April 17, 2015 (Staunton, VA) – Frederick, Maryland Young Cooperators Jason and Mary Crum were crowned Maryland & Virginia’s 2015 Outstanding YC Couple as part of the annual YC Contest held during the 2015 YC Conference in Staunton, Virginia.
Although Jason and Mary have been active in the YC Program for several years, this was the couple’s first time participating in the YC Contest. “We considered competing in the past but felt we were not in a place in our lives to be qualified,” said Mary. “Since purchasing our own farm last spring, we felt that now was the right time; we now have to make the decisions on our farm that will affect our future and our children’s future.”
As Outstanding YCs, they will have the chance to gain a better understanding of the cooperative by attending Board Meetings and networking at other YC events. They will also make connections with their Representatives and Senators during a National Milk Producers Federation event on Capitol Hill and will represent Maryland & Virginia at NMPF’s Annual Meeting in Orlando, Florida.
“As the Outstanding YC couple, we are looking forward to learning more about the inner workings of the cooperative and the dairy industry as a whole,” said Mary. “Maryland & Virginia is just a small piece of a larger industry family and we are excited about the opportunities to meet with other dairy farmers and learn from other cooperatives from around the country.”
Together, Jason and Mary help to operate Venture and Luck Farm in Walkersville, Maryland, where they milk approximately 95 Holsteins on 950 acres with Jason’s family. A fifth generation dairyman, Jason has been part of the operation since birth. Currently, he is responsible for managing the feeding programs for the home farm’s heifers, dry cows and milk cows and works closely with the herd nutritionist to adjust mixes as needed. In addition to this, Jason also assists with the farm’s breeding program, crop management, milking and nutrient management compliance.
Since meeting Jason in 2001, Mary has been an active member of the farm where she is responsible for raising the calves and helping with feedings and field work. Off the farm, Mary is a Vocational Services Coordinator at the Scott Key Center in Frederick, Maryland and will soon be completing her Bachelors of Science in Business from Mount St. Mary’s University.
The couple has recently purchased their own farm two miles from the home farm where they hope to expand the operation with their two children Tristan, 10, and Liliana, 5. Maryland & Virginia hosts the Outstanding YC Contest in junction with the annual YC Conference.
The Outstanding YC or YC Couple is chosen based on their dairy and community involvement, ability to communicate with others and their dairy knowledge. The Outstanding runners-up for this year’s YC Contest were Eric and Rachel Quillin of Sugar Creek, Ohio and J.B. Lindley of Snow Camp, North Carolina.
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Owned and operated by 1,500 dairy farm families from Pennsylvania to Florida, Maryland & Virginia is a milk marketing and processing cooperative providing consumers throughout the Mid-Atlantic and Southeastern U.S. with fresh milk and dairy products. Maryland & Virginia owns and operates two fluid processing plants; Marva Maid of Newport News, Virginia and Marva Maid of Landover, Maryland; two manufacturing plants, one in Laurel, Maryland and Valley Milk in Strasburg, Virginia; and an equipment warehouse business in Frederick, Maryland.
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For more information contact Daniela Roland at 703-742-7449 or droland@mdvamilk.com.
