Willard Family Named to Maryland Agriculture Hall of Fame

The Willard family of Montgomery County, Maryland has been named the 2023 inductee in the Governor’s Agriculture Hall of Fame.

“It is an honor to welcome the Willard Family into the Governor’s Agriculture Hall of Fame,” said Kevin Atticks, Maryland Agriculture Secretary. “The legacy of this farm family is truly admirable, from their conservation practices to their strong business sense. I’m looking forward to welcoming them to the Governor’s Ag Hall of Fame this February.”

The Willard family farm has been operating for more than 150 years and they also began Willard Agri-Service in 1970 to offer plant fertility solutions.

Willard Agri-Service was inducted into the Fertilizer Hall of Fame in 2018.

Today, the farm is comprised of 900 corn acres, 600 soybean acres, 400 sorghum acres and 600 wheat acres. It is operated by Scot Poffenberger, Billy Willard Jr. and Joe Sayer. 

“The Willard Family have a long and storied history of conservation excellence and serve as exemplary stewards of the lands that they both own and operate across the region. They are both initiators and innovators when it comes to adopting new technologies and practices that help to promote the conservation of soil and water resources while balancing the environmental benefits with the economic viability of their farming enterprises”, said John Zawitoski, district manager for the Montgomery Soil Conservation District.

Over the years, both the farm and the agri-service business have received numerous awards, including the ARA Lifetime Achievement Award and ARA Distinguished Service Award.

The Willards will be honored on Feb. 1 at the annual Taste of Maryland Agriculture event.

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