Parks currently leases larger parcels (about “935 acres” of land referenced in testimony) but that smaller-plot leases for beginning farmers are not included in those agreements. She also recommended continuing and expanding the county’s Office of Food Systems and Resilience work to partner with nonprofits to buy and distribute produce to families in need.

Councilmembers who introduced and presented the proclamation highlighted the Agricultural Reserve as both an environmental asset and an economic engine and thanked county staff in the Office of Agriculture, Soil Conservation District, and the Office of Food Systems and Resilience for their work.

The council did not vote on new policy or an appropriation at the session; remarks and the proclamation focused on recognition and urging staff and the executive branch to pursue opportunities for incubator farm planning, targeted leases for small farmers, and prioritized county funding for land access programs.

Looking ahead, speakers asked the council to consider concrete follow-up steps: include small-plot leasing in Parks’ lease agreements, fund an incubator farm planning process, and direct the Office of Food Systems and Resilience to coordinate with nonprofits and Parks on pilot projects to supply culturally appropriate foods.