Stephanie began working with the MDA in 1998, a few months after graduating from UD. She works with farmers and landowners to identify objectives, identify soil issues, and inventory resources, like water sources, on their property.

“Our projects can range from building a waste storage structure to stabilizing a ditch bank with either rock or grass buffers,” Stephanie said.

She also assists landowners interested in increasing wildlife habitat on their farms.

“We do hedgerow plantings for wildlife,” Stephanie said. “We create quail habitat, pollinator habitat, protect waters and streams, protect the soil from erosion, and stop nutrients from getting into groundwater and surface water.”

Stephanie has decades of experience, but in the late 1990s, it was a struggle to find a career in agriculture as a woman. She even recalls one potential employer who, after passing Stephanie over for an agronomy job, casually offered the job to her husband, an animal science major with no agronomy experience. 

“Having a college degree in agriculture was a foot in the door for my employment with the Maryland Department of Agriculture,” Stephanie said. “I was the only female in my office when I started, and now we’re a majority female office.”

Stephanie helps out on the farm when she can, but Gregg and his father-in-law, James H. Cannon Jr., do the vast majority of the farm work.

“We currently milk approximately 50 cows,” Gregg said. “We have about 115 animals, and we till about 520 acres. We grow corn, soybeans, barley, hay and a small grain mix of wheat and clover. More than 200 acres are irrigated, and that’s been a big help to guarantee a crop.” 

In addition to running the farm and raising three children, Gregg and Stephanie sell crop insurance, rent out a rustic barn on their property for events, and volunteer as the Peach Blossom 4-H Club dairy leaders. 

“My dad is constantly working in the fields and managing all the records that come with a farm,” Bethany said. “What inspires me most is my parents’ work ethic.”

Gregg originally planned to study art in college before deciding on agriculture. Now, he uses his creativity to breed beautiful cows. 

“If it was just for the milk, I don't know if I’d milk cows,” Gregg said. “I want to breed picture-perfect cows.” 

G&S Dairy is home to Holsteins, Jerseys, red and white Holsteins, and Brown Swiss cows. Their cows perform well in national shows.

“I concentrate on genetics,” Gregg said. “It has advanced to the point where we can pick a bull with particular health traits. We can get cows genetically tested to ensure we have an A2 cow that can produce the popular A2 milk.”

Gregg leases cows to 4-H members participating in cow camp or hoping for success at the Delaware State Fair. 4-H is another Knutsen family tradition. 

“I grew up in 4-H and FFA,” Bethany said. “I continued into my college years and joined the Agriculture College Council (AgCC) at UD because I love agriculture, and I wanted to have a voice.”

In the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, Bethany majors in plant science and minors in environmental soil science. She is also a member of UD’s award-winning soil judging team. The team competes annually, showing off their field application skills, which range from geology to chemistry. Most recently, the team placed first in Group Judging and second overall out of the 27 competing universities at the National Collegiate Soil Judging Contest at the University of Wisconsin–Stevens Point. Bethany won second place in Individual Judging.

“I like the competitions,” Bethany said. “I’ve learned so much. It allows us to apply what we’ve learned in real-world interpretations. We have fun and we travel to different places.” 

Her dad also enjoyed competing during his time at UD.

“I have a lot of fond memories, including labs with chickens and pigs and a showmanship competition,” Gregg said. “I worked closely with Dr. George Haenlein, and we did a study on the herd that my dad and uncle owned.”

The family agrees that their connections at the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources have boosted their careers.

Bethany is an agronomist for Brandon Bonk, a potato and grain farmer in Magnolia, Delaware.

“I scout his crop fields and give recommendations on what to apply. I order chemicals, take inventory and keep records,” said Bethany.

Ed Kee, the former Delaware Secretary of Agriculture and UD Cooperative Extension specialist who wrote the book “Cultivating a Legacy: A History of the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources,” recommended Bethany to Bonk. Kee was also Bethany’s crop science professor. 

“UD has helped me make connections,” Bethany said. “Phil King was my soils judging coach; he hired me and was my supervisor at NRCS. In my current position, I’ve reached out to David Owens, who teaches Insect Pest Management (ENWC411) and Jarrod Miller, my Soil Fertility and Plant Nutrition (PLSC305) teacher with questions.” 

Stephanie agrees.

“At UD, I connected with professors whom I would later interact with in my professional career,” Stephanie said. “Bruce Vasilis taught my agronomy class, and at MDA, I work with him on wetland issues and trainings.”

Of course, one connection stands out from the rest.

“My best memory was meeting Stephanie, having three classes together, and just getting to know her,” Gregg said. “That’s probably the best thing that's ever happened to me.”