Sydnie Grossnickle Named Maryland Farm Bureau Director of Government Relations

The Maryland Farm Bureau has named Sydnie Grossnickle as its new Director of Government Relations, according to American Farm Publications.

Grossnickle will manage the organization’s advocacy efforts in both Annapolis and Washington, D.C. Her responsibilities include leading grassroots policy development across the state’s 23 county Farm Bureaus.

This leadership change comes as the organization prepares for the 2027 Maryland General Assembly Session. The role requires year-round coordination of public policy programs, ensuring that legislative and regulatory goals align with the direction of the Board of Directors and member-driven grassroots initiatives.

“I’m honored to join Maryland Farm Bureau and have the opportunity to advocate for farmers and ag communities that helped shape my passion for the industry,” Grossnickle told American Farm Publications.

Grossnickle brings direct agricultural heritage to the position, having been raised on her family’s farm in Frederick County. This background provides her with a specific lens for representing the more than 6,000 members of the Maryland Farm Bureau.

Before stepping into this role, she served as the government affairs coordinator for the Delaware Farm Bureau. Her transition from Delaware to Maryland moves a seasoned advocate into a position where she must balance local county interests with state and federal policy requirements.

“I look forward to working with our members, policymakers, and industry partners to build on the great work Maryland Farm Bureau has already accomplished and continue advocating for the long-term viability of Maryland agriculture,” Grossnickle said.

The appointment seeks to bridge the gap between high-level policy discussions in the capital and the practical, economic realities faced by producers in the field. Using her experience in Delaware, the bureau aims to increase its influence over regulations affecting land use, commodity pricing, and agricultural sustainability.

“Maryland Farm Bureau is happy to bring Sydnie on board,” Parker Welch, Maryland Farm Bureau executive director, said, according to American Farm Publications.

Welch said that her previous advocacy work and her roots in Frederick County will help her engage with both members and elected officials.

The upcoming legislative cycle will test the implementation of these grassroots policies as the organization seeks to protect its members' economic interests against changing regulations.