Owner Robert is ‘the’ man in charge at Waredaca, having managed the farm for over forty years. Assisted by his wife, Gretchen, they oversee the entire operation of the farm. Robert has grown up here, moving to this current site in the early fifties when he was just a child, with the family from their farm in what was then ‘rural’ Bethesda. He has been an active and instrumental part in the business virtually all his life. Upon graduating from UMD with a degree in International Ag Economics, he was envisioning a job elsewhere but the timing proved otherwise. R. B Butts, ‘Mr. B’ as he was affectionately known by many, was ready to turn the management of the business over to his youngest son and the transition began. Now, many years later, some aspects of the business have remained while many show a different focus and direction. Robert began riding Western, was very active in the AQHA competitions, and had his own herd of Quarter Horse broodmares and two approved AQHA stallions. He has fox hunted and actually did some eventing in the late 70s with Gretchen. As an Associate Supervisor for the Montgomery branch of the Maryland Association of Soil Conservation Districts, Robert stays active in the current trends in Ag management and Ag tourism. Based on his stewardship and business practices, he received the 2008 Cooperator of the Year Award in recognition of his outstanding commitment to conservation in Montgomery County. Thru his leadership, Waredaca is now a Maryland Farm Stewardship Certified Farm. When not at the farm, Robert’s passion is the water, specifically the Bay. Summer weekends find him racing on the Jay Dee, one of the few remaining historic Chesapeake Bay Log Canoes. Or he might be out sailing his own 343 Beneteau ‘Gaviota’ as often as time and schedule allow. Crew anyone?
// by Gretchen
Gretchen Butts, Administrator