Howard County Executive Calvin Ball was joined by Maryland Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks, elected County officials, and Howard County’s
agriculture community members at West Friendship Park for the grand opening of the county’s new Office of Agriculture (OoA).
Located in the park’s recently renovated historic Hebb House, the OoA is the County’s first-ever office focused on agriculture, and only the third of its kind in the state. Ball also announced his $1 million Fiscal Year 2026 budget investment to support the planning and design of an agricultural center at the County’s West Friendship Park.
Since I became Howard County Executive, we have worked hard to prioritize the needs of our agricultural community, both as businesses and as a valued way of life. Together, we have made strides to innovate and invest in local farming to ensure a thriving future for our county’s farms. With the opening of our Office of Agriculture here at West Friendship Park, we are bringing much-needed support and resources closer to our county’s farming community so they can continue to thrive, grow, and prosper for generations to come. – Calvin Ball, Howard County Executive
Headed by Office of Agriculture Administrator James Zoller, the OoA houses various agricultural programs and staff to enhance coordination and impact, as well as provide co-working opportunities for the agriculture-facing functions of the County’s Department of Planning and Zoning (DPZ), Howard County Economic Development Authority (HCEDA), University of Maryland Extension, and Howard Soil Conservation District. The office will also work with the County’s Department of Recreation & Parks to provide agriculturally focused recreational programming and learning opportunities for residents at the park.
Farming has a long history and heritage in Howard County, and with the establishment of this office– and the visionary coordination and collaboration it represents – the industry has a strong future. – Kevin Atticks, Maryland Secretary of Agriculture