Macy Cook

Week six of our internship program centered around themes in the agriculture industry that I have been passionate about for the past few years. Soil health, conservation farming, and reducing food waste were the themes discussed in this week’s intern connection and have been evidenced throughout the first six weeks of my internship. Each of these themes correlates to a more sustainable future for the agriculture industry and consumers.

The University of Maryland is committed to advancing sustainability, and this commitment is visibly extended into their research and extension programs. While the work I have done has not directly correlated with sustainable farming practices, many of the tasks I have performed have been aimed at advancing sustainable agriculture. At LESREC, the blueberry and blackberry variety trials were implemented to observe which varieties produced the most plentiful and the longest in our region of the country. By understanding which varieties of each fruit grow best in our specific region, farmers will maximize their yields and growing seasons, ensuring a more sustainable future for their own farms while also ensuring food security for consumers. Likewise, the kale insect study will determine the best method to deter insects from the kale plants, ensuring less chemical use and the most effective treatment to prevent insect damage.

June 14- working the 
Master Gardener booth.

The University of Maryland’s sustainability mission has not only extended into the research I have assisted with, but also into the events and tasks I have completed in the office. In June, I manned the Master Gardener Booth at the Smokey Cat Lavender Festival, where I engaged with attendees about sustainable gardening practices. While sustainability is becoming increasingly practiced on larger scale agricultural operations, steps to ensure a sustainable future through soil health and crop growth can also be taken on a smaller scale in backyard gardening. While the end goal of soil health, conservation farming, and reducing food waste is a sustainable future, practices to reach this goal cannot be implemented without proper education on the subjects.

One of my biggest projects for the summer has been compiling a formal curriculum for Queen Anne’s County’s Agriculture Awareness Day, an event designed to inform 7^th graders about agriculture in their county and the country. This event not only educates the students about five different areas of the agriculture industry and career opportunities in these areas, but it also informs the students about the care agricultural producers take to conserve the environment and natural resources by methods such as using less chemicals, fertilizers, and fuel. By developing a formal curriculum for this event, other counties and areas will be able to replicate the event, reaching a growing number of students and informing them about sustainability in agriculture.

July 2- Activities for 4-H
Camp in Dorchester County.

While various tasks in my internship have been aimed at sustainability in agriculture, my specific tasks for this week have varied between my different office locations. On Monday and Tuesday, I checked website links to ensure all links were still updated, finalized flyers, social media posts, and a schedule of posts for the Talbot County Fair, and joined our weekly intern zoom connection. On Wednesday, I worked on podcast editing in the Dorchester County office for the Master Gardener Podcast and assisted with a 4-H day camp. This camp was one of the highlights of my week, as the children learned about good decision making and how decisions can affect their future. On Wednesday evening, I attended the Queen Anne’s County Board of Education meeting, where I had the pleasure of meeting an individual who has had a pivotal role in Agriculture Awareness Day and witnessed the event recap and presentation to the Board of Education from this year’s Agriculture Awareness Day. On Thursday, I worked out of the Queen Anne’s County office, where I revised and finalized the interview form for individuals who have had a crucial role in Agriculture Awareness Day. Overall, week six has been an exciting and educational week that has expanded on the theme of soil health, conservation farming, and reducing food waste to ensure a sustainable future.

Social Media Flyer I made to promote livestock
at the Talbot County Fair this coming weekend.