Sudlersville Farmer Brings Nutrition Background to Agriculture and Advocacy

​A Sudlersville farmer is combining science, agriculture, and advocacy to help shape the future of farming on the Mid-Shore.

Jennie Schmidt, a registered dietitian by training, shifted her focus from human nutrition to soil and plant health after marrying into a farming family. Today, she helps operate Schmidt Farms Inc., which grows a variety of crops including corn, soybeans, wheat, snap beans, and wine grapes.

Schmidt says her background in nutrition translates naturally to agriculture, with both fields rooted in chemistry and biology.

She now runs the farm alongside her brother-in-law while her husband, Hans Schmidt, serves as assistant secretary of resource conservation for the Maryland Department of Agriculture.

Over more than two decades in the industry, Schmidt has become a leader in Maryland agriculture, including serving as the first female president of the Maryland Grain Producers Board. She has also participated in international programs connecting with women farmers in countries like Vietnam and Indonesia.

Schmidt Farms grows a diverse mix of crops, which she says helps manage risk in an industry heavily impacted by weather and market conditions. She notes challenges such as rising costs, tariffs, and land availability continue to impact farmers, especially those just starting out.

Despite those challenges, Schmidt says farming offers independence and opportunity, encouraging young people interested in agriculture to gain hands-on experience.
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Her story comes as 2026 has been designated the International Year of the Woman Farmer, highlighting the growing role of women in agriculture both locally and around the world.