50 Years Of Farming At Phillips Farm

by JoAnn Grbach Germantown Gazette 8/28/1996

Most Germantown residents have probably stopped at one of the Philips' Farm roadside stands at some point to purchase produce. However, it's unlikely that they have ever stopped to think about how that fresh produce made it to the stands.

Chances are it made it there with the help of George "Bud" Davis, who has worked and managed Phillips Farm for more than 50 years. Davis. 71, began working for Jean Phillips' father, Herbert King, in 1946, planting and managing the crops. Today, he still works part time on the farm and helps in a multitude of ways.

Davis, who goes about his work in a quiet manner, was honored for his landmark achievement several times this year. Jean Phillips took it upon herself to write President Clinton about Davis' accomplishments, hard work and dedication. Clinton responded with a personal letter of recognition to Davis. The letter is now framed and hanging in Davis' Frederick home. "It's a pretty big deal." Davis said.

George Davis was honored this year for 50 years of working on Phillips Farm in Germantown.

Connie Morella recognized Davis' 50 years of service by having a flag flown over the national capitol in his honor. Because Phillips supplies a number of local Giant Food stores with produce. Their produce buyer gave Davis an original poster from the game when Cal Ripken broke the record for the most consecutive games played. Davis has always loved baseball, so this was especially meaningful to him.

The Phillips family took Davis, along with a number of friend and family, to a Frederick Keys baseball game where again he was honored when his name was flashed on the scoreboard.

 

 

  Jean Phillips made sure that Davis was honored in many ways because she knows that his work on the farm over the years has been instrumental in its success. "I can't imagine the farm without him," Phillips said. "Everyone looks to him for advice and guidance. He is also like a father figure to me." 

Davis planted all theb corn this season and continues to be an asset when it comes to mechanical work and picking crops. "He is a tremendously focused worker and can still out pick many of the young kids," Phillips said.


Phillips recounted many stories about how Davis is the farm's best mechanic. She talked of times when they had simply thrown their hands in the air and given up any hope of using a machine until a proper part was received. However, he's always able to find ways to get the machine working and the farm running again for the day. "He can fix anything and he always takes great care of the machinery." Although Davis no longer works full time on the farm, he still acts in an important advisory capacity. "He always has the farm's best interest at heart," Phillips said.

 

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