Ag Week event highlights $200 million local industry

The public will have the chance to see and experience parts of Frederick County’s $200 million agriculture industry during the 40th annual Ag Week at the Mall — Maryland’s longest-running mall-located agricultural education program.

More than 80 percent of Marylanders are at least three generations removed from agriculture, according to industry experts, and the weeklong event at Francis Scott Key Mall in Frederick, which runs through Saturday, aims to be a small public classroom for those who attend.

“With the lack of firsthand knowledge about where their food comes, there are many who have interest in learning about local agriculture,” Colby Ferguson said. “Ag Week at the Mall is the perfect opportunity for people to find out.”

From the booths and displays to the demonstrations and interactions, Ag Week at the Mall is something everyone should see, said Ferguson, Frederick County’s agriculture and business development specialist.

“It’s hard to believe we’ve been going to the mall for 40 years,” event organizer Ron Murphy said. “We started at Frederick Towne Mall, went to the FSK Mall when it was built, returned to the Frederick Towne Mall, and now we’re back to the FSK.”

No recent attendance numbers are available, but Murphy said the event attracted more than 100,000 at one count during the early years.

“But we’ve been welcomed with open arms at both malls, and it’s been a pleasure going there,” Murphy said. “This is important because the public needs to be educated about agriculture and farmers’ plight.”

The week will feature two competitions that have become popular over the years: an old-fashioned ice cream cranking contest at 7:30 p.m. today in front of Value City Furniture, and the 24th annual Roy Porter Log Sawing Contest beginning at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the vacant store near Value City. FFA booths and agriculture education courses and displays are in front of Barnes & Noble.

Ag Week at the Mall provides FFA students the opportunity to celebrate Frederick County’s agricultural heritage and to showcase the changes technology has brought to the agricultural-education classroom in the 21st century, said Kristine Pearl, Frederick County Public Schools’ career and technology education supervisor.

“All a

The public will have the chance to see and experience parts of Frederick County’s $200 million agriculture industry during the 40th annual Ag Week at the Mall — Maryland’s longest-running mall-located agricultural education program.
More than 80 percent of Marylanders are at least three generations removed from agriculture, according to industry experts, and the weeklong event at Francis Scott Key Mall in Frederick, which runs through Saturday, aims to be a small public classroom for those who attend.

“With the lack of firsthand knowledge about where their food comes, there are many who have interest in learning about local agriculture,” Colby Ferguson said. “Ag Week at the Mall is the perfect opportunity for people to find out.”

From the booths and displays to the demonstrations and interactions, Ag Week at the Mall is something everyone should see, said Ferguson, Frederick County’s agriculture and business development specialist.

“It’s hard to believe we’ve been going to the mall for 40 years,” event organizer Ron Murphy said. “We started at Frederick Towne Mall, went to the FSK Mall when it was built, returned to the Frederick Towne Mall, and now we’re back to the FSK.”

No recent attendance numbers are available, but Murphy said the event attracted more than 100,000 at one count during the early years.

“But we’ve been welcomed with open arms at both malls, and it’s been a pleasure going there,” Murphy said. “This is important because the public needs to be educated about agriculture and farmers’ plight.”

The week will feature two competitions that have become popular over the years: an old-fashioned ice cream cranking contest at 7:30 p.m. today in front of Value City Furniture, and the 24th annual Roy Porter Log Sawing Contest beginning at 7:30 p.m. Friday at the vacant store near Value City. FFA booths and agriculture education courses and displays are in front of Barnes & Noble.

Ag Week at the Mall provides FFA students the opportunity to celebrate Frederick County’s agricultural heritage and to showcase the changes technology has brought to the agricultural-education classroom in the 21st century, said Kristine Pearl, Frederick County Public Schools’ career and technology education supervisor.

“All are welcome to come out to the mall and support our FFA teams and enthusiastic community members as they saw off for the 2013 Roy Porter Log Sawing Contest winning team and more,” Pearl said.

This year’s Ag Week is a first for Heather Ernst, the mall’s new marketing director, and she said she is looking forward to an exciting week.

“It’s a great opportunity for us and the community — it brings foot traffic to the mall, and for all the organizations here with their displays, it creates awareness for them,” Ernst said.

Frederick County Master Gardeners fielded many questions from people, many of whom were off work Monday for Presidents Day.

“This reminds us how important farmers are to us and where our food comes,” New Market resident Katherine Berkhousen said.

The cow milking contest, which is no longer held, was Ferguson’s favorite Ag Week activity. Today, it would be a close race between the Log Sawing Contest on Friday night and the kids pedal tractor pull Saturday night, Ferguson said.

re welcome to come out to the mall and support our FFA teams and enthusiastic community members as they saw off for the 2013 Roy Porter Log Sawing Contest winning team and more,” Pearl said.

This year’s Ag Week is a first for Heather Ernst, the mall’s new marketing director, and she said she is looking forward to an exciting week.

“It’s a great opportunity for us and the community — it brings foot traffic to the mall, and for all the organizations here with their displays, it creates awareness for them,” Ernst said.

Frederick County Master Gardeners fielded many questions from people, many of whom were off work Monday for Presidents Day.

“This reminds us how important farmers are to us and where our food comes,” New Market resident Katherine Berkhousen said.

The cow milking contest, which is no longer held, was Ferguson’s favorite Ag Week activity. Today, it would be a close race between the Log Sawing Contest on Friday night and the kids pedal tractor pull Saturday night, Ferguson said.