Delaware Farm Bureau (DEFB) expanded its office staff by two this summer as Sydnie Grossnickle and Alexis Langenfelder came onboard.
Grossnickle, a recent graduate of Tarleton State with a master’s degree in Agricultural and Consumer Resources with a focus on leadership, has joined as the program and policy coordinator. While earning her degree, she held an internship with the Animal Ag Alliance, researched the Texas right to farm act, and worked on a Specialty Crop Block Grant project.
Hailing from Union Bridge, Maryland, Grossnickle has deep agricultural roots, growing up on her family’s dairy farm, Johnsville Farms Inc. Her great-grandparents were active Farm Bureau members and often took her to the meetings with them. While holding a state office in Maryland FFA, she discovered her love for policy. She had the opportunity to testify on a bill that would negatively impact school’s agriculture programs. “I realized that I love Farm Bureau and I love policy; that’s when I decided that I wanted to work for Farm Bureau,” Grossnickle reflects.
In her new role, Grossnickle is eager to support Delaware Farm Bureau’s mission by advocating for policies that benefit the state’s diverse agricultural community, encompassing both plant and animal sectors. She also looks forward to working with the Young Farmers and Ranchers program, saying, “There are so many opportunities I’m excited to explore with them!”
Langenfelder joined the DEFB office staff as the ag literacy and program coordinator. She grew up in Worton, Maryland, on her family’s 750-sow farrow-to-finish farm, Grand View Farm, and recently graduated from Delaware Valley University with a bachelor’s degree in agribusiness. During her studies, she was also involved in FFA, softball, and Farm Bureau.
She has deep roots in Farm Bureau, with her family being very active at both the county and state levels. Langenfelder’s aunt, Jen Debnam, is a Maryland Farm Bureau district coordinator, and her grandmother, Pat Langenfelder, was the first female Maryland Farm Bureau president. Following in their footsteps, Langenfelder served as Miss Kent County Farm Bureau and competed in the Pennsylvania Young Farmers and Rancher’s Discussion Meet competition.
Langenfelder aims to increase agricultural literacy across the state and engage more youth in agriculture. “I want to help youth understand where their food comes from and how they can get more involved in agriculture, with or without an agricultural background,” she says. She believes her extensive background in agriculture, from her family’s farm, education, and experience showing swine at her county fair, will help her achieve these goals.
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