Deana Tice on Agriculture in Anne Arundel

What if the fastest way to protect the Bay, feed our neighbors, and inspire the next generation starts with a horse, a pasture, and a plan? In the latest episode of the Pittman & Friends podcast, County Executive Steuart Pittman sits down with farmer and community leader Deana Tice to trace a life in agriculture—from a childhood spent in horse barns and milking parlors across multiple states to running a three-farm equine operation that teaches 150 lessons a week—and uncover what keeps Anne Arundel’s farms alive.Education takes center stage as we spotlight the CASE program at Southern High and opportunities at CAT North. Deana makes a compelling case for countywide access so a kid who dreams of veterinary school or crop science isn’t blocked by a ZIP code. We dig into the nuts and bolts of soil conservation and why well-managed pastures act like living sponges, capturing stormwater and nutrients before they hit the Chesapeake. And we zoom out to the missing backbone: a Regional Ag Center at the former grain elevator site. Picture a USDA-inspected meat processor, aggregation, cold storage, and a certified kitchen under one roof. For livestock producers, that means shorter hauls and reliable slots. For fruit, vegetable, and grain growers, it means value-added products and better margins. Layer in workforce training, a farmers market, and classrooms, and you’ve got a hub that serves all of Southern Maryland.If you care about local food, clean water, and open space—or you just love the smell of a barn on show day—this one’s for you. Subscribe, share with a friend who loves farmers’ markets, and leave a review with the one change you’d make to strengthen local agriculture.If you like the stories and insights in Pittman and Friends, be sure to follow the County Executive on social media and sign up for his Weekly Letter using the links below. Weekly Letter: https://www.aacounty.org/county-executive/steuart-pittman/pittmans-pen/weekly-letterFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/AACoExecX (formerly Twitter): https://x.com/AACoExecInstagram: https://www.instagram.com/AACoExec/YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ArundelTV