Delmarva farmer scholarship applications due Dec. 4

Small Delmarva farmers interested in learning about sustainable practices and focused on growing for the local market may apply now for the 2018 Historic Lewes Farmers Market scholarship program. Completed applications are due by Monday, Dec. 4.

Several $500 scholarships will be awarded to small Delmarva farmers to attend sustainable farming conferences including these conferences in the mid-Atlantic: the Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture Annual Farming for the Future Conference to be held Feb. 7-10, in State College, Pa; Future Harvest CASA Conference to be held Jan. 11-13, in College Park, Md.; and similar conferences such as the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference to be held Jan. 30-Feb. 1, in Hershey, Pa.

These conferences draw farmers interested in education about sustainable agriculture practices from a broad section of the East Coast, Mid-Atlantic and the South with similar growing conditions to Delmarva. For more information about the conferences, go to www.pasafarming.org, www.futureharvestcasa.org, and www.mafvc.org.

The Debra Schaefer Scholarship for Emerging Women Farmers

The Historic Lewes Farmers Market established an emerging women farmers' scholarship fund in memory of Debra Schaefer, who died in August 2016. It was her family's wish that this scholarship be established in loving memory of Debra who was a sustainable farmer in Frankford. On the application, indicate that it is for a Debra Schaefer Scholarship.

To be eligible for the scholarships, the Delmarva farmer must:

• Currently be developing a sustainable farming enterprise, or currently farming, on the Delmarva Peninsula.
• Currently operate a small farm (low-sales) as defined by the Economic Research Service for the United States Department of Agriculture (less than $350,000 gross in agricultural sales), on Delmarva, or be able to demonstrate financial need to attend this conference. (Only one applicant per farm.)
• Currently be a farmer/grower who sells what they grow, raise or produce on their own farm. A farmer/grower may be a sole proprietorship, a partnership or a corporation and shall include family members and employees who assist in the production and/or sales/marketing of the farm products.
• Commit to attend the HLFM farmers workshop held in the spring and share information learned at the conference so the content may be disseminated to other farmers.

For more information and to receive an application, call 302-644-1436 or email HistoricLewesFarmersMarket@comcast.net.

All scholarship applicants will be notified of awards by Friday, Jan. 5.