In 2023, the Maryland Grain Producers began a grant program to help farmer members with the financial burden of obtaining a Commercial Driver’s License, following the new federal changes. The new changes require a complete and lengthy in-person course as well as a large class fee. The grant application opens each fall and closes late winter. With all personal information redacted, the CDL Grant committee made up of Grain Producer Board Members, elects two grantees. Grantees will be recognized at the Maryland Commodity Classic and reimbursed of $1,500 once their CDL has been obtained.
Congratulations to our 2024 Recipients
James Savage resides on a 500-acre farm in Poolesville, MD. He graduated from Poolesville High School in 2020 and started helping on the family farm, began his own landscaping business, Golden Acres Lawns, and expanded into raising breeding beef and sheep. He was an active member of Montgomery County 4-H, exhibiting dairy and market beef cattle, market swine and poultry. After graduation, he became even more involved with crops on the farm. He assists with planting, baling hay, and harvest crops. He will utilize his CDL to haul grain to local elevators as well as for the family business, Savage Equine Services. He has purchased a semi and hopes to one day expand his fleet of trucks into his own hauling business.
Josh Baker is a fifth-generation farmer from Adamstown, Maryland raising corn, soybeans, wheat, and hay, as well as a black angus cow/calf herd and feeder hogs. They have an on-farm retail market selling directly to consumers. Josh graduated from the University of Maryland Institute for Applied Agriculture in 2023 and hopes to be able to ease the burden of hauling grain during harvest with a CDL. With plans to obtain a few other certifications in the next five years, Josh plans to expand and increase efficiency on their farm.
Previous Recipients
- 2024 – James Savage and Josh Baker
- 2023 – Jayden Wilson and Evan Stately
