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NEWS RELEASE

September 23, 2008

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12-day event promises fun for all!

5th Annual Farm-City Celebration Kicks off Harvest Season

ELLICOTT CITY, MD – Howard County’s 5th annual Farm-City Celebration kicked off today as County Executive Ken Ulman traded places with local dairy farmer Dave Patrick for the morning. This year’s 12-day Farm-City Celebration runs through October 4 and features events and activities that highlight the benefits of having local farms in our community.

“Last year I was at a grain farm, and this year I spent the morning at Maple Dell Farm with Dave’s wife Ann and their family,” said Ulman. “We only touched the surface of what goes into running a successful dairy farm, but I can tell you its long hours and plenty of hard work. Farmers today face some serious challenges, and the Farm-City Celebration is our chance to thank Howard County’s farmers for making fresh, locally-grown food readily available. Buying local is good for our health, and it is good for the environment.”

The annual event includes special activities that span two weekends. There will be festivals at the Days End Farm Horse Rescue, Clark’s Elioak Farm, Triadelphia Lake View Farm, Sharp’s at Waterford Farm and the Howard County Conservancy at Mt. Pleasant Farm. Farms hosting activities will also be promoting the “best management practices” they use daily on their farms to help the environment. In addition, there will be the annual Howard County Farm Heritage Days at the Antique Farm Machinery Club’s Living Heritage Museum, farm-themed story times at local library branches, a Healthy Howard Family Walk, the riding of the Iron-Bridge Hounds and farmers’ markets.

Platinum sponsors of the Farm-City Celebration include: Comcast, Howard County General Hospital - Johns Hopkins Medicine, Howard County Antique Farm Machinery Club, Howard County Economic Development Authority, Howard County Farm Bureau, Howard County Government, Howard County Department of Recreation & Parks, Howard Soil Conservation District, Maryland Life Magazine and the University of Maryland College of Agriculture and Natural Resources.

To learn more about the activities planned and see a complete calendar of events, visit the www.farmheritage.org or call (410) 313-6500 and ask to have a Farm-City Celebration brochure mailed to you.