College of AGNR Shines at State Fair

From teaching people how to start a table-top garden to birthing cows in front of a live audience, representatives from the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources (AGNR) were busy showcasing what the college has to offer during the Maryland State Fair in Timonium. Faculty, students and alumni dedicated their time during the 11 days of the state fair educating the public about the many programs and services offered through the College of AGNR and University of Maryland Extension (UME).

U-LEARN FARM:

Suzannah Macleod, a junior double-major in Agricultural Science and Technology and Secondary Education, is passionate about promoting Maryland agriculture to the public. She got to put that enthusiasm to work during the state fair as an intern at the U-Learn Farm – an interactive, educational area designed for kids of all ages focusing on where our food comes from and what crops are grown in Maryland.

Throughout the state fair, Macleod, who aspires to be a high school agricultural science teacher, spent time talking to kids and parents about Maryland’s diverse agricultural landscape and also had a chance to plug the state fair, U-Learn Farm and the College of AGNR on a local television news broadcast.

“A lot of people form negative views on agriculture without learning the facts, and there are others who are just clueless,” said Macleod, who grew up in Carroll County. “Agriculture plays a huge part in our lives, and we need to make every effort we can to help others realize it. The more we get out and educate about agriculture, the better off we will all be.”

GROW IT EAT IT:

Encouraging people to get passionate about planting vegetables was a big theme at the state fair this year. Jon Traunfeld, Director of UME’s Home and Garden Information Center and Coordinator of the Master Gardener Program, offered demonstrations on how to build and maintain a salad table for growing fresh produce without taking up a lot of space.  “People can really relate to it because so many don’t have big back yards,” said Jon Traunfeld.

The UME Baltimore City Master Gardeners program created a model community garden right in the middle of the fairgrounds complete with tomatoes, green peppers, zucchini, eggplant, cabbage and various herbs. The idea was to show how easily anyone can join forces with their neighbors to grow and harvest food.  “We’ve gotten a lot of interest and we might get people that want to start gardening that have never done it before. That’s what we really want to do,” said Larry Kloze, a member of the Baltimore Master Gardener’s program.

MILKING THE SPOTLIGHT:

The University of Maryland’s very own dairy cows got a chance to strut their stuff in front of fairgoers. The herd participated in milking demonstrations during the first week of the fair and remained on display inside the Cow Palace to be admired by passersby. “A lot of people don’t understand the university even has cows,” said Brian Spielman, dairy program manager for the University of Maryland. The university’s dairy herd is housed at the Central Maryland Research and Education Center’s Clarksville facility but the cows interact quite a bit with students and researchers throughout the year. They travel to campus in College Park regularly to facilitate interactive learning in courses offered through the Animal & Avian Sciences Department and periodically students travel to the Clarksville facility to find out first-hand how the dairy program operates. The dairy cows are also involved in various research studies including one that compares the economics of grazing versus confinement feeding, and another that monitors brain wave activity in cattle to determine pain indicators.

ON-TIME DELIVERY:

Dr. Tom Hartsock, a retired professor and Extension specialist from the College of AGNR, oversees the state fair’s birthing center – always a popular attraction. “We never have any trouble with interest,” Hartsock said. “We have a problem with the timing – getting the animals to give birth when people are here during the day.” However, the animals proved particularly cooperative this year with six cows delivering in front of delighted audiences during daytime fair hours the first week of the fair, one birthing a set of twins. “It’s been a real success,” Hartsock said.

Thanks to the students, faculty, staff and alumni who helped make the College of AGNR shine once again at the Maryland State Fair! Be sure to check out our photo gallery.

For more information contact Sara Gavin at 301-405-9235 or sgavin@umd.edu.