MONROVIA, Md. — The Maryland Agriculture Council, Inc. presented nearly $5,000 in grants during one of its largest annual legislative events held at Michael’s Eighth Avenue in Glen Burnie. Six organizations and events from across the state will benefit from the grants for the promotion and education of agriculture in the coming year.
The role of the council is to educate the public on the importance of agriculture, according to Henry Brandt, council president. Various avenues enable the council to interact with the public on a year round basis such as Ag Week exhibits at various venues, website, fairs, community shows, social media and newsletters.
Grant recipients recognized before a packed audience consisting of the state’s legislative body, congressional leaders and the state’s agricultural industry leaders, were:
Farming 4 Hunger ~ $1,000
The grant will support school field trips to the farm so that students can experience agriculture’s role in developing healthy minds and bodies through better food choices. Contact Bernie Fowler Jr. at 443-771-0336 for more information.
Snow Hill Elementary School ~ $1,000
Funds will be used to create a school-based community garden that will provide educational opportunities for students of Snow Hill Elementary, as well as provide supplemental food for families in need.
Hancock Middle/High School ~ $950
Teachers are establishing a program to allow students to raise broiler chicks from egg to oven, providing anatomy lessons, animal husbandry experience and food for the community. Contact Tom Mazzone at 301-766-8186 for more information.
Caroline Career Technology Center FFA ~ $800
Funds will support the development of a garden plot that will provide produce for the Culinary Arts School and for the Caroline County Food Pantry. Contact Josh Zimmerman at 410-479-0100 for more information.
Allegany Mountain Fresh Farmers’ Market ~ $780
The goal of this project is to develop and distribute educational outreach brochures supporting locally grown food and information for regional farmers’ markets. Contact Clare Buckle at 301-724-3320 for more information.
City of Cumberland Parks and Recreation ~ $405
The grant will help provide transportation for youth to the local farmers’ market, providing educational opportunities between gardening, physical activity and nutrition. Contact Diane Johnson at 301-759-6636 for more information.
As part of the evening’s events, the Governor’s Agriculture Hall of Fame award was presented to the Jay and Ilene Milburn family of Cecil County who has demonstrated an exceptional commitment to agriculture and the community in which they live and work.
For more information on the dinner, visit the council’s website at www.mdagcouncil.com or contact the council’s Executive Director Susan Summers at 240-446-3601.
— Maryland Agriculture Council, Inc.