At FAFO (Family, Agriculture, and Fun Outdoors) Farms in Davidsonville, you might find Sylvia Calabrese halter-breaking cattle, preparing animals for a show, or planning her next visit to a local classroom. But beyond the work happening on her family’s farm and attending high school, Sylvia also serves as a voice for agriculture across the state as a Maryland Farm Bureau Ag Ambassador.
Her path didn’t begin the way many people might expect. Sylvia’s family moved to the farm about five years ago after living in a neighborhood in Pasadena. Once an old horse farm, the property needed a lot of work before the family could begin raising animals or starting their own projects.
“When we first moved, I wasn’t fully interested in agriculture,” Sylvia says. “I liked living on a farm and how freeing it felt, but agriculture didn’t mean the same thing to me then as it does now.”
After attending her first Anne Arundel County Farm Bureau event in 2024, it all changed. During the county’s annual picnic, Sylvia toured a local farm and saw firsthand how much could be accomplished with a small piece of land.
“That day changed so much for me, along with my view on agriculture,” she says. Soon after, she was asked by fellow Farm Bureau members to serve as the county’s Ag Ambassador. She said yes, and quickly discovered a passion for advocating for agriculture and sharing its story.
“Being the county Agriculture ambassador opened my eyes the most when it came to farming and agriculture,” Sylvia says. “Networking, learning, teaching and attending events showed me how amazing this path in life is.”
Today, Sylvia helps manage her family’s livestock herd at FAFO Farms, where she handles tasks such as halter-breaking cattle, DNA testing and registering animals. She is also active in youth agricultural programs, including 4-H, and regularly participates in events that connect the public with farming.
As a 2026 Maryland Farm Bureau Ag Ambassador, Sylvia focuses on several key areas: advocacy, education, networking and media outreach. One of her favorite parts is advocacy. During the legislative session, she meets with state lawmakers to discuss agricultural priorities. At events like Farm Bureau’s Day in Annapolis, Sylvia and other advocates talk directly with legislators about policies that affect farmers.
“Advocating has taught me that I have a voice, and that I am more than capable of using it,” she says. “It has allowed me to build relations that I never thought that I would have and has taken me places I never thought I would be.”
Education is another area she especially enjoys. Sylvia frequently visits schools to help students understand where their food comes from, whether she is talking about plants, livestock or life on a farm. One of her most memorable moments came during a visit to Davidsonville Elementary School, where she helped students plant sunflowers to take home.
“Right when the bell was getting ready to ring for the students to leave for home, I was surrounded by a bunch of mini fans asking for signatures on their sunflower cups,” Sylvia says. “It honestly threw me off guard so much that all I could do was laugh and sign all of the kids’ cups.”
Experiences like that reinforce why programs, like Ag Ambassador, are so important.
“It allows a bridge to be created between the farming community and the urbanized public,” Sylvia explains. “It shows that agriculture isn’t just a legacy industry, but a modern career path that anyone can start at any time.”
For consumers who care about where their food comes from, Sylvia has a simple message: ask questions and support local farms.
“The best question that a farmer can be asked is ‘How was this grown or raised?’ ” she says. “When a consumer buys local, they are supporting smaller, local farmers who work hard to produce the food that we eat.”
Hungry for more? Read about another youth ag-vocate. Learn more about young farmers.
