20080117 Carroll County farmer and her husband receive national recognition

Carroll County farmer and her husband receive national recognition

News Release

For more information, contact: Denise Beaver

Carroll County Department of Economic Development, 410-386-2070

For Immediate Release

Gabe and Kelly Zepp achieve national Top Ten honor

January 17, 2008 – Gabe and Kelly Zepp, of New Windsor, Maryland, received Top Ten recognition in the Young Farmers & Ranchers Excellence in Agriculture Award from the American Farm Bureau Federation. Recognized for their knowledge of and achievement in agriculture, as well as their leadership in promoting the agriculture industry, the Zepp’s competed with young farmers from around the United States for the distinctive award at the 89th annual convention in New Orleans this week.

Gabe is employed as an Agriculture Development Specialist with Carroll County Government and Kelly is employed part-time as a technician by the Carroll County Soil Conservation District and by Windsor Manor, a registered Holstein dairy farm owned by her parents. Gabe, along with his family, operates Country Acres Farm and Cow Creek Cattle Company, two small purebred Red Angus and Shorthorn seed stock beef farms. Together, Kelly and Gabe are very active within the agricultural community on the local, state and national level.

As the Agriculture Development Specialist with the Department of Economic Development, Gabe partners with all local, county and state farm-related organizations including the Maryland Department of Agriculture, Maryland Cooperative Extension, Maryland Farm Bureau, Carroll County Soil Conservation District, and many other agricultural organizations to advance agriculture in Carroll County. During the eight years that Gabe has worked for economic development he has been a strong advocate for the farming community and provides resources and opportunities to connect and advance local farming operations. Gabe also administers the agriculture industry component of Enterprise Carroll, a local investment program, which helps to preserve and grow the agriculture industry in Carroll County.

CARROLL COUNTY

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