November Flash News from Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation

 

Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, Inc.  Promoting the understanding and appreciation of the importance of agriculture in our daily lives.   November 2009 Flash News  Dates to Remember:        Nov. 11:  Veteran's Day   Nov. 13:  2009 Chesapeake Green Energy Conference   sgill@umd.edu or mdgga1@gmail.com   Nov. 26:  Thanksgiving    Dec. 6-9: Maryland Farm Bureau Convention www.mdfarmbureau.com    Show Your Support!      Buy an Agricultural License Plate Today!    *Ag Tag revenues help underwrite  programs for you*      Visit mva.state.md.us and click on online services for a link to the Agricultural Plate application.    Thank you for your support!       Thank you Clay Shoot sponsors for your support!   Solomons Island Winery   MARBIDCO   Harford County Government Divison of Ag   MidAtlantic Farm Credit   Jerry D's Quality Bark   Toby & Lizzy McGuire   And thank you Keith Wills for providing the trophies!       MAEF is pleased to announce that we are accepting entries for the 2010-2011 Calendar Poster Contest. Click here for more information and an entry form!        Partnerships At Work  MAEF and the LEAD Maryland Foundation, Inc. joined forces hosting the Partnerships at Work Sporting Clays Tournament Sunday Oct. 25, 2009 at Pintail Point in Queenstown, MD.    The beautiful weather inspired 26 adults and two junior shooters through the 50 target event.  Women dominated the Lewis Class scoring with Annette Ensor winning the class A and Allison White winning the B Class.   Pintail Point in Queenstown offered 55 acres of picturesque landscape accented with natural vegetation, scenic river views and an assortment of distinctive gazebos.  Participants were treated to a catered luncheon after the event, generous prizes and magnificent trophies.   Plans are already underway for Oct. 24, 2010.   Winners at this year's event were Best Overall Don Kagel and Best A Class Annette Ensor.  Congratulations!     Each issue of MAEF's Flash News highlights an organization or individual who demonstrates exceptional support of agriculture in education.    Thurmont Center for Ag History In August 2008 the Thurmont Branch Library closed its doors and re-opened as the Thurmont Regional Library.  After renovations, the 25,000 square foot facility offers Frederick County residents a wide variety of services and features.  One of the special features is The Thurmont Center for Agricultural History.   The special collections room holds and preserves non-circulating materials related to the rich agricultural heritage in Frederick County and the surrounding areas.  The Center contains photo collections, 4-H and Grange records, family farm and orchard histories and related items.   The books, photographs, reports, ribbons and clippings are valuable to teaching the heritage of the area's agricultural life.  Many of the items are original, rare and irreplaceable.   The Thurmont Center for Agricultural History is November's Ag Ed Advocate for offering the public an opportunity to enjoy and learn the important role that agriculture has played in history.   CAMPBELL SOUP COMPANY AND THE NATIONAL FFA ORGANIZATION PRESERVING BARNS ACROSS THE COUNTRY - VOTE EVERYDAY!   Supports Future of American Agriculture with the Help Grow Your Soup™ Program This fall, as part of the Help Grow Your Soup™ program, Campbell Soup Company and the National FFA Organization in conjunction with the National FFA Alumni is showcasing the contributions made by the American farmer by preserving barns and bringing to life the special stories of how good food is grown. Strengthening its support of FFA, to date, Campbell has committed $500,000 to champion education programs and help students receive the training they need to become future leaders of the agriculture industry.   To highlight the importance of the American farming industry today, Campbell and FFA identified 10 farms with a unique story and a barn in need of preservation.  The personal accounts of these truly American farms and rich history of the barns are featured on HelpGrowYourSoup.com.  One of these ten barns is located at the Just Wait and See Farm in Union Bridge, Maryland, in Frederick County. Visitors to www.helpgrowyoursoup.com/barn_waitsee.aspx can learn about the Just Wait and See Farm that has been a symbol of local agriculture in its Maryland community since 1856.     The second wave of the Help Grow Your Soup Campaign started over the summer with a collection of applications for the next five barns to be restored by the National FFA Alumni and Campbell Soup Company. After many months of interviewing and searching, ten outstanding barns were identified including the barn owned by the Mackenzie family in Union Bridge, MD.  