Ag Education Days – Cecil County, Maryland
Ag Education Days brought together 1,100+ 7th grade students for a three-day hands-on learning experience in agriculture, science, and technology. Hosted at the Cecil County Fairgrounds, the event connected youth to the vital role agriculture plays in daily life.
-
Deliverables: Video + still documentation of 3-day event
-
Location: Cecil County Fairgrounds, Fair Hill NRMA, Maryland
-
Services Provided: Event videography, still photography, post-production editing
-
Client Use: Community outreach, program promotion, sponsor recognition, future recruitment
Abstract
We documented the inaugural Ag Education Days in Cecil County, Maryland, held in the spring of 2024 at the Cecil County Fairgrounds. Over three days, more than 1,100 7th grade students from all six county middle schools rotated through 12 interactive educational stations. Designed to align with the 7th grade science curriculum, the event covered food systems, land and water conservation, animal science, and ag technology—including drones, GPS, and automation in farming.
The program was developed by the Ag Education Days Planning Association, which included representatives from Cecil County Economic Development, Cecil County Farm Museum, Cecil County Public Schools, Cecil Soil Conservation District, Horizon Farm Credit, the Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, and University of Maryland Extension. More than 80 volunteers, educators, and dignitaries supported the event, which received overwhelmingly positive feedback from students, teachers, and community leaders. The result was a county-wide celebration of agriculture’s impact on everyday life and a model for future education events.
Transcript
Cecil County, Maryland launched the inaugural Ag Education Days on April 30th, 2024 at the Cecil County Fairgrounds at Fair Hill Natural Resource Management Area. Inspired by Queen Anne’s County’s Agricultural Awareness Day, a group of agricultural leaders in the county set out to design a day of learning and inspiration for more than 1,100 7th grade Cecil County students.
The advisory board received unanimous support from the school system, and from there, the Ag Education Days Planning Association was born. This team of agricultural organizers and leaders fundraised for the program, developed the three-day curriculum, recruited educators and volunteers, and coordinated logistics with schools, transportation, catering, and venue partners.
The event featured four main topic areas aligned with 7th grade science standards. These were broken into 12 educational stations covering food systems, land and water conservation, animal science, and ag technology. Students learned about careers in agriculture, food safety, soil health, water quality, poultry, equine and livestock care, GPS and automation, and drone technology.
Reports from all six county middle schools confirmed the program’s success—students were raving about the event. With over 80 volunteers, more than 1,100 students, dozens of educators, and support from elected officials, the event was considered a resounding success. A post-event survey showed 100% of volunteers would participate again.
This event would not have been possible without the support of generous sponsors. The Ag Education Days Planning Association is proud to share this program with the community and looks forward to inspiring the next generation of agriculturists each year.