Russell Dunn of Harrington, Michael Scuse of Smyrna, and Michael and Mollie Lynch of Houston were honored at the Kent County Farm Bureau annual banquet held on Sept. 30 at Felton Fire Hall.
Farm Family of the Year – The Russell Dunn Family
The Russell Dunn Family was named the 2024 Farm Family of the Year. Dunn has been working on his family’s farm from a young age and has always had a strong passion for farming. At just 14, he grew peppers on 5 acres for San Del Packing Company and, during high school, worked with Dwight Meyer growing vegetables.
Over the years, Dunn hauled sweet corn, fertilizer, and other products, while gradually renting and purchasing land. Today, he farms approximately 800 acres across Delaware and Maryland. While presenting the award, David Marvel Jr. shared, “Russell and Marlene are now living the life they have always wanted to live.”
Senator Dave Wilson and Senator Eric Buckson presented a tribute to The Russell Dunn Family showing the General Assembly’s appreciation for his work.
Distinguished Service to Agriculture – Michael Scuse
Michael Scuse, Delaware’s Secretary of Agriculture, was awarded the Distinguished Service to Agriculture honor. A member of the Farm Bureau for over 20 years, Scuse has made a lasting impact on the agricultural industry through various leadership roles, including Acting Secretary of Agriculture, Acting Deputy Secretary of Agriculture, and Under Secretary for Farm and Foreign Agricultural Services.
Throughout his career, Scuse has been recognized by several organizations for his contributions to agriculture. Notable achievements during his time as Secretary include establishing a statewide food policy council, advancing the Agland Preservation program, and initiating a cover crop program. He currently manages his family’s farm, Round Maple Farms, where they grow corn, soybeans, and wheat.
As he prepares to retire, Scuse reflected on his career and the successes of his final year, stating, “We accomplished one of the greatest legislative sessions that agriculture has ever had. That’s a result of us all working together…We need to continue working for agriculture for this state and working together does work.”
Rising Star – Michael and Mollie Lynch
Michael and Mollie Lynch received the Rising Star Award for their dedication to the agricultural industry. The Lynch family operates a farm in Felton, raising beef cattle, growing orchard grass hay, and showing horses. Both Michael and Mollie are active leaders within the Farm Bureau, with Mollie serving as the State Chair of the Young Farmers & Ranchers (YF&R) Committee and Michael as the YF&R Kent County Chair.
The Lynch family shows a true dedication to agriculture through their participation in numerous agricultural organizations and volunteer events. They hope to pass this passion and leadership to their daughter, Eleanor, by giving her the same opportunities in agriculture that they had growing up.
Upon accepting the award, Mollie shared her appreciation for those who helped them, saying, “this is a great honor. We wouldn’t be here without the support of our family and many in this room.”
Representative Charles Postles presented the couple with a tribute from the Legislature, stating “We want to say thank you for what you’ve done. Good job, and we look forward to seeing more.”
