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 $2,000 once their CDL has been obtained.
The 2025 application is now open and will close on January 15, 2025. The Maryland Grain Producers has voted to add $500 to each grant, totaling two grantees with a $2,000 grant. These funds will be sent to the recipient after they have obtained their license. Please view the requirements below and the link to the application. If you have any questions, contact Jenell McHenry at jenell.mdag@gmail.com.
Requirements:
- Must obtain a Maryland CDL A, with the goal to support the Maryland Grain industry for a minimum of 5 years.
- Must have a schedule F or work for someone with a schedule F.
- Farm must reside in the state of Maryland.
- Family members or employer may not have requested MD grain checkoff refunds, in the last 12 months.
- Self, family member, or employee of, must be a member of the Maryland Grain Producers Association, one can become a member here.
- One must not have obtained their CDL’s before January 1, 2025.
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
