2026 Farm of the Year
J.C. Schnebly and his wife, Beth, operate Crown Stone Farm with his parents, John and Pam Schnebly.
Nine generations of the Schnebly family have worked the land of Crown Stone Farm
By Rebecca Long Chaney
The Schnebly family accepts the 2026 Washington County Farm of the Year award.
For more than 200 years and now through nine generations, the Schnebly family has worked the land, milked cows, and operated Crown Stone Farm. So, it’s no surprise the historic farm was honored as the 2025-26 Washington County, Maryland, Farm of the Year.
“The Farm of the Year program was created to recognize farms that stand out for their excellence in agriculture and their contributions to the vitality of Washington County’s farming community,” says Kelsey Keadle, Agricultural Business Specialist for the Washington County Department of Business and Economic Development. “This award reflects the dedication and resilience of local farming families, highlighting achievements in production, conservation, preservation, and community involvement.”
The Schnebly family is very humbled by the award and is grateful for the opportunity to work together.
“I get to work and see my family every day and share the love we have for this land,” says John Schnebly. “We are privileged to live, raise our families, and work on this farm.”
John Schnebly’s ancestor, John Henry Schnebly, immigrated from Switzerland to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, and in 1813 moved to Washington County and founded Schnebly Homestead, which is now Crown Stone Farm. The farm is divided into two parcels that adjoin, 180 acres in Maryland and 162 acres in Pennsylvania. The family rents another 200 acres.
The Schneblys near the crown stone survey marker set during the 18th century Mason-Dixon Line survey to demarcate Maryland
and Pennsylvania.
As it began more than two centuries ago, Crown Stone Farm is 100 percent family owned and operated. Family members spanning three generations balance chores. John Schnebly, his wife Pam and their two sons and daughters-in-law, J.C. and Beth and Jeremy and Stacie, juggle the lengthy list of responsibilities.
“John does all of the milking along with J.C. and William (John’s brother),” says Pam Schnebly. “John and I do all the accounting work, and J.C. and Beth’s family does all aspects of herd management.”
Crown Stone Farm shows off some of its Guernseys during a Maryland 4-H Dairy
Youth event.
Jeremy is the crop and machinery manager, and gets help with planting, harvesting, and machinery repair from their three sons, kindergarten through eighth grade. Jeremy’s family along with J.C.’s family all help with cow, heifer, and calf-raising duties. J.C. and Beth’s children, two now in college and their youngest, a senior in high school, help with young stock and do all the registrations and fair entry paperwork.
“All family members help with preparing and exhibiting the show animals,” John Schnebly says. “All of the grandkids have their own registered animals. They have exhibited in local, state, and national shows. The older kids help with milking and all farm tasks when needed and daily during the summer and when college and school are closed. My nephew, Brian, also helps with some of the calf-care tasks.”
The three generations milk 182 cows and farm more than 500 acres of corn, alfalfa, soybeans, and barley.
John Schnebly is the seventh generation, making his sons, nieces and nephews the eighth generation and his grandchildren the ninth generation on the family farm. Having three generations living on the farm means a lot to the family as they have instilled a strong work ethic in the next generation.
It’s obvious the grandchildren are following in their parents’ and grandparents’ footsteps loving dairy cattle and being strong advocates for agriculture.
“Crown Stone Farm got its name because of the five-mile stone marker on the farm,” Pam says. “There was a survey on the Mason-Dixon line for Lord Baltimore and William Penn, and the crown is on both sides of the stone. We have preserved it for future exhibits.”
Although they now raise all six of the major dairy cattle breeds, they are most passionate about the Guernsey breed. “John’s father, Seth Schnebly, the sixth generation, purchased his first Guernsey in 1955,” Pam says.
Guernseys have been synonymous with the Schnebly name for seven decades. Their greatest success was exhibiting the grand champion bred and owned Guernsey at the All-American Dairy Show in Harrisburg and hosting hundreds of Guernsey breeders for a global tour.
“We were very proud to be asked to host a farm tour for 300 people during the World Guernsey Conference,” John added.
The Schnebly family not only has worked tirelessly on the farm concentrating on sustainability, conservation practices, and cover crop programs that improve soil health, reduce erosion and preserve farmland for future generations, but continue to adapt to new technologies and farming methods in order to continue their legacy in the dairy industry.