Historic Lewes Farmers Market awards farmer scholarships
For 17 years, the Historic Lewes Farmers Market has awarded scholarships to small-scale Delmarva farmers to attend sustainable farming conventions including the Pasa Sustainable Agriculture conference, Future Harvest CASA Conference, and Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference.
This year, the HLFM awarded six scholarships. Awards from the regular scholarship fund went to Vicki Cronis-Nohe and Paula Soghomonian of Derby Mill Farm, Dover, to attend the Future Harvest CASA Conference and Jay McCutcheon of Weathered Eye Farm, Lewes, to attend the Sustainable Agriculture Conference.
In 2016, the market established an emerging women farmers’ scholarship fund in memory of Delaware farmer Debra L. Schaefer. This year, three farmers received a Debra L. Schaefer Scholarship for Emerging Women Farmers. Rebecca Buckler of Williwaw Farm in Preston, Md., will attend the Future Harvest CASA Conference. Madison Woolford from Dittmar Family Farms in Felton and Andrea Davis-Cetina of Quarter Acre Farm in Greensboro, Md., will attend the PASA Farming for the Future Conference.
Consistent with its mission, the HLFM board of directors is committed to supporting farmers and emerging farmers who grow local fruits, vegetables, produce and other foods. These scholarships help small Delmarva farmers become better educated about sustainable farming practices. For more information about the Historic Lewes Farmers Market and its farmers scholarship program, go to historiclewesfarmersmarket.org, email info@historiclewesfarmersmarket.org or call 302-644-1436.
