Carroll County

The Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics (AREC), University of Maryland Extension, and the Ag Law Education Initiative will host three one-day workshops on Jan. 13th in Mountain Lake Park, Jan. 27th at the Central MD Research and Education Center, and Feb. 11 at the Eastern Shore Hospital Center, in the English Room. The Farm Succession and Estate Planning workshops will be from 10 am to 2:30 pm.

The free program will assist Maryland farm families in starting the estate planning process, including creating a successful succession plan, having difficult conversations, and health insurance options for farmers. A grant funds the program through the Northeast Risk Management Education Center.

The workshop will feature Dr. Jesse Ketterman, Senior Agent, Dr. Alex Chan, Senior Agent, and a Farm Succession Coordinator, and Paul Goeringer, a Principal Faculty Specialist and Extension Specialist in agricultural law.

“Farm families often want to plan for the future but don’t always know where to start,” said Paul Goeringer. “These workshops give Maryland landowners the tools, confidence, and practical guidance they need to begin building a succession plan that protects both their operations and their families for generations to come.”
Lunch is provided with the workshops. Each workshop will begin at 9:45 am with a check-in, and the workshops will run from 10:00 am to 2:30 pm. The dates and locations are:

January 13, Garrett County University of Maryland Extension Office, 1916 MD-135, Mountain Lake Park, MD 21550.

January 27, Central Maryland Research and Education Center, 4240 Folly Quarter Road, Bldg 671, Ellicott City, MD 21042, and

February 11, Eastern Shore Hospital Center, English Room, 5262 Woods Rd, Cambridge, MD 21613.

Participants will receive copies of Extension fact sheets and other valuable documents as a part of the workshop series.

Topics include:
Scouting/Field Assessment Technology
Artificial Intelligence in Agriculture
Pest Management
Animal Waste Technology
Irrigation & Drainage
Livestock Management

Presentation topics: New EPA label requirements, IPM Planning in Row Crops, Grain Marketing, Sulphur Management, MDA Nutrient Management Updates, and MDA Pesticide Updates. Light freshments and catered lunch.

Wondering when to start thawing your turkey, how long leftovers are safe to eat, or how to bake safely for a crowd? Food safety experts will include  Dr. Shauna Henley of the University of Maryland, and Dr. Julie Garden-Robinson of North Dakota State University. Ask your toughest culinary questions so you can cook with confidence!

Contest Details

Date: Saturday, September 27, 2025
Start Time: 8:00 am
Location: Carroll County Agriculture Center, 706 Agricultural Drive, Westminster, Maryland
Registration dates: August 25 - September 19, 2025

Eligibility
This contest is open to 4-H youth members who have an approved enrollment before July 1, 2025, and are enrolled in one of the following 4-H Shooting Sports projects:

Shooting Sports - Archery
Shooting Sports - General
4-H members who are not enrolled in one of these Shooting Sports projects may not compete.

Each 4-H youth contestant may participate in ONE of the following matches:

Recurve Bow
Compound Bow

Eligible 4-H members must be recommended by their Shooting Sports Instructor as having sufficient proficiency at Archery to compete in this contest at the distances listed safely. The local 4-H Educator must approve 4-H youth member registrations before they will be forwarded to the State 4-H Office.

Junior Contestant, Senior Contestant, Adult Coach, Intermediate Contestant

Adult Coaches must be enrolled UME 4-H Volunteers who are currently certified as 4-H Shooting Sports Archery Instructors.

Complete contest information and rules can be found in the Event Information Button below.

How to Register

Registration for this event is through the 4-H Online State 4-H Archery Match event. To access the registration:

Log in to your 4-H Online family profile. https://v2.4honline.com/
Click on the Events tab on the left sidebar menu.
Click the blue Register button under the event graphic and follow the registration steps.

You can find a step-by-step 4-H Online Event Registration help guide on the Maryland 4-H website. You can also contact your local 4-H office if you have questions or need assistance with event registration.

All event registrations must be submitted by September 19, 2025, by 11:59 pm. Registrations will be verified and approved by local 4-H Educators.

Join us as we celebrate the incredible diversity of insects through fun, hands-on learning for all ages. Whether you are fascinated by bugs or just a little curious, this event is designed to be welcoming and inclusive for everyone. We recognize that people have a wide range of experiences and comfort levels with insects—and that is okay! Our goal is to help you explore your personal connection with these animals and leave with a new appreciation for the vital role they play in our world.

This free, family-friendly event will take place indoors and outdoors at the Harriet Tubman Cultural Center in Columbia, MD. The event will feature the University of Maryland Insect Zoo, insect crafts and hands-on activities, educational displays, and local environmental education groups including the University of Maryland Extension Master Gardener Program, the Community Ecology Institute, and more!

Please note this workshop is available in two separate locations from 9:00 am -1:30 pm:

August 21, 2025-- Harford County Extension Office in Street, MD
August 26, 2025- Charles County Soil Conservation Office in Waldorf, MD

Please indicate on the registration form which day you will be attending and if you have any dietary restrictions or special assistance is needed.

For more information, please contact Andy Kness at akness@umd.edu or Erika Crowl at ecrowl@umd.edu

June 10: Health Insurance Management, build up your skills to better understand, manage, resolve, and avoid health cost conflicts.
June 17: MIND Diet, nutrition for better brain health
June 24: Emotional Grief, managing grief and loss through narrative
July 1: Kitchen Eye Spy, learn best practices to save food and maintain your health

Logos and names and visuals - it's enough to make your head spin! Developing a brand for your  ag business that works across all media to present your own individual identity can be daunting. Whether you're starting from scratch, rebranding, or just trying to fine-tune your business's image, this workshop is perfect for you! No prior experience or special knowledge is required—just a passion for your business and a desire to make it shine.

Why You Should Attend

Developing a clear and compelling brand identity  for your small business might feel overwhelming, but it’s a crucial part of your success. We know small farm owners are busy, and your time spent on marketing needs to be efficient and intentional. 

Forget about jargon, buzzwords, or upselling tactics. This session will give you practical, actionable steps that you can use right away to create a brand identity that resonates with your customers. We’ll focus on:

• What makes a strong brand and the elements you need to define it.
• Avoiding common mistakes that can waste your time and money and help to avoid any legal issues.
• Hands-on activities to critique and improve a brand.
• Personalized feedback from branding experts to help you develop or refine your identity.

This workshop is designed to simplify the process. By the end, you’ll have concrete strategies and a roadmap for communicating your brand’s story clearly and effectively, with minimal stress. You'll known when and how you can do things yourself, and when to call in a pro to get you where you want to be. Whether you’re a teen or college-aged entrepreneur, or an adult with a growing business, this workshop will give you the tools and knowledge to help your brand thrive.

Join us for this hands-on workshop and unlock the full potential of your business. We’ll make sure you leave with a clearer, more effective brand identity that sets you up for success.

Reserve your spot today and start building the brand you’ve always dreamed of!

Note: One Zoom link will cover all four sessions.

This institution is an equal opportunity provider.
If you need a reasonable accommodation to participate in any event or activity, please contact the educator, Dr. Henley, on or before May 8th, 2025, at shenley@umd.edu