Staff
Susanne Richards
Susanne Richards is the current Executive Director of the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, Inc. Susanne comes to MAEF from the Delaware Soybean Board, where she was executive director for 14 years, and the Maryland Soybean Board, where she was a communications contractor from 1994 to 2017 and executive director from 2017 to 2019. During her time with the boards, she fundraised and locally coordinated the Mid-Atlantic Farmers Feed Us program, an online ag education campaign; co-created and directed the popular My Maryland Farmers website and social media campaign; facilitated the establishment of the Atlantic Soybean Council, a regional soybean research organization; and aligned the boards’ programs and budgets with their strategic plans. She was recognized by Gov. Bob Ehrlich for her contributions to promoting the biodiesel industry. Susanne and her parents, John and Ann Richards, and her nephew, Shawn Richards, operate Sheepfield Farm just south of Leonardtown in St. Mary’s County, raising cut flowers and lawn ornaments that “baa.”
Genevieve Stephenson
I am excited to work for MAEF as an Executive Assistant. I can’t wait to learn more about the uniqueness of Maryland Agriculture. My background is in nursing, and I still currently hold an LVN/LPN license in the state of California. I have been a military spouse for the last 11 years. I have one daughter and 2 fur babies. I enjoy Ravens football, traveling and eating good food.
Diana Tyler
Diana Tyler is MAEF’s Education Outreach Coordinator and has been with MAEF since 2005. She attended Harford Community College and earned a degree in Criminal Justice. Diana worked for M&T Bank for 30 years before she came to MAEF. In her spare time, Diana enjoys gardening and baking. She is very involved in the lives of her two daughters; Brooke and Emily.
Dave Miller
David Miller has been fully engaged in a variety of areas of agricultural education for more than 50 years. Beginning his career as an FFA student member, David went on to pursue a degree in agricultural education at the University of Maryland. After a successful teaching career at Gaithersburg High School from 1966 until 1976, Miller served as the Executive Secretary of the Maryland FFA Association and later the Maryland FFA Association Advisor and Agricultural Education Specialist. In these roles, he played a large part in establishing the Maryland FFA Foundation, Leadership Conference, and Legislative Conference. He also served on the National FFA Board of Directors and National FFA Board of Trustees from 1982 to 1990. In the early 1990s, Miller returned to the local school system. Until his retirement in 2005, he was the Assistant Superintendent for Career and Technology Education at Frederick County Public School. Since retiring, Miller continues to offer his assistance to agricultural education, working as a consultant for MAEF. Through this position, he and others work to improve existing agriscience programs and advocate for growing programs.
Terrie Shank
Terrie Shank serves as the executive director for Maryland FFA Association and the assistant director of High School and Post Secondary Education. Before joining MAEF, Terrie taught high school agriculture for 32 years in Washington County, retiring from Clear Spring High School. Her views of building agriculture programs and providing teacher training and support directly link to MAEF’s overall mission. Terrie has received multiple awards from the public school system, Maryland Agriculture Teachers Association, and National FFA Association. She is a graduate of LEAD Maryland Class VII. In her spare time, Terrie likes to travel and help in the operation of her family dairy farm, Palmyra Farm, LLC, in Washington County.
Tonya Wible
Tonya Wible is the Elementary Education Director for MAEF. She has not only classroom experience, but a personal connection to agriculture and extensive work in agricultural education program development and management. After teaching 3rd grade for 6 years, Tonya left the classroom to help PA Friends of Ag Foundation start their Mobile Ag Ed Science Lab program. In this role, she was able to merge her passion for education with her appreciation for agriculture that she gained growing up on a dairy farm in southcentral PA. During her time with the Foundation, she grew their Ag Lab program into a statewide program, as well as initiated and developed numerous other educational outreach programs with an agricultural focus. In the fall of 2020, Tonya returned to classroom instruction with Commonwealth Charter Academy, where she incorporated agriculture into the virtual lessons. She is excited to be back in the ag arena and focused on maintaining, as well as growing, the quality ag education programs at MAEF. She currently lives on a small beef farm in Pennsylvania with her husband, Steve, and daughter, Elyana.
Naomi Knight
Naomi Knight is the Program Coordinator for the Maryland FFA Association, working closely with the MD FFA Executive Director, Terrie Shank. Naomi retired as an agriculture teacher after 32 years, 30 in Harford County and her first 2 years in Frederick County. Naomi’s major accomplishments include: Outstanding Teacher Award, Region 6 of the National Association of Agriculture Educators (NAAE), Finalist in the National FFA Agrscience Teacher of the Year Program, and has earned both the American FFA Degree and the Honorary American FFA Degree. Naomi has devoted her life’s work in agriculture, growing up on her dad’s dairy farm and marrying a dairy farmer of 32 years.
Victoria Stone
Victoria Stone is the Middle School Education Director for MAEF. After a 12-year career with the University of Maryland Extension – Cecil County 4-H Youth Development, Victoria joined MAEF in February of 2022. Throughout her time with UME-4H Victoria delivered hands-on experiential learning opportunities to 4000 + youth annually. These programs included community mentoring, STEM, leadership, and agriculture. Victoria is affectionately known as the “Chicken Lady” around the Cecil County Public School System as she has delivered chick embryology lessons to over 10,000 Kindergarten and 7th grade students. Victoria is excited to use her background in Youth Development, Agriculture, Learning Design and Technology to further MAEF’s mission and strategic plan. Victoria resides in Cecil County, MD with her family on what she refers to as her “mini farm” with her miniature call ducks and a host of other animals.
Ben Brown
Ben is the Director of Communications for MAEF. After growing up on a family farm on the eastern shore of Maryland, Ben then graduated from the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources. Now a resident of Baltimore City, Ben takes pride in being the go-to resource for friends and neighbors who have questions or concerns about their deck and patio planters. Through 4-H, the College of Ag, and his career, Ben has had the opportunity to work with local, state, and national events and organizations and loves being able to share his passion for agriculture with anyone who will listen.