This service project will be a great partnership between the local FFA chapters, community organizations, local businesses and government.  "Restoring this barn would help bring an already strong community together for a common cause," said Colby Ferguson, Agricultural Specialist, Frederick County Economic Development Office.  Visitors to the site can vote for their favorite story and the barns most in need of preservation.  The five barns receiving the most votes will be announced as the winners of this year's Help Grow Your Soup program in January 2010.  For every vote cast on or before January 5, 2010, Campbell will donate $1 (up to $250,000).  Individuals are allowed to vote once every day throughout the voting period.     North Dorchester High School - Soil Science and Careers!   What if your school doesn't have an Ag program?  You insert one!  Environmental science teacher John Prekrel at North Dorchester High School invited MAEF to spend a day with his students exploring agriculture and natural resources careers.      The students spent the day calculating crop residue cover and understanding the characteristics of soil horizons and the impact the erosion of these soils has on the Chesapeake Bay. The farm kids in the class really knew their soil science and how important it was to follow Best Management Practices in soil conservation.   "Farmers in the Bay watershed work hard to be good stewards," said one very enthusiastic student, "And my parents and I are proud of what we do to protect the Choptank and encourage wildlife to live on our farm!"    21st Annual Banquet a Success!    MAEF celebrated 21 years at its Annual Banquet and Auction on Thursday, Nov. 5, 2009 at Michael's Eighth Avenue, Glen Burnie.   Over 230 supporters came together for a night of celebration.  Guests were treated to an evening of good food, exciting auction items and a riveting speech by Tony Geraci, food and nutrition services director for the Baltimore City Public Schools and Greg Strella, farm manager of Great Kids Farm.   MAEF's own executive director was presented an Honorary State FFA Degree by the State FFA Officers.  In order to receive this award, an individual must have provided exceptional service to agriculture, agricultural education, or the FFA.   The evening included both a silent and a live auction.  Auction items included hunting trips, vacation stays and a NASCAR driving experience. The live auction netted $3,140 and the silent auction brought in $1,213 for a total of $4,353.   Thank you to Michael's for all of their support and to Lohr's Orchard for providing delicious cider for the Cider Toast.  And thanks to our auction item donors and buyers.    YES I Want to Support MAEF's Outreach Efforts Through These Challenging Economic Times!   Name:____________________________________________ Phone (___)________________________  (Please print your  name as you wish it to be listed on contributor list)   Organization: __________________________________Email: ___________________________________   Street Address: ________________________________________________________________________   City: ______________________________________________  State: ____________Zip: ______________   Enclosed is my/our contribution of (please circle):    $1000        $500        $250        $100        $50        $25        $______   ___$1000 to sponsor a Mobile Science Lab bulletin board (includes plaque with name under bulletin board.)                                            ___I/We would like to contribute to MAEF's Endowment Fund.  Enclosed is contribution of: $___________   ___I/We would like to contribute to MAEF's Seibel Scholarship.  Enclosed is contribution of: $___________   Payment:          Check payable to MAEF, Inc.                          Please charge my contribution to (please circle):        Visa                MasterCard   Card Number: __________________________________________Expiration Date:__________________   Name on card:_______________________________Signature:___________________________________   I/We would like more information about:______________________________________________________   Thank you for supporting the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, Inc., a 501(c) (3) charitable organization in Maryland.  Contributions are tax deductible in accordance with tax laws.  For the cost of postage and copying, documents and information filed under the Maryland charitable organizations laws can be obtained from the Secretary of State, Charitable Division, State House, Annapolis, MD  21401.   Mail to:  Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, P.O. Box 536, Havre de Grace, Maryland  21078 Questions?  Call 410-939-9030 or email mail@maefonline.com.

 

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