NEWSfrom MHC’S INDUSTRY PROFESSIONAL MEMBERS BUSINESS NEWS MHC member and sponsor MidAtlantic Farm Credit has hired Justin


Hill as a loan offi cer in the Association’s offi ce in Salisbury, Maryland. “We are looking forward to having Justin join our sales team,” says Jim McCabe, MidAtlantic Farm Credit Lending Manager. “He is very eager to work with our members and use his agricultural and real estate knowledge to aid in their lending decisions.”


New Member Benefi t MHC is now sharing Industry Professional promotional videos on


its YouTube Channel, and posting them on the MHC Facebook page. Check out member Valley Meadow’s video!


WELCOME NEW MEMBERS Without doubt, the fi rst impression one


has of Michael and Devon Lucchesi is that they are practical, straight-forward, and down-to-earth people. The Lucchesi’s are suffi ciently straightforward that they made no eff ort to hide the name of their business behind euphemisms. They named it what it is: Mike’s Dead Animal Removal. In a nod to the emotional nature of their work, however, they give the business an alias: “Mike’s DAR Heavenly Helpers.” Mike’s DAR Heavenly Helpers is based in Hellam, PA, and provides 24-7 service to


Maryland, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. In addition to removal, the company also provides standard and personalized cremation, and transportation to labs for necropsies. They strive to provide empathet- ic service to owners by treating every animal with respect and dignity.


When you visit Jennifer Allen’s website, the


fi rst thing you notice is that EVERYONE at J. Allen & Associates is a horse person. So it comes as no surprise Allen’s niche is account- ing and bookkeeping services for equine-re- lated businesses. Allen focuses on equine-re- lated businesses “because we speak the same language. Clients that aren’t involved with horses don’t understand when you have to reschedule because the vet is com- ing out.” Her practice is not, however, limited to equine-related businesses. A signifi cant


portion of her client base is construction companies and contractors. Allen launched her own business in 2017 after two decades in tax


preparation and accounting. Allen’s mother had told her to not pur- sue a career in the horse industry, but to instead pursue a career that would support her horse habit. Allen earned an undergraduate de- gree in fi nance and took a job with a mutual fund company. She picked up tax preparation work in her off hours to pay off her student loans more quickly. She was hooked. “No two tax returns are the same, not


even a simple one with just a W-2. It’s like a diff erent puzzle each time.” Allen went on to earn an MBA in accounting and became a Certifi ed Public Accountant. By 2003, Allen was working for Frederick County CPA Gary Smith, who


is a long time horse person. In 2009, Allen began doing work with a few small businesses on the side, to help them grow. In 2011 she became an Endorsed Local Provider for the Dave Ramsey Show and her client base rapidly increased, as she specialized in helping clients get out of debt, and then, once out of debt, how to invest their funds going for- ward - in addition to assisting them with their taxes. In 2017, Allen hung out her own accounting shingle by purchas- ing a small practice based in Damascus. Two years laters, her business received “Profi t First Professionals” certifi cation, which allowed her to move beyond compliance work into coaching clients on profi t maxi- mization and fi nancial sustainability. Allen considers her staff of horsewomen to be the engine of her busi-


ness. She met Tracy Barbeito in 2005 when they both boarded horses at Woodvale Farm (Frederick), and she coaxed her to come into the industry. Barbeito prepares tax returns, does client bookkeeping, and handles numerous back-offi ce duties. Allen met Alicia Schwartzbeck, who had a background in bookkeeping, when they were at Breezy Hill Stables (Thurmont).


Welcoming people to the family farm comes easy to new member Kathy Stumpf. Her fa- ther said “come to the farm” as frequently as “hello.” Stumpf’s family-run Valley Meadow Farms Bed & Barn Trails Getaway in Wash- ington County on Sideling Hill, welcomes rid- ers and their horses for a trails getaway. Riders can stay overnight in the farmhouse or visit for day rides. Stumpf grew up working along- side her father and as a result, she knows ev-


ery hill and valley, creek and view on the farm. She has created a 30- mile trail system for guests to enjoy. Stumpf had owned and operated a fl orist shop in Middle River for 25 years before moving back to Sidel- ing Hill. When she’s not greeting guests, she is playing with her cows and chickens or gardening, and like her parents, she looks forward to welcoming Equiery readers and MHC members out for a visit.


One might consider Clover Luck Sta-


bles an “accidental stable.” Stephanie Williams did not start out intending to have a lesson stable. It just sort of…hap- pened. In a “lucky” sort of way. Like many of her generation, Williams has multiple income streams. She has owned the thriving Artistic Director of Drama Learning Center in Columbia for


15 years, while simultaneously buying and re-schooling horses for sale out of her family’s small farm on Folly Quarter Road in Ellicott City. She also gave private lessons on her own horses.


This feature is a benefi t for MHC Industry Professional Members. To learn more or submit news & updates, contact Business Network Co-Chairs Jane Seigler & Crystal Brumme Pickett at IndustryNews@mdhorsecouncil.org


60 | OCTOBER 2021 | THE EQUIERY YOUR MARYLAND HORSE COUNCIL PUBLICATION BECOME A MEMBER • JOIN.MDHORSECOUNCIL.ORG 800-244-9580 | www.equiery.com


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