La Farge, Wis. – Organic Valley, America’s largest cooperative of organic farmers and one of the nation’s leading organic brands, today announced that one of its Maryland farmer-owners, Ron Holter of Jefferson, received the inaugural Farmer of the Foodshed Award for his organic livestock farming practices at Future Harvest CASA’s 17th Annual Conference. The conference took place January 14-16 at the College Park Marriott in Hyattsville, Maryland.

“Ron Holter of Holterholm Farm is one of the area’s finest farmers and we are proud to award him the first annual Farmer of the Foodshed award,” said Dena Leibman, executive director, Future Harvest Chesapeake Alliance for Sustainable Agriculture.

“Ron’s farming is 100 percent in sync with our mission—he is a stellar educator and takes great care to farm in ways that ensure his farm, and the land and water surrounding it, will be around for generations to come,” continued Leibman.

Future Harvest CASA was founded in 1998 with the mission to provide education, networking, and advocacy to help build a sustainable Chesapeake foodshed, where food flows from farm and fishery to table in ways that strengthen farming and the regional food economy; protect the land, water, and air; and provide healthy, nutritious food that sustains the region’s communities and cities. In evaluating applicants/nominees for the Farmer of the Foodshed Award, Future Harvest CASA’s 18-member board of directors examined criteria such as exemplary farming practices that increase profitability, protect the Chesapeake Bay, and give back to the region’s community. The board selected Holter as the awardee for livestock, and fellow Chesapeake Bay farmers Jack and Becky Gurley of Calvert’s Gift Farm in Baltimore County as produce awardees.

Holter, an organic dairy and livestock farmer, operates and lives on a sixth-generation family farm with his wife and grown children. In 2005, Holterholm Farm converted to organic and became a member of the Organic Valley farmer-owned cooperative. Holterholm Farm sits upon 287 acres where 130 Jersey cows and a small, organic, all-pasture Hereford herd of 12 cows graze contentedly.

“It’s quite an honor for me and my family to receive this award,” said Holter. “I’ve enjoyed mentoring many young farmers who are just beginning in pastured agriculture and working together with the Maryland Graziers Network and Future Harvest CASA. It’s been important to us to open up our farm up to others who want to see and learn about sustainable and organic agriculture. We need to keep farmers on the land and honing best practices that will sustain us all in the future.”

Holterholm farm hosts 10 to 15 group visits each year, including college classes and public gatherings.

Photo Caption: Ron Holter, recipient of the 2016 Farmer of the Foodshed Award at Future Harvest CASA’s Cultivate the Chesapeake Foodshed Conference in College Park, Maryland, January 15. Holter is next to former Future Harvest CASA board vice president Rob Schnabel, who is watershed restoration scientist for the Chesapeake Bay Foundation.

Photo credit: Edwin Remsberg for Future Harvest CASA, 2016

Organic Valley: Independent and Farmer-Owned

Organic Valley is America’s largest cooperative of organic farmers and one of the nation’s leading organic brands. Organized in 1988, it represents approximately 1,800 farmers in 36 states. Focused on its founding mission of saving family farms through organic farming, Organic Valley produces a variety of organic foods, including organic milk, soy, cheese, butter, spreads, creams, eggs, and produce, which are sold in supermarkets, natural foods stores and food cooperatives nationwide. With its regional model, milk is produced, bottled and distributed right in the region where it is farmed to ensure fewer miles from farm to table and to support our local economies. For further information visit www.organicvalley.coop. Organic Valley is also on Twitter @OrganicValley and Facebook www.facebook.com/OrganicValley.