Each year, the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (FCOED) collaborates with Frederick Magazine for Frederick’s Top 50 publication. The 2022 issue, released in January, features Frederick’s Top 50 Under 40. Homegrown Frederick wanted to take a similar approach and highlight the young entrepreneurs and leaders in the agriculture and craft beverage industries. The Homegrown Frederick magazine, released June 1, announces Frederick County’s Top Young Agricultural Professionals. Each week we will be highlighting these individuals so you can get to know them better.
Jayme Eaves, 34, and Brandon Eaves, 29, are named to Frederick County’s Top Young Ag Professionals. Jayme serves as a Loan Officer for the USDA Farm Service Agency and Brandon works for his family’s dairy and crop operation, Oak Bluff Farms, LLC. Jayme and Brandon share a lifelong devotion to agriculture. They both grew up on family dairy farms that are still in operation today. The couple was married in 2017 and began their own small farming operation together a year later. While both are employed separately, Brandon said his greatest business accomplishment is, “Starting my own farm operation with my wife. Our farm started with just two bred heifers and we have worked on expanding our herd size year after year by using proceeds from sold livestock to buy more cattle.” In four short years, the farm has grown to 25 head of beef cattle. Brandon is typically found doing the physical labor for their farm while Jayme handles the record keeping and bookwork.
Jayme has been with the Farm Service Agency in Frederick County for 12 years. Starting as a program technician, she served the local agricultural community by assisting farmers applying for federal programs. She then transferred her experience within the agency and became a Farm Loan Officer for the Western half of Maryland in 2019. She is proud of her work as a Farm Loan Officer saying, “I truly love working in agriculture every day and most importantly helping farmers.”
Brandon is employed by Oak Bluff Farms in Woodsboro, which his family owns and operates. His responsibilities include maintenance around their various farms, equipment repair and fieldwork. During the spring and fall, you can often find Brandon in a tractor planting crops or in a combine harvesting them. He most appreciates that no two days are the same on the farm as his duties vary day to day.
The pair is heavily involved in the Frederick County agricultural community, both as members of the Frederick County Farm Bureau, as well as a number of other organizations. Brandon was appointed by the Governor to the Maryland Young Farmers Advisory Council and served on the Frederick County Farm Bureau Board of Directors from 2019-2021. Jayme has been an active member of the Walkersville FFA Alumni since 2009. She is currently the chairperson for their annual bingo fundraiser and held the office of Secretary for a number of years. One of their joys is experiencing 4-H now through their children. “Farming was bred into each of us. Growing up on a farm, you learn the value of hard work from a young age while getting to experience a sense of pride. We wanted the same upbringing for our children and want them to develop a passion for agriculture,” they said.
We are proud to honor both Jayme and Brandon Eaves in Frederick County’s Top Young Ag Professionals. The full list can be found here. It is safe to say the local agricultural industry has a bright future ahead with young leaders like them at the helm. Be sure to congratulate the pair on this well-deserved accolade!