Jacobs’ work celebrated at Classic

Del. Jay Jacobs received the Dr. James R. Miller Award from the Maryland Grain Producers Association during the annual Maryland Commodity Classic. (Photo by Sean Clougherty)

CENTREVILLE, Md. — Del. Jay Jacobs received the Dr. James R. Miller Award from the Maryland Grain Producers Association during the annual Maryland Commodity Classic.
Jacobs has served in the Maryland House of Delegates since 2011, joining the then-named Environmental Matters Committee in his first term.
He’s been on the committee since, though it was renamed the Environment and Transportation Committee in 2015.
He’s also been on the subcommittees pertaining to agriculture and natural resources since he joined the committee.
“Del. Jacobs’ demonstrated leadership and ability to work across the aisle on important issues have elevated him to ranking minority member on the Environment and Transportation Committee,”
Jacobs has been the House representative on the state’s Nutrient Management Advisory Committee and Maryland Dairy Oversight Advisory Committee since 2011, as well.
Jacobs said he was honored to receive the award but taken completely by surprise.
“I should have known something was up because my wife decided she wanted to come over,” he said.
“I’m really honored to receive this,” Jacobs said, adding his mother was a farmer and his father was a waterman. “It means a great deal to me. I know my mother up in heaven is smiling right now.”
Jacobs said when he joined the House of Delegates, he requested from then Speaker of the House Michael Busch a spot on the General Assembly’s Joint Committee on Administrative , Executive and Legislative Review, which oversees regulatory changes. It was a requestBusch said no one has asked of him.
Representing farmers and watermen, whose industries are two of the most regulated in the state, Jacobs said, “I wanted to be part of the whole process. I care deeply about these issues.”
Jacobs thanked MGPA and executive director Lindsay Thompson for their advocacy for agriculture in the legislature, to which Thompson replied:“My job is definitely made easier with delagates like Jay Jacobs on our side.”