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State Fair to Highlight Consumer Services, Sustainable Agriculture, and Backyard Actions to Protect the Bay

ANNAPOLIS, MD (July 1, 2010) – The benefits of buying locally, conservation and sound farmland management practices, wise use of fertilizer, reducing pesticide use, and water conservation will all be on display in the Farm and Garden Building as part of the Maryland Department of Agriculture’s (MDA) exhibit during the run of the 129th Maryland State Fair.  The Farm and Garden Building will host a variety of interactive activities throughout the weekends and during Agriculture Day (September 2), including a watermelon seed spitting contest, make your own slime, and egg candling.

“While Marylanders are aware how important the agricultural industry is to Maryland we want them to also be aware of how the Department of Agriculture’s programs positively impact their daily lives,” said Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance.  “MDA invites everyone visiting the fair to stop by and see us in the Farm and Garden Building to learn how our agency serves our citizens each and every day. We’ll have a number of fun activities as well as information on what farmers do to help the environment that homeowners can adapt to their own backyards.”

The Maryland State Fair will celebrate “Agriculture Day at the Fair” on Thursday, Sept. 2.  The day will start off with a luncheon and tour of the fairgrounds with Governor Martin O’Malley and Maryland Deputy Secretary of Agriculture Mary Ellen Setting, by invitation.  The tour will include a seed spitting contest led by Mar-Del Watermelon Queen Parris Travers in the Farm and Garden Building.

The 11-day festival will feature thousands of home arts and agricultural exhibits, daily livestock and horse shows, a wide variety of midway rides and games, thoroughbred horse racing and national entertainment. For more State Fair information, visit www.marylandstatefair.com.

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