Sometimes, new isn’t always better.
Frederick County, Maryland is about to celebrate its 275th anniversary.
The occasion marks a prestigious milestone.
Frederick County is holding a contest to replace their current county flag, which depicts native son, Francis Scott Key. Key, for whom a major bridge, a mall, schools and a former hospital burn unit is named, was a lawyer, planter and poet who wrote the poem that became the basis of "The Star Spangled Banner," our national anthem.
This largely rural area in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains is now a bedroom community for Washington, D.C. commuters.
Local farmers can’t help but think maybe their value to society is being cancelled, too. We spoke to farmer and lifelong Frederick County resident, Jim Burtner.
62-year-old Jim Burtner’s family has been farming in Frederick County for as far back as "Probably as soon as they came over from Germany."
He’s seen the area transform during his lifetime from largely rural, to a densely-populated and commercially built-up bedroom community for Washington, D.C. Burtner remembers when the county was "All farm, with one Red Horse hotel. There was no McDonald’s, mall or Marriott."
If you look at vintage cookbooks, "My Favorite Maryland Recipes," for example, by former Maryland first lady Avalynne Tawes, it’s clear how well-renowned Maryland produce has always been.
She prepared local delicacies for Winston Churchill.
The state’s soil is bounded by the Atlantic Ocean, rivers and the blue Ridge Mountains. Maryland’s special heirloom varieties are in danger of disappearing. The physical labor of farming, gave employment opportunities outside of the college sphere, as well as kept kids busy and out of trouble.
People flocked to the Burtners from far and wide to buy dozens of ears of their sweet corn, picked at the crack of dawn.
It was a passion.
Burtner’s dad raised hogs to be able to buy a corn chopper.
At one point, they farmed 1,500 acres of their own and people paid his dad to combine their land.
There was a time when they sold 200-400 dozen a day.
A local hybrid, "Silver Queen," put formerly unappreciated white corn on the map.
It was unusual in that both the young and the mature plants were sweet.
But it’s delicate and becomes starchy after one day.
Burtner reckons that there are now probably "10,000" different corn hybrids available on the market, both yellow and white.
They are considered "sugar enhanced" and can "lay around on the counter longer," the farmer points out.
But, they aren’t as soft as the old breeds, they’re crunchy.
Their sugar levels are so stable, even Burtner now buys them at the grocery store!
They were also successful in raising Maryland’s famous canteloupes, which we just call "loupes."
Burtner is proud to point out that the fruits were so plentiful, they grew on top of each other! But, as Burtner says sadly, "I watched farm after farm after farm disappear. There used to be a lot of dairy farms."
Burtner is convinced that there’s more to it than just sprawl.
"Now, I guess they (the politicians) want more tax money."
At first, his family didn’t realize the potential demand for good corn.
Burtner’s dad started with "horse corn," suitable only as animal feed. A small sliver of land was saved for sweet corn, that they sold the day they picked it for $.50 per dozen.
There are terrible dangers to all of us when the farms are lost.
He notes as to food, "A lot comes from other countries! It seems like they don’t care. I’d be glad to not buy anything (from outside the U.S.), instead of blowing our money on those 'projects,' until we get an administration that’s 'America First'."
Now, the prices of fertilizer, combines and tractors have really raised the costs for farmers.
Hopefully, in a new administration, there will be more respect for America’s farmers.
Tamar Alexia Fleishman was the Chicago Symphony Orchestra's youngest female solo violinist. A world-traveler, Fleishman provides readers with international flavor and culture. She's debated Bill Maher, Greta Van Susteren and Dr. Phil. Fleishman practices law in Maryland with a J.D. from the University of Baltimore and a B.A. in Political Science from Goucher College. Read Tamar Alexia Fleishman's Reports — More Here.
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