Each year, the Frederick County Office of Economic Development (FCOED) partners 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.
Andrew Toms, 37, owner and operator of Monocacy Farms, Inc. is named one of Frederick County’s Top Young Ag Professionals. Andrew is a fifth-generation dairy and crop farmer in Walkersville. His passion began as a child, helping on his family farm raking hay. At the age of 15, Andrew rented his first farm to raise heifers and began dairy farming three years later. Now, Monocacy Farms, Inc operates a 150-head dairy cow operation with 340 acres of corn, soybeans, wheat and barley. Andrew continues to diversify the enterprise by bringing in other sources of revenue. Monocacy Farms provides custom farming and trucking services to others in the community and has also begun selling fresh produce and eggs. Andrew operates Monocacy Farms with his father and two other employees. He is active in the day-to-day operations including fieldwork, financial record keeping and general farmstead maintenance.
Andrew is involved with a number of community organizations. He currently serves on the Frederick County Agricultural Preservation Advisory Board and is a member of the Frederick County Farm Bureau. He has served on the Frederick County Agricultural Reconciliation Committee and was the ag member on the Business and Industry Cabinet. Recently, Andrew graduated cum laude from the University of Baltimore School of Law with a Juris Doctorate. He is especially proud of this accomplishment and intends to provide legal services to the local ag community.
Andrew believes his greatest farming accomplishment is his perseverance in the industry. “It is tough to get started in agriculture because most young and/or beginning farmers do not have the capital and other resources. Farming can be difficult- economically, spiritually and mentally,” he says.
We are proud to honor Andrew as one of 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 him at the helm. Be sure to congratulate Andrew on this well-deserved accolade!