FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
August 23, 2004
FOR MORE INFORMATION CONTACT: BECKY BRASHEAR, 301-663-5895

Friday, Sept. 24
Ag Careers Fair at The Great Frederick Fair

FREDERICK, MD–-Looking for a career in agriculture? Then come to The Great Frederick Fair’s City Streets, Country Roads exhibit on Friday, Sept. 24, and see for yourself the many career paths that link to the ag industry. The Office of Economic Development and its Agriculture Business Council in conjunction with the fair will host the special exhibit and displays. The Ag Careers Fair is one of many educational and informative exhibits in the City Streets, Country Roads exhibit located at the west end of Machinery Row.

“We want the students as well as the public to benefit from the Ag Careers Fair,” said David Miller, chairman of the Agriculture Business Council. Numerous exhibits and guest presenters will again depict the ag career paths students may consider for their future. “People just don’t realize what careers are connected to agriculture and natural resources. We hope we can continue to make the careers fair an annual part of the county fair,” Miller added.

Working with the Ag Careers Fair this year are leaders in the county school system’s School-to-Careers division. “The fair is very fortunate to be able to work with the county school system on our many educational endeavors,” said fair board President J.R. Ramsburg Jr.

“In fact a lot the fair’s educational endeavors kind of intertwine with one another and so we are very fortunate to have support from leaders at the University of Maryland, College of Agriuclture and Natural Resources and the Maryland Ag Education Foundation,” he added.

The AgriScience Field Day that draws nearly 800 students from Frederick County and surrounding counties will be held Tuesday, Sept. 21. The students take part in numerous seminars and workshops showing some of the latest techniques and technologies used in the ag industry.

As part of the day’s activities, students will also compete in the “Strongest Ag Link” game, an educational, yet fun game fashioned after television’s Weakest Link. It will be featured as part of the Ag Careers Fair on Friday.

Friday’s Ag Careers Fair schedule runs from 10 a.m.-6 p.m. with the following features:
10 a.m. – Strongest Agri-Link
11 a.m. – Department of Natural Resources
Noon – Strongest Agri-Link
1 p.m. – Chesapeake Bay and You
2 p.m. – From Field to Plate
3 p.m. – Youth Grant Winners
4 p.m. – Handful of Herbs
4:30-6 p.m. – Bird Feeders and Houses
All-day displays include Ag Communications featuring the Delmarva Farmer; bio-tech and Grime Watch.