For 10 years, the Historic Lewes Farmers Market has awarded scholarships to small-scale Delmarva farmers to attend sustainable farming conferences including these conferences in the Mid-Atlantic: the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture (PASA) Annual Farming for the Future Conference held February 1-4, 2017 in State College, PA; Future Harvest CASA Conference held January 12-14, 2017 in College Park, MD; and the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference held January 31-February 2,  2017 in Hershey, PA.

 This year, scholarships were awarded to 7 farmers. Scholarships from the regular scholarship fund went to: Matthew Barfield from Chesterfield Heirlooms, Pittsville, MD; Merry Guben from Little Acre, Worton, MD; and Taylor Heydt, apprentice farmer.

 The Historic Lewes Farmers Market has established an emerging women farmers’ scholarship fund in memory of Delaware farmer Debra Schaefer. Four farmers received a Debra Schaefer Scholarship for Emerging Women Farmers: Hattie Allen, Hattie’s Garden, Lewes, DE; Susan Maddox, Earth Harmony Produce, Ocean View, DE; Oksana Bocharova, Oksana’s Produce, Chestertown, MD; and Niamh Shortt, Herbs, Spice and Everything Nice, Selbyville, DE.

 Consistent with its mission, the Board of Directors of the HLFM is committed to supporting farmers and emerging farmers who grow local fruits, vegetables and produce, and these scholarships help small Delmarva farmers become educated about sustainable farming practices.

 For more information about the Historic Lewes Farmers Market, visit their website at historiclewesfarmersmarket.org or call 302-644-1436.