{"id":8444,"date":"2026-05-19T14:10:31","date_gmt":"2026-05-19T18:10:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/extension\/?page_id=8444"},"modified":"2026-05-19T14:10:31","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T18:10:31","slug":"planning-committees","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/extension\/planning-committees\/","title":{"rendered":"Planning Committees"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<div class=\"wp-block-columns is-layout-flex wp-container-core-columns-is-layout-8f761849 wp-block-columns-is-layout-flex\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-column is-vertically-aligned-center is-layout-flow wp-block-column-is-layout-flow\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-cover is-light\" style=\"min-height:272px;aspect-ratio:unset;\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"232\" class=\"wp-block-cover__image-background wp-image-8361 size-large\" alt=\"Grapes\" src=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/extension\/wp-content\/uploads\/sites\/139\/2026\/05\/Agritourism-conf-header-1024x232.jpg\" data-object-fit=\"cover\"\/><span aria-hidden=\"true\" class=\"wp-block-cover__background has-background-dim-10 has-background-dim\" style=\"background-color:#809076\"><\/span><div class=\"wp-block-cover__inner-container is-layout-constrained wp-block-cover-is-layout-constrained\">\n<p class=\"has-text-align-center has-white-color has-text-color has-link-color has-large-font-size wp-elements-b8862d7656e36499147520425205028c wp-block-paragraph\">Maryland Agritourism Conference: Planning Committees<\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Special thanks to members of 2026 Agritourism Conference planning committees<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Core Committee<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Moses T. Kairo, Dean, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, University of Maryland Eastern Shore<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enrique N. Escobar, Associate Dean, UMES Extension<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Donna Price, UMES Extension<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kingsley Ejiogu, UMES Extension <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Laura Sileo, Ag Communications Director, UMES<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nicole Dancil, UMES Extension<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Erinn D. Tucker-Oluwole, UMES Hospitality and Tourism Management<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prem Bhandari, UMES Extension<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"has-medium-font-size wp-block-paragraph\"><strong>Planning Committee<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Stephen Alessi, Associate Director, <strong>Northeast Regional Center for Rural Development<\/strong> (<strong>NERCRD<\/strong>) <\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prem Bhandari, UMES Extension<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jeb Burchick, Maryland Farm Bureau<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>William Burke, Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences, UMES<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nicole Dancil, UMES Extension<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Charlotte Davis, Executive Director, Rural Maryland Council<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kamleshkumar Desai, UMES Ag Communications<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kelly Dudeck, Cultivate + Crafts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Rachel Eck, Horizon Farm Credit<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kingsley Ejiogu, UMES Extension<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enrique N. Escobar, Associate Dean, UMES Extension<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Holly Gilpin, Dorchester County Tourism<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Janna Howley, Cultivate + Crafts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Moses T. Kairo, Dean, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>James Mathias, UMES Government Relations<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Ashley Mazer, Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development, Inc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Donna Price, UMES Extension<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Martin Proulx, Maryland Department of Agriculture<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lisa Purnell, USDA Office of Partnerships and Public EngagementMelanie Pursel, Worcester County Office of Tourism and Economic Development<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Jenny Rhodes, University of Maryland College Park<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Allison Roe, MARBIDCO<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>David Ryan, Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development, Inc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Natalia Salazar, Montgomery County Office of Agriculture, Business Development<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Claudia Schmidt, Associate Professor, NERCRD<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Cassie Shirk, Maryland Department of Agriculture<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Laura Sileo, UMES Ag Communications<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Paul Suplee, UMES Hospitality and Tourism<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Daniel Thompson, Somerset County Economic Development Commission<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stephan L. Tubene, Department of Agriculture, Food and Resource Sciences, UMES<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Erinn D. Tucker-Oluwole, UMES Hospitality and Tourism Management<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Vagner Benedito, Associate Dean, UMES<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dana Zucker, Sugar Water