Lt. Governor Aruna Miller, Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks Honor 2025 Century Farm Families

​ANNAPOLIS—Lieutenant Governor Aruna Miller joined Maryland Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks at an event at the State House today to honor the Maryland families who have continuously operated and farmed the same land for over 100 years.

Five families representing Allegany, Carroll, St. Mary’s, Talbot and Washington counties were inducted into the Century Farm Program and presented with a citation for their leadership in preserving agricultural land and commitment to farming.

“Maryland’s Century Farm families represent the very best of who we are—a legacy of resilience, stewardship, and commitment that spans generations,” said Lt. Governor Aruna Miller. “These families have not only sustained their land for more than a century, they have strengthened our economy, protected our environment, and ensured that agriculture remains a cornerstone of Maryland’s future.”

The 2025 inductees include:

• Billings Family (Westminster, Carroll County): Est. 1915.
• Crown Stone Farm (Clear Spring, Washington County): Est. 1813.
• Linden Lane Farm (Easton, Talbot County): Est. 1921.
• Sivak Family Farm (Lexington Park, St. Mary’s County): Est. 1912.
• Twin Cedar Farm (Cumberland, Allegany County): Est. 1877.

“As our nation nears its 250th anniversary, we celebrate these families that have for generations protected, cultivated and passed along their land to future generations,” said Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks. “Thanks to their commitment to stewardship, this land will continue to grow and thrive, feeding our state, supporting our economy and strengthening Maryland’s agricultural heritage.”

Maryland’s Century Farm Program was established by former Governor William Donald Schaefer in 1994 to recognize farms that have been in the same family for over 100 years, contain a minimum of 10 acres of the original parcel and have a gross annual income of $2,500 or more from the sale of farm products. Since 1994, 230 farms have received this designation, with 33 families earning the “Bicentennial Farm” designation for farming the same land for 200 years. Four Maryland families have also received the “Tricentennial Farm” designation for farming the same land for more than 300 years.

More information on the 2025 Century Farm inductees:

Billings Family (Westminster, Carroll County)

Janet and Ralph Billings are the proud stewards of a 70-acre farm in Westminster, Maryland, that has been passed down through generations of women in Janet’s family since 1915. Originally purchased by her grandparents, Henry and Blanche Reaver, for $3,800 in February 1915, the land was once home to Bloom’s Mill. Operational in the mid-19th century, the stone foundation of the old mill house and the rim of a hand-dug well can still be found on the farm to this day. The farm expanded in the 1920s, growing tomatoes, potatoes, hay, wheat, corn, soybeans, and barley, while raising chickens, horses, hogs, and both dairy and beef cattle. Their daughter, Catherine Franklin, and her husband, Charles, assumed ownership of the farm in October 1960, and in 1982, Janet took over the property from her parents. The Billings expanded operations again in 1989, now primarily focusing on hay, corn, and soybeans. With a steadfast commitment to preserving its history and purpose, the Billings permanently protected the farm in 2021 through Maryland’s Agricultural Preservation Foundation. More than a century after it first entered the family, they still reside in the original farmhouse and use the barn that has stood since the 1850s.

Crown Stone Farm (Clear Spring, Washington County)

Crown Stone Farm has been continuously operated as a dairy farm by nine generations of the Schnebly family since November 1813. Its name traces back to the Mason-Dixon Line’s five-mile “crown stone,” a marker that still stands on the property alongside a spring house from the early 1800s, the original 1860 farmhouse, and a cemetery. Among the oldest dairy farms in Washington County, Crown Stone has grown steadily over the years and now supports a herd of approximately 450 cattle, producing more than 80,000 pounds of milk each week. The farm produces all feed for their cattle–growing corn, wheat, barley, alfalfa, grass, hay, and soybeans. The current owners, John and Pamela Schnebly, are committed to stewarding their land, conserving their family’s legacy, and engaging their community in the importance of farming. Protected under the Maryland Agricultural Land Preservation Program since 2014, the farm embraces sustainable practices like cover cropping and nutrient management. It has also welcomed visitors from near and far—hosting the National Guernsey Convention, as well as tours for local schools, community groups, and 4-H clubs—ensuring that its story, and the importance of farming, continues to be shared.

Linden Lane Farm (Easton, Talbot County)

The logo for Linden Lane Farm is a tribute to the familial connections that have sustained this land since 1921. Leaf linden trees from Germany—that still stand in the front yard to this day—were sent to the original owners, Frank and Hilka Saathoff, upon the farm’s purchase. At that time, the farm was home to dairy cattle, laying hens, broilers and pigs. While livestock is no longer found on the farm, the current owners, Wesley and Linda Brown, follow in their ancestors’ footsteps by growing a large variety of fruits and vegetables that they both sell and donate to their community. Recognized for their commitment to agricultural stewardship, the farm received a Level 3 award from the U.S. Department of Agriculture Conservation Reserve Program for its significant contributions to conservation efforts, including the installation of livestock exclusion fencing, the practice of no-till farming and installation of cover crops. Additionally, the farm has been enrolled in the Maryland Nutrient Management Program since its inception in 1989, and Wesley has been self-certified in nutrient management for over 15 years. The family still utilizes–with renovations over the years—the original farmhouse, granary shed, barn, milk house, and equipment shed. Linden Lane Farm is rooted in tradition, yet guided by a forward-looking commitment to stewardship, standing as a testament to the bonds of family, land, and community.

Sivak Family Farm (Lexington Park, St. Mary’s County)

For four generations, the Sivak family has called 304 acres of farmland in St. Mary’s County home. Originally purchased from the National Slavonic Society by four Sivak brothers in 1912, the family raised cows, chickens, and pigs while growing grains and various fruits and vegetables. The farm passed steadily through the generations—from Michael Sivak’s son Paul in 1921 to his son John and wife Mary Lucille—each adding their own chapter, from a brief venture into tobacco to the introduction of pumpkins. In 2009, Mary Louise Sivak ensured the farm’s future by placing it under a conservation easement with the Patuxent Tidewater Land Trust, protecting it for generations to come. Today, her children oversee daily operations and run the Sivak Produce truck stand, continuing a strong commitment to environmental stewardship by partnering with the St. Mary’s County Soil Conservation District and local forestry service to enhance wildlife habitat and improve soil and water quality—ensuring this cherished land remains productive, protected, and firmly rooted in family tradition.

Twin Cedar Farm (Cumberland, Allegany County)

In 1877, at just 20 years old, Millard Fillmore Rice purchased 165 acres that would one day be known as Twin Cedar Farm. Rice turned the land into a thriving peach and apple orchard, while raising horses and growing vegetables. Today, his great-great-granddaughter, Lori Russell, carries that legacy forward, living on and stewarding the same land with her family. The past feels remarkably close here—Millard lived to the age of 92, sharing vivid memories of western Maryland during the Civil War, including stories of delivering provisions alongside his father to Union Army troops. Over generations, the farm passed through the hands of the family’s women, evolving from orchards to sheep, then to beef cattle. While some cattle still graze the fields today, the farm now focuses primarily on producing hay to sustain the herd.

For more information on the Century Farm Program, please contact Harrison Palmer at [email protected] or (410) 841-5882.

For photos and video of remarks from the ceremony, please contact Rachel Sawicki at [email protected] or (443) 221-1894.​

###

Follow Lt. Governor Aruna Miller for more updates: Facebook, Instagram, X, Bluesky, Threads, LinkedIn.