Howard County officials broke ground on the county’s first-ever agricultural center, named after former Howard County Councilmember Charles C. Feaga.
“Farming in Howard County has always been much more than a business. For many, it’s a cherished way of life,” Howard County Executive Calvin Ball said. “That is why, … I have made it a priority to help our agricultural community meet its needs, both in terms of doing business and in ensuring its continued viability as a way of life. The Charles C. Feaga Agricultural Center will be the centerpiece for this place to bring together key agricultural partners for training, meetings, education, and innovation.”
Ball allocated $1 million in 2025 to advance planning and design for development of the center in West Friendship Park. This year, he invested another $3.3 million in site development. The new hub is designed to strengthen and support the entire farming community in Howard County. Construction is slated to start in July 2027, with an expected opening date in December 2029.
The Charles C. Feaga Agricultural Center will house the Howard County Office of Agriculture; the University of Maryland Extension offices; a satellite office for the Howard County Economic Development Authority’s (HCEDA) agricultural lead; a satellite office for the Department of Recreation and Parks’ Natural Resources Division; a satellite office for the Agricultural Land Preservation Program; the Howard County Farm Bureau, and Maryland Dairy Shrine.
In addition to housing these offices, there will be a teaching and demonstration kitchen to support agricultural education, local food programming, and opportunities for farmers to connect to one another and the community. There will be state-of-the-art meeting rooms for meetings, workshops, training, and events.
Since 2019, Howard County has provided local farmers with more than $3.5 million through grant programs to help them through droughts and other challenges to improve their businesses. In 2024, the County opened its first Office of Agriculture in Western Howard County.
“The new Ag Center provide the platform for more collaboration between UMDE, and the Office of Agriculture,” said James Zoller, administrator for the Howard County Office of Agriculture. “This collaboration will allow for better service being provided to our agricultural community.”
Since opening, the Office of Agriculture has begun several programs that have seen significant growth. In 2026, the county began its first New & Beginning Farmer Program to lend support to aspiring farmers as they build their farm businesses in Howard County. The program provides around 16 acres of deer-fenced growing space, including 30 quarter-acre plots with water access to each plot. Farmers also have access to shared equipment and a greenhouse. Funding was approved for a wash/pack station to help farmers prepare and store their produce before bringing it to market. In 2026, there are ten farmers participating in the program.
“HCEDA is proud to join our partners as we break ground on the new Agricultural Center, an investment that strengthens one of Howard County’s most essential sectors,” said Jennifer Jones, president of the Howard County Economic Development Authority. “This Center gives us the infrastructure and support that our agricultural community needs to grow.”
Farmers do not have to wait until 2029 to feel the benefits of relief. Two walk-in freezers have been installed at West Friendship Park to help with their transportation and storage challenges. Howard County farmers can lease space in the freezers on a daily, weekly, or monthly basis at reasonable rates. The program will be operational by the end of August.
The county’s Roving Radish Program also has a satellite location at West Friendship Park for their Mobile Market and for local farmers to deliver produce. It has a new walk-in refrigerator, new concreate floor, updated electrical service, and new windows.
“I just want to thank County Executive Ball and members of the County Council for honoring Charlie, who is a good friend of 30 years,” said Steven Connelly, Maryland’s Deputy Secretary of Agriculture. “You couldn’t have picked a better location and it’s great when you can have all the services for the farming community in one location.”
Charles Feaga, for whom the new agricultural center will be named, was a lifelong farmer from the West Friendship area. He raised dairy cattle and beef cattle and was the longest serving Howard County councilmember in County history. Feaga served three terms on the Council from 1987-1998 and 2004-2006, representing District 5.
