Maryland Horse Council
Farm Stewardship Committee
Autumn Meeting
November 14, 2013
Potomac Hunt Club
Dickerson, Maryland
Jane Thery, Chair
Summary Notes
Brainstorming
on how to promote the Farm Stewardship Certification and Assessment Program
among horse farm owners and managers
First
the good news. We now have 12 horse
farms certified, with the newest addition being Larry and Jo-Anne Shaudies’
Surmont Farm in Poolesville. Horse farms
with a total of 1,154.5 acres now have
FSCAP certification.
Goal: Sign up at least 10 more horse farms for the
Farm Stewardship Certification and Assessment Program (FSCAP) in 2014.
Ten
obstacles to signing up more horse farms in the FSCAP program.
Farm owners/managers:
- Don’t know about the program
- Don’t know if they meet the criteria for
certification
- Don’t see the advantages in becoming certified
- Think the process will take too much of their time
- Do not want outsiders on their farms
- Don’t know where to get assistance in meeting the
certification criteria
- Are suspicious of environmental initiatives
- Don’t want the big green sign at their farm entrance
- Don’t want to be bothered with the paper work
- Are not willing to meet the criteria for
certification
Ten ideas for actions to overcome
these obstacles:
- Promote the FSCAP program at the Maryland Horse Expo
– Standing banner? Encourage MHC
leaders with farms to get their farms certified to demonstrate support for
the program. Distribute more FSCAP
horse brochures at tack shops.
Advertise the program in the Equiery and other farm-oriented
publications and web sites and Facebook (Pony Club, Fox Hunts, H/J, PVDA,
lesson barns, etc). Promote the
program at the Farm Bureau.
- Prepare and post a FAQ to clarify the program
characteristics
- Prepare a list of reasons to become certified,
including testimonials from certified farm owners/managers
- Prepare a description of the process of certification
with all the steps required
- Ask owners/managers of certified farms to encourage
their neighbors and friends to apply for the program
- Provide a list of resources for interested farm
owner/managers to contact if they would like to become certified,
including Soil Conservation District Equine Specialists
- Emphasize the healthy horses/ quality land management
aspects of the program
- Offer additional options for certified farms –
invitations to special events?
Special recognition from the Chesapeake Bay Foundation? FSCAP horse blankets? Other creative ideas?
- Provide a clear description of the paperwork required
with time estimates for the preparation and farm visit
- Provide assistance and information on present and
future regulations which will require elements of this voluntary program