Manor<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item\"><details><summary class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__title has-background has-header-secondary-bg-color-background-color\">Program and Agenda Subcommittee<\/summary><div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__content\" style=\"border-color:#651d32\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Kingsley Ejiogu, UMES Extension<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Laura Sileo, UMES Ag Communications<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Erinn D. Tucker-Oluwole, UMES Hospitality and Tourism Management<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Dana Zucker, Sugar Water Manor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kelly Dudeck, Cultivate + Crafts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Darlene Goehringer, Pop\u2019s Old Place<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Kelly Jackson, Emily\u2019s Produce<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Martin Proulx, Maryland Department of Agriculture<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prem Bhandari, UMES Extension<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enrique N. Escobar, Associate Dean, UMES Extension<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Melanie Pursel, Worcester County Office of Tourism and Economic Development<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>David Ryan, Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development, Inc.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Daniel Thompson, Somerset County Economic Development Commission<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Tom Cunningham, Mary\u2019s Land Farm, Ellicott City<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Natalia Salazar, Montgomery County Office of Agriculture, Business Development<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Claudia Schmidt, Associate Professor, NERCRD<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item\"><details><summary class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__title has-background has-header-secondary-bg-color-background-color\">Resources and Funding Subcommittee<\/summary><div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__content\" style=\"border-color:#651d32\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Dana Zucker, Sugar Water Manor<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Lisa Purnell, USDA Office of Partnerships and Public Engagement<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Erinn D. Tucker-Oluwole, UMES Hospitality and Tourism Management<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prem Bhandari, UMES Extension<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Enrique N. Escobar, Associate Dean, UMES Extension<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Moses T. Kairo, Dean, School of Agricultural and Natural Sciences, UMES<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Stephen Alessi, Associate Director, <strong>NERCRD<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Donna Price, UMES Extension<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Laura Sileo, UMES Ag Communications<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nicole Dancil, UMES Extension<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item\"><details><summary class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__title has-background has-header-secondary-bg-color-background-color\">Logistics Management Subcommittee<\/summary><div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__content\" style=\"border-color:#651d32\">\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li>Enrique N. Escobar, Associate Dean, UMES Extension<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Prem Bhandari, UMES Extension<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Donna Price, UMES Extension<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Laura Sileo, UMES Ag Communications<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li>Nicole Dancil, UMES Extension<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion\">\n<div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item\"><details><summary class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__title has-background has-header-secondary-bg-color-background-color\">2023 Agritourism Conference Planning Committee<\/summary><div class=\"wp-block-coblocks-accordion-item__content\" style=\"border-color:#651d32\">\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><a href=\"https:\/\/explorecrisfield.com\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">A.C. Alrey<\/a>, City of Crisfield, Business Development Office<a href=\"https:\/\/choosedorchester.org\/dorchester-economic-development\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\"><br><\/a><a href=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/connections\/umes-extension-welcomes-agribusiness-and-resource-economist-to-team\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Nazia Arbab<\/a>, UMES Extension<br><a href=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/connections\/agritourism-and-value-added-agricultural-marketing-specialist-joins-umes-extension\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Prem Bhandari<\/a>, UMES Extension<br><a href=\"https:\/\/conduitstreet.mdcounties.org\/2021\/08\/12\/maco-welcomes-new-policy-team-member-dominic-butchko\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dominic Butchko<\/a>, Maryland Association of Counties<br><a href=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/extension\/nicole-cook\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Nicole Cook<\/a>, UMES Extension<br>N. Samantha Dancil, UMES Extension<br><a href=\"https:\/\/growandfortify.com\/staff\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kelly Dudeck<\/a>, Grow &amp; Fortify<br><a href=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/justice\/kingsley-ejiogu-ph-d\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Kingsley Ejiougu<\/a>, UMES Extension<br><a