|
The largest used equipment inventory in the Mid-Atlantic is only a click away. Visit our website by clicking here or visit us at one of our 11 locations throughout MD, DE, VA and PA.
|
 |
O’Malley: Ag important to Maryland
|
The largest used equipment inventory in the Mid-Atlantic is only a click away. Visit our website by clicking here or visit us at one of our 11 locations throughout MD, DE, VA and PA.
|
|
O’Malley: Ag important to Maryland
2.12.2008
By KEVIN GEORGE
Editor
GLEN BURNIE, Md. — A record-breaking 865 tickets were sold for the Maryland Agricultural Dinner at Michaels Eighth Avenue last Thursday — about 100 more than last year’s event.
The annual dinner allows farmers and growers from across the state to gather with industry leaders and government officials to celebrate the role agriculture plays.
“I appreciate the opportunity to meet with you, and I appreciate what you do day in and day out,” Gov. Martin O’Malley told the group.
“We cannot have a sustainable future for our state unless we have a sustainable future for farming. We create a better future for all of Maryland if we can do what it takes to make farming more profitable.”
O’Malley pointed out agriculture is not a partisan matter for state lawmakers.
“All of us understand that making farming more profitable is not a Democratic or Republican issue,” he said. “It’s something that all of us agree about.”
O’Malley and Secretary of Agriculture Roger Richardson welcomed two families as the latest inductees of the Governor’s Agricultural Hall of Fame when the Patricks and the Schmidts, of Woodbine and Sudlersville, respectively, were honored.
“It is my honor to stand beside the Patricks and the Schmidts to recognize their outstanding accomplishments, commitment and contributions to agriculture, family and community,” O’Malley said. “In honoring these two families, who represent more than a century of farming in Maryland, we also honor the dedication and hard work of every farmer in this state.”
The ceremony was enhanced with moving testimonials spoken by family members about their farm’s history and production. The recordings were played over a slide show that had dozens of images from award-winning photographer Edwin Remsberg of the farms and family members.
The slide shows can be found at www.americanfarm.com/Delmarvafarmernewspaper.html, or individually at www.remsberg.com/soundbooks/patrick/ and www.remsberg.com/soundbooks/schmidt2/.
The Patricks have been farming for more than 70 years in Howard County. They farm 1,300-plus acres of cropland and have 200 milking cows and 200 young stock.
“I have known the Patricks all my life,” said Howie Feaga, president of Howard County Farm Bureau. “They have always opened their farm to help with youth programs, as well as numerous other activities. This recognition … is long overdue.”
The Schmidts farm 1,800 acres in grain, vegetables, hay, wine grapes and are moving into organics. They started farming in northern Queen Anne’s County in the 1940s.
“The Schmidts are a model farm family working together on innovative farming practices along with diversification,” said Queen Anne’s County ag agent Jenny Rhodes. “They are certainly leaders in the community … I certainly commend them for this wonderful award.”
There are now 35 members of the Governor’s Agricultural Hall of Fame, which began in 1992.
“Farming is very important to our state,” O’Malley said. “After years of best practices and decades of working the land, you’ve always been our greatest environmental stewards … If our state’s going to have a more sustainable future for our kids and grandkids, we must make farming more profitable — and that, plainly, is our goal.”