Gene Wiles Memorial Fund Awarded at Washington County Ag Expo

The Community Foundation of Washington County and the Wiles family presented the Gene Wiles Memorial Award of $800 to Braxton Griffith during the Washington County Ag Expo & Fair’s 4H/FFA Market Sale. The Wiles’ family and local community created this fund to honor Gene and his love for agriculture. The award offers financial support in the form of an annual grant through a qualifying organization to assist a young adult from Washington County, Maryland, or the surrounding area, pursuing an agricultural endeavor. This year’s recipient, Braxton Griffith, will use his grant to pursue the field of aquaculture, specifically aquaponics, which focuses on the relationship between plants and fish. He will create a system to grow fresh lettuce, tilapia and herbs year round, expanding his current business, Fox Gap Chickens, where he currently sells farm fresh eggs and breeds show chickens. Braxton participates in the 4-H Washington County Livestock Club, Future Farmers of America and the Junior National Simmental Association. He works at the South Mountain MicroFarm and Anvil Acres Farm. Braxton will be a senior at Boonsboro High School in the fall and will take college courses through Hagerstown Community College.