href=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/agriculture\/enrique-nelson-escobar-ph-d\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Enrique Escobar<\/a>, UMES Extension<br><a href=\"https:\/\/mdfarmbureau.com\/staff\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Colby Ferguson<\/a>, Maryland Farm Bureau<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.horizonfc.com\/about\/newsroom\/kurt-fuchs-leads-government-affairs\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Kurt H. Fuchs<\/a>, Farm Credit<br><a href=\"https:\/\/wpoc.iheart.com\/featured\/where-to-next-podcast\/content\/2023-04-26-holly-gilpin-director-of-tourism-visit-dorchester\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Holly Gilpin<\/a>, Dorchester County Tourism<br><a href=\"https:\/\/agnr.umd.edu\/about\/directory\/paul-goeringer\" data-type=\"URL\" data-id=\"https:\/\/agnr.umd.edu\/about\/directory\/paul-goeringer\">Paul Goeringer<\/a>, University of Maryland<br><a href=\"https:\/\/growandfortify.com\/staff\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Janna Howley<\/a>, Grow &amp; Fortify<br><a href=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/agriculture\/lila-b-karki-ph-d\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Lila Karki<\/a>, UMES Extension<br><a href=\"https:\/\/somersetcountyedc.org\/somerset-county-staff.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">LeeAnn Linton<\/a>, Somerset County Economic Development Commission<br><a href=\"https:\/\/ifyeusa.org\/about\/rachel-manning-ifye-board-member.html\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Rachel Manning<\/a>, Farm Credit<br><a href=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/pr\/former-state-sen-jim-mathias-named-umes-government-relations-director\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">James Mathias<\/a>, UMES Government Relations<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/ashley-mazer-252341165\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Ashley Mazer<\/a>, Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development, Inc.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/htm\/faculty-and-staff\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. George Ojie-Ahamiojie<\/a>, UMES Hospitality &amp; Tourism Management <br><a href=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/extension\/we-are-umes-extension\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Donna Price<\/a>, UMES Extension<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.usda.gov\/sites\/default\/files\/documents\/usda-liaison-directory-nov-2022.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Lisa Purnell<\/a>, USDA Office of Partnerships &amp; Public Engagement<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.co.worcester.md.us\/node\/57\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Melanie Pursel<\/a>, Worcester County Office of Tourism &amp; Economic Development<br><a href=\"https:\/\/swed.org\/meet-the-team\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">David Ryan<\/a>, Salisbury-Wicomico Economic Development, Inc.<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.naco.org\/people\/michael-sanderson\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Michael Sanderson<\/a>, Maryland Association of Counties<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/cassandra-radack-shirk-477b844b\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Cassie Shirk<\/a>, Maryland Department of Agriculture<br><a href=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/sans\/connections\/shore-native-brings-more-than-20-years-media-experience-to-new-post\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Laura Sileo<\/a>, UMES Agriculture Communications<br><a href=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/extension\/gail-stephens\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gail Stephens<\/a>, UMES Agriculture Communications<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.somersetmd.us\/departments\/departments_-_n_-_z\/tourism_offices\/contact_us.php\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Gregory Clint Sterling<\/a>, Somerset County Government<br><a href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/in\/paul-g-suplee-mba-cec-pc3-0b253695\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Paul Suplee<\/a>, Hospitality &amp; Tourism<br><a href=\"https:\/\/somersetcountyedc.org\/somerset-county-newsandmedia.php?id=144\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Daniel Thompson<\/a>, Somerset County Economic Development Commission<br><a href=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/agriculture\/stephan-l-tubene-ph-d\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">Dr. Stephan L. Tubene<\/a>, UMES Department of Agriculture, Food &amp; Resource Sciences<br><\/p>\n<\/div><\/details><\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Special thanks to members of 2026 Agritourism Conference planning committees Core Committee Planning Committee&#8230;<span class=\"cpschool-read-more-link-holder\"><a class=\"btn btn-basic cpschool-read-more-link\" href=\"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/extension\/planning-committees\/\">Read more <span class=\"sr-only\">Planning Committees<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2245,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"_acf_changed":true,"_coblocks_attr":"","_coblocks_dimensions":"","_coblocks_responsive_height":"","_coblocks_accordion_ie_support":"","footnotes":""},"folder":[32],"class_list":["post-8444","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8444","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2245"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=8444"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/pages\/8444\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=8444"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wwwcp.umes.edu\/extension\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/folder?post=8444"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}