ANNAPOLIS (June 30, 2010) – To honor the leaders of Maryland’s thriving agricultural community, the Maryland Department of Agriculture (MDA) is accepting nominations of farmers and farm families for the Governor’s Agriculture Hall of Fame, which pays tribute to those who have dedicated their lives to the state's leading industry.
“Farmers are the solid foundation of our state and a vital part of our future. They provide the food, fiber, and farmland from which we all benefit,” said Governor Martin O’Malley. “I encourage all Marylanders to identify the people who have made outstanding contributions to agriculture and to nominate them to the Hall of Fame.”
Any farm family that derives its income principally from farming is eligible for the award. Since 1991, when the Hall of Fame was established, 40 farm families from 21 counties have been honored for their high standards of conduct; personal values; contributions to their community; and performance, leadership, innovation, and achievement in agriculture.
Nomination forms are available from MDA or local cooperative extension offices, which serve as local nominating committee coordinators. Each local nominating committee, which is made up of the county extension educator, county farm bureau president, county fair representative, and county soil conservation district chairman, reviews a pool of candidates from its county and forwards a selection to the Governor’s Selection Committee.
Nominations from the committees are due to MDA by August 25, 2010, and will be reviewed by the Governor’s Selection Committee. The selection committee includes the Dean of the University of Maryland’s College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, the President of the Maryland Farm Bureau, and members of the agricultural community. The Hall of Fame induction ceremony will be held during the Maryland Agricultural Dinner in February 2011.
For a nomination form or further information, contact MDA at 410-841-5770, contact your local cooperative extension office, or log onto www.mda.state.md.us.
Applicants must work with their county Cooperative Extension Office in preparing the application.
RELATED INFORMATION:
Previous Hall of Fame Inductees
http://www.mda.state.md.us/pdf/aghall.pdf
Hall of Fame Nomination Form
http://www.mda.state.md.us/pdf/aghallnom.pdf
Hall of Fame Sign-off Sheet
http://www.mda.state.md.us/pdf/aghallsign.pdf