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Hurley wins first DACA-Blank award

 

MARDELA, Md. — A 17-year-old Wicomico County farm girl, as comfortable behind the wheel of a dragster as that of a tractor, has been awarded the first annual DACA-Blank Scholarship.
She is Shelby Hurley, the daughter of Steve and Tina Hurley of Hurley Farms Produce of Mardela.
Bound for the University of Maryland Eastern Shore later this month, she will take with her two $1,500 scholarship awards, one for each of her first two years.
Shelby, who maintained a consistent 4.0 GPA at Mardela High School.,  says she will major in plant and soil science with a minor is ag business.
The scholarship fund, which ius maintained by the Community Foundation of Salisbury, was built from money remaining in the account of the former Delmarva Agricultural Chemicals Association when it was disbanded many years ago and matching funds contributed by Bill Blank of Snow Hill, a new retired former leader in the ag chemical industry.
Blank said the scholarship is limited to students living in Wicomico, Worcerster or Someret counties who intend a career in production agriculture.
Shelby’s family operates Hurley Farms on Athol Road outside of Mardela. The farming operation  includes a produce stand, a seven-acre vegetable and fruit truck farm and about 1,600 rented acres for the production of corn, soybeans and small grains.
On the farm, Shelby has been involved in jobs ranging from tillage to adjusting the irrigation system to harvesting.
She also has been put in charge of running the crews picking vegetables in the field.
“I feel that with my upbringing and true passion for farming I have set the foundation for my career in agriculture,” she said.
Off the farm, Shelby has another passion – drag racing. She, her father and her sister are frequent visitors to the Delmar drag strip where Shelby has been getting behind the wheel since she got her driver’s license a year ago.
How fast has she gone? “My car will go 100,’ she said.
Shelby was  a full paid tuition and fees scholarship by UMES but sought additional help for other expenses such as books and particularly fuel for her car. She plans to commute daily from the farm to the campus.
Blank said he believes it is the intention of the Community Foundation of Salisbury to set up an account in Shelby’s name from which she can draw those funds.