Flash News March 2008

Promoting the understanding and appreciation of the importance of agriculture in our daily lives.

Flash News - March Dates to Remember: March 7-9: MD Home & Garden Show March 9: Daylight Savings March 11: FFA Ag Day Rally March 16-22: National Ag Week March 17: St. Patty's Day March 20: National Ag Day March 20: 1st Day of Spring March 29: MDA Open House May 15: MAEF 20th Anniversary Gala Support MAEF! Buy Ag Tags! *Programs funded by Ag Tag revenues* Visit www.mva.state.md.us for an application. Reminder: Calling all students in grades K-12 Poster Contest Share what you know about Maryland agriculture in a poster! Your artistic entry may be selected to appear on the 2008-2009 Maryland Agriculture Education Foundation Calendar. Deadline for entries is May 1, 2008! A $50 cash award will be awarded to each of the 18 selected entries. Visit www.maefonline.com for more information. Attention FFA Students! The Institute of Applied Agriculture at the University of Maryland -College Park is having an Open House for the "non-competing" FFA students on Tues., April 8. Students will meet IAA faculty, learn about student financial aid and have a tour of the facilities. Contact Matt Koerner 410-767-0189 or mkoerner@msde.state.md.us for more information. Thank You! Ag Tag owners & MidAtlantic Farm Credit for supporting MAEF programs. Check It Out! Need ideas for Ag Day 2008? Visit www.agday.org for more information. Attention: Middle School Students Essay Contest Who: Grades 6-8 Topic: Agriculture is a constantly changing field. Describe how you see Maryland's Agricultural Industry in the year 2050. Deadline: April 11, 2008 For more information contact Sarah Shriner (301) 663-4192 ext. 5021 or sshriner@maefonline.com MAEF Partners with Frederick Community College MAEF's Middle School program is excited to announce two youth agricultural courses offered this summer as a partnership with Kids on Campus at Frederick Community College. Two courses will be piloted: Mission Bio-Tech: Feeding the Future and Animal Exploration. Each course will run for three hours a day for five days. The goal is to eventually offer these courses and more to community college youth programs across the state. Diane Ogg will be teaching Mission Bio-Tech: Feeding the Future, which is a course designed for 9-14 year-olds. This course is offered Monday, July 21 - Friday, July 25 from 1pm -4pm. Mission Bio-Tech will consist of learning about genetic modifications, selective breeding, DNA extractions, biotechnology in our bread and cheese and much more. Animal Exploration is for children ages 7-12 and will be taught by Tonjia Mayne. These exciting lessons will be offered Monday, July 14 - Friday, July 18 from 9am - 12 pm. This course will teach students about animal breeds, their anatomy and what it takes to keep animals healthy and happy. Animals discussed will be pets, farm animals, wildlife and more. Students will also learn the origin of many products made from animals. Consider signing your child up for these courses through Frederick Community College. Check out their website at http://www.frederick.edu/ and click on the Summer 2008 Non-Credit Schedule for more information. Youth do not have to be Frederick County or Maryland residents. Contact Sarah Shriner at sshriner@maefonline.com or (301) 663-4192 for more information. Leadership Maryland Selects MAEF President C. John Sullivan for Class of 2008 C. John Sullivan, deputy chief of staff, divison of agriculture, Harford County Government, Bel Air, and a resident of Jarrettsville, has been selected for the Leadership Maryland Class of 2008. Leadership Maryland is an independent, educational, non-profit organization designed to inform top-level executives, from the public and private sectors, about the critical issues, challenges and opportunities facing the state of Maryland and its regions. Sullivan is one of 52 accomplished and talented statewide leaders selected to participate in the eight-month program. "We are pleased that John Sullivan has been accepted in the Leadership Maryland Class of 2008," stated County Executive David R. Craig. "John has done an excellent job helping to promote and market agriculture in Harford County and I am confident he will make a positive contribution to the class," Craig remarked. Following a two-day opening retreat in April, participants will attend five two-day, and one one-day intense sessions focusing on issues, such as, economic development, education, health and human services, criminal and juvenile justice, environment, and multi-culturalism/diversity. More than 100 experts representing business, government, education, and the non-profit community will serve as panelists and guest speakers "The participants represent a broad spectrum of highly qualified executives from an extraordinary group of statewide applicants," according to Nancy Minieri, president of Leadership Maryland. "After participating in a comprehensive range of experiences over the next year, these leaders will serve as important participants in the unified effort to shape Maryland's future." Leadership Maryland is one of 34 state leadership programs nationwide. Service Learning Activity Helps MAEF Five middle school students from Dr. Rayner Browne Elementary Middle School gave up two hours after school to help assist the Ag Returns to the City education consultant Charles Gummer prepare for a Floral Design presentation at the Good Samaritan Assisted Living facility. Students shaped a floral oasis to fit a 4-ounce cup and secured it with floral tape. To make the project easier for the seniors, students pre-cut foil to be used to cover the cup. MAEF was proud to award each student two service-learning hours that can be credited toward graduation. Ms Jamison, Ms. Randall and Mr. Whitten provided logistics to make this event happen. Open House Maryland Department of Agriculture will hold its annual open house March 29 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The ag-filled day will be held at the department's headquarters, 50 Harry S. Truman Parkway, Annapolis. There is no admission fee. Department officials say this year's event will highlight the agency's role in serving and protecting consumers. The event also celebrates the state's farmers and the important role they play in providing food and protecting the environment. Visitors can see the department's insect collection, make slime in the state chemist's laboratory, enjoy a food and craft market, demonstrate their hog-calling skills, take in a petting farm, milk a cow and ride a pony. MAEF's Agricultural Showcase will also be open to visitors of all ages!