• Announce New Record Cover Crop Enrollment at Baltimore Co. Farm

• Host the Agriculture & Volunteerism Day Luncheon at the Maryland State Fair

ANNAPOLIS, MD (August 28, 2012) –Lt. Governor Anthony Brown and Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance, will host two agriculture-related events on Thursday, August 30.  The first event includes remarks during the State Fair Agriculture and Volunteer Day luncheon, followed by a tour of the fairgrounds in Timonium. Immediately following the tour, Lt. Governor Brown will announce record cover crop program enrollment for the coming season. The announcement will be made at a nearby Baltimore County farm. (Cover crops are important to the health of the Chesapeake Bay and the productivity of Maryland’s farmland. Small grains, such as wheat, rye or barley, planted as cover crops in the fall, take up unused nutrients, control soil erosion, and protect water quality in the Bay and its tributaries.)

WHO: Lt. Governor Anthony Brown, Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance, and Maryland State Fair and Agricultural Society leaders.

WHAT: Lt. Governor to deliver remarks during the Maryland Agriculture and Volunteer Day Luncheon at the Maryland State Fair followed by a Tour of the Fairgrounds.

WHEN: Thursday, August 30, at 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

WHERE: Maryland State Fairgrounds, Administration Building,  2200 York Road, Lutherville-Timonium, MD 21093. See directions at: www.marylandstatefair.com

WHO: Lt. Governor Brown and Agriculture Secretary Buddy Hance

WHEN: 2:15 p.m. – 2:45 p.m., Thursday, August 30, 2012

WHERE: Cold Bottom Farms, Inc., 1003 Cold Bottom Road, Sparks, MD 21152

RSVP:  Media representatives planning to cover either of these events should RSVP to Julie Oberg at 410-841-5888 or [email protected]; or Vanessa Orlando at 410-841-5889 or [email protected]