54th Taste of Maryland Agriculture Maryland Agriculture Council welcomes Governor, record crowd

The Maryland Agriculture Council, Inc., welcomed Governor Wes Moore, a strong contingent of state lawmakers, along with a record number of attendees to the 54th Taste of Maryland Agriculture on Thursday, February 1, at Live! Casino & Hotel Maryland in Hanover.

Over 800 agricultural leaders shared their farming stories and concerns with lawmakers during the evening’s networking format, while enjoying a bounty of Maryland agricultural products.

During the evening’s program, President Matt Teffeau shared his appreciation for working on a farm in his youth.

Maryland agriculture helped me develop a great work ethic and pay my way through college. This upbringing led me to be an advocate in various roles over the last 15 years.

In fulfilling the Council’s mission to promote Maryland Agriculture and educate the public on its importance, the board awarded over $12,000 in agricultural education grants. Eleven outstanding grassroots programs were honored, including:

Maryland 4-H Foundation, Inc.- $2,500

Funds will cover program delivery of “Growing a Prepared and Sustainable Workforce through the 4-H Internships.” It is the intention of this project to address the local, state, and national need for a prepared and sustainable workforce. Youth will develop career awareness and work with a career mentor, gaining real-life experience.

Chestertown Christian Academy – $1,500

Grant will fund a chicken coop project to provide hands-on learning, allowing students to understand the importance of sustainable food production, the life cycle of chickens, and the roll of poultry in Maryland. Students will care for the chickens and learn about waste management and composting.

Prince George’s County Farm Bureau, Inc. – $1,250

The grant will support the organization’s Farm & Family Day, an agriculturally centered free event with educational activities, vendors, farm machinery, petting zoo and more. The event attracts non-agricultural community members who are less familiar with farming and the agricultural industry.

Hillcrest Heights Elementary School – $1,000

Due to the school’s location in a food desert, funds will be used to expand a garden aimed at promoting the significance of cultivating and consuming healthy foods among students, staff, and the community. The outdoor classroom facilitates hands-on learning and will include sensory and pollinator gardens.

University of Maryland – $1,000

The Department of Animal and Avian Sciences will raise awareness for animal production agriculture in Maryland through a project creating a self-guided walking tour of the ANSC Campus Farm at the University of Maryland.

University of Maryland Extension Frederick 4-H Program – $999

This grant will help a Title 1 school to participate in an on-farm agricultural education program. The program provides third and fourth graders with an opportunity for hands-on agricultural experiences, learning about grain production, utilization and the importance of grain products through experiential learning stations in the areas of grain science, grain nutrition, grains and animals, and grains around the world.

Institute of Applied Agriculture – University of Maryland, College Park – $959

The grant will be used to procure an additional drone for a new course that has been met with overwhelming success and enrollment. The class covers GPS and Drone Applications in surveying which is increasingly used in the agricultural arena.

University of Maryland Extension – $900

Funds will be used for an Ag Olympics event, to purchase educational demonstration materials and design an agricultural passport activity for urban and suburban families attending.

Hereford AgriScience & FFA – $895

Funds will be used to procure equipment to establish the dog grooming program at Hereford High School, operated by the veterinary science students, senior capstone students, and FFA members.

Baltimore County 4-H – $800

This grant will fund agri-science workshops for 4-H’ers and non-4-H’ersin Baltimore and surrounding counties, promoting participation in agricultural projects in 4-H and encouraging youth to explore careers in Maryland Agriculture after high school.

Charlestown Elementary School – $500

Grant funds will help purchase resources to be used in the classroom during Ag Day, an event to educate students on the meaning of agriculture and how it affects their daily lives.

Governor Moore and Secretary of Agriculture Kevin Atticks inducted the Willard Family of Montgomery County into the prestigious Governor’s Agriculture Hall of Fame to conclude the program.

For more information on the Maryland Agriculture Council, contact Executive Director Susan Summers at 240-446-3601.

Official Photo Gallery