Lewes Farmers Market announces scholarship recipients

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 Annual Farming for the Future Conference in State College, Pa.; Future Harvest CASA Conference in College Park, Md;. and the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Conference in Hershey, Pa. 

This year, scholarships were awarded to seven 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 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; Susan Maddox, Earth Harmony Produce, Ocean View; Oksana Bocharova, Oksana's Produce, Chestertown, Md;. and Niamh Shortt, Herbs, Spice and Everything Nice, Selbyville.

Consistent with its mission, the board of directors of the Historic Lewes Farmers Market 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, go to www.historiclewesfarmersmarket.org or call 302-644-1436.