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April 15 - UMD College of Ag and Natural Resources Alumni Reunion and Awards Celebration April 22 - Earth Day April 24 - Arbor Day April 25 - Ag Day at the University of Maryland - College Park May 1 - FFA State Convention Registration Due; MAEF Poster Contest deadline May 15 - Registration deadline for Agricultural Educators Technical Update May 27 - Registration deadline for Elementary Summer Ag in the Classroom Workshop |  Spread the word! The 2nd Annual Quiz Bowl and Essay Contest for Middle School students is up and running! There will be cash prizes and medallions for the winners and lots of fun for everyone! Enter your team to compete at this year's state FFA conference June 9, 10 and 11! Contact Peggy, peppig@maefonline.com for a Contest brochure listing contest rules and contact information. Available in hard copy or PDF file.
 MAEF is pleased to announce that graduate credits are available through McDaniel College for this summer's teacher training workshop. This expands the types of credits that can be earned through the workshop. Currently, participants can earn MSDE credits. In some cases, college credits are more readily reimbursed through Boards of Education. Teachers should invesitigate reimbursement policies in their school systems For additional information and a registration form, visit our website or call Jeanne at 410-848-4745.
 MAEF's 3rd Annual Poster Contest! Submit student posters sharing what they know about Maryland agriculture! Their artistic entry may be selected to appear on the 2009-2010 Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation Calendar. Deadline for entries is May 1, 2009! A $50 cash award will be awarded to each of the 18 selected entries. For more information and entry form visit www.maefonline.com.
 Lambs and kids are beginning to dot the greening pastures of Maryland farms! MAEF's Sheep and Goats in the Classroom will be up and running as soon as the wee ones and their handlers are ready for school visits in April and May! Programs are available for elementary and middle schools. For more information, contatct Peggy at peppig@maefonline.com or 410-939-9030. For more than you could ever want to know about raising sheep and goats, download "An Illustrated Guide to Sheep and Goat Production" from ATTRA at www.attra.ncat.org.
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Each issue of MAEF's Flash News will highlight an organization or individual who demonstrates exceptional support of agriculture in education. Every year the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources at the University of Maryland hosts the Maryland FFA and its members for a day of Career Development Events. This year over 400 members participated in the Spring Judging event. The Maryland FFA and MAEF greatly appreciate this continued partnership and support.
Sheila Brown, Executive Coordinator, Office of the Associate Dean, provides a level of support in the logistics and coordination of this event that goes above and beyond. Her efforts make our use of University space possible and thus the entire event possible. Always thinking of ways to improve the experience for our members, Sheila also coordinated an interactive program that allowed students the opportunity to learn more about the College and even provided scholarships as part of this program.
While many people are needed to make the Maryland FFA Spring Judging event a success, Sheila's support is paramount and greatly appreciated. For their continued and ever increasing support of the Maryland FFA and agriculture education, we recognize Sheila Brown, the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources and the Institute of Applied Agriculture for making this week's Spring Judging event such a success. Thank you.
MAEF would also like to recognize the Behnke Nurseries Company and Hank Doong for their extraordinary support as hosts of the FFA's Landscape Career Development Event (CDE). Hank and Marion Parsley spent a Saturday setting up in preparation for the event. For the second year, Behnke's also has provided refreshments and lunch for the FFA competitions. Students benefit greatly from experiencing an active business icon.
For all of their continued support of Maryland's FFA programs, we recognize the Behnke Nurseries Company and Hank Doong. | |
| | Spring is in the Air...and so are Flies
 It's April, and if you are any self respecting sheep, goat or calf, you will respectfully ask your handler to take care of those pesky stall flies before things get out of hand! Using Integrated Pest Management (IPM) is a safe, healthy way to combat flies while avoiding harmful insecticides. Ordering a bag full o' tiny wasps (parasitoids) from your favorite IPM supplier and releasing them in April in and around your stalls, will help to alleviate the fly hoards later. Middle school teachers will also be interested to know that these insects, and many other varieties, can be ordered from IPM suppliers for life science, ag and schoolyard habitat studies. Beneficial insects make great subjects for science fair projects and classroom observation. Green Methods, an IPM supplier out of New Hampshire, has a fantastic website and bug blog perfect for the middle school crowd. Check out www.greenmethods.com and navigate through their "BugBlog" and informational pages to learn more about parasitoid wasps (Ichneumon) and other IPM strategies to keep your prize-winner-to-be livestock happy and healthy, and your classroom a-buzz with cool bugs! | |
| | Holabird Academy Teams up with Ag Returns to the City  For the second year, kindergarten students at Holabird Academy are learning the importance of agriculture. Ag Returns to the City will be joining the class to teach six exciting Ag lessons to the eager students.
During the first lesson, the kindergarteners learned a basic and important fact, where some of their everyday products come from. They also were treated to the story All About Cows. The story led into the lesson of making butter from heavy whipping cream.
Future lessons will include information on seeds, plants and planting a garden. For the finale, students will be treated to a garden party to celebrate all of the lessons learned. | |
| "From Fields to the Chesapeake Bay" Summer 2009 Professional Development!
Teachers! Join the Chesapeake Bay Education Staff of Clagget Farm for an exploration of the foodshed/watershed of Southern Maryland and a Bay Island Community! Check out this excellent professional development opportunity for all educators - visit the professional development page: | |
| Love Working with Kids? Have a Passion for Agriculture? Then this job might be for you! The Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, Inc. is currently seeking seasonal, part-time staff for its Agricultural Showcase. The Showcase features interactive exhibits and colorful displays and visits fairs and festivals throughout Maryland. Hours and dates vary although most events occur Spring through early Fall. This is a paid position with mileage and expense reimbursement. Candidates must be dependable, friendly and have and interest in agriculture. Please call Diana Tyler at 410-939-9030 ext. 106 or email dtyler@maefonline.com. 
| | Thank You!  | |  Buy Ag Tags!
Show your Support! Visit www.mva.state.md.us and click on online services for a link to the Agricultural Plate application. *Ag Tag revenues help underwrite MAEF programs* |
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