About Becky
Rebecca (Becky) Long Chaney can be described in many ways — adventurer, agricultural advocate, farm/ranch wife, devoted mother, journalist, volunteer and more. She grew up on a dairy farm in Thurmont, Maryland exhibiting Brown Swiss and Ayrshire dairy cattle on the local and national levels. It was the tremendous opportunities afforded to Becky in her youth that were instrumental in her decision to major in agricultural journalism in college. She is a graduate of the University of Maryland’s Institute of Applied Agriculture and she later received her bachelor’s degree in ag journalism from the University of Wisconsin- Madison.
In addition to earning a degree, Becky had another dream — to marry a dairy farmer. She married her rock, Lee Chaney, in June, 1997, in a 350-year-old church in the Alps of Switzerland. After all, it was a Brown Swiss dairy cow, named “Raisin,” that brought the two together. The couple would be blessed with twin daughters, Rianna and Sheridan, in November, 2003.
Her jobs have included agricultural marketing and communications for a national company, writing and editing for the 2nd largest newspaper in Maryland for 10 years, freelance writing for local and national publications, substitute teaching and producing agriculture educational children’s books.
The Chaney Twins’ Ag series launched in 2008 with the first of nine books in the series. Rianna and Sheridan were only four years old when the first children’s book was released. All the books focus on Rianna and Sheridan’s experiences growing up on a farm or ranch. Each book introduces several new ranch or farm facts as well as highlighting agricultural sustainability and the hard work and great care ranchers and farmers give their animals.
All nine books feature the beautiful color photographs by the talented Kelly Hahn Johnson. The award-winning books have been named “Ag Book of the Year,” in several states and are used in classrooms from coast to coast.
Before twins and before books, Becky and her husband, Lee, spent a year overseas, most of which was spent living in an Aboriginal hut; lighting a fire every day to have warm water for a shower; and mustering and processing wild cattle on a million-acre cattle station. This life-changing adventure led to the publication of “Bulldust in my Bra – An American Couple’s Working Season in the Outback.”
After spending eight years on a 3,500-acre ranch in South Central, Nebraska and enjoying “The Good Life,” the Chaneys relocated back to their native home of Maryland in August, 2020. Although the transition was challenging with Covid, virtual school and the search for a new home – the Chaneys were resilient knowing that all happens according to God’s plan…
“Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it and it will be yours.” Mark 11:24
The Chaneys were blessed in June, 2021, to find a seven-acre farm near Keymar, Maryland. It’s a beautiful property with a large bank barn and farm house built in 1900. As renovations continue the family looks forward to moving in later in the fall. While the family continues to navigate through many of life’s challenges, they are excited about their new adventure in their new home. Sheridan and Rianna just started their senior year in high school and there are many more adventures for the Chaneys on the horizon.
“Be Strong and Courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go,” Joshua 1:9
