Gene Wiles Memorial Fund Awarded at Ag Expo

The Community Foundation of Washington County and the Wiles family presented the Gene Wiles Memorial Award of $650 during the Washington County Ag Expo & Fair’s 4H/FFA Market Sale. This year’s application process included two very qualified applicants who both had aspirations of staying actively involved in agriculture and farming, making the decision extremely difficult for the review committee. The deciding factor came down to which project exhibited the best chance of longevity.This year’s recipient Hunter Harshman will purchase calving pens for miniature Herefords and breed his heifers to calve at different times throughout the year. He will then sell them for showing and/or breeding. Harshman hopes to educate local farmers about this breed and continue building his miniature Hereford herd. He serves as president of the Clear Spring Future Farmers of America and vice president of the 4-H Livestock Club. Harshman recently graduated from Clear Spring High School and will attend Universal Technical Institute to become a diesel mechanic.The Wiles’ family and local community created the Gene Wiles Memorial Fund to honor Gene and his love for agriculture. The fund offers financial support in the form of an annual grant through a qualifying organization to assist a young adult from Washington County, Maryland, or the surrounding area, pursuing an agricultural endeavor. Applicants must be between the ages of 16 and 21 and have an affiliation with 4-H programs, the FFA or the Washington County Agriculture Board. Projects must relate directly to agricultural interests.