COMBINES, CRAB RACES, AND COUNTYWIDE FAIRS TAKE CENTER STAGE FOR AGRICULTURE WEEK

Celebrate farm life with Agriculture Week on Maryland's Coast - Worcester County from August 3-11.

"From combines to crab races to countywide fairs, farm life will take center stage for this weeklong celebration," said Melanie Pursel, director of Worcester County Tourism and Economic Development (WCTED). "We invite everyone to come out and discover the people, places, and festivals that make up the heartbeat of our vibrant, rural Worcester County farming community."

August 3 two events will kick off Agriculture Week. The 24^th annual Blessing of the Combines begins at 11 a.m. in Snow Hill. The grounds will rumble, as fleets of 13-ton combines and farm equipment roll into town. Celebrating local agriculture and honoring farm families, this event is packed with family fun, including a petting barnyard, live music, pedal tractor pull, hayrides, food, and beverages. View the schedule at www.blessingofthecombines.org.

That same day from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. the scent of peaches will be in the air for the annual Peach Festival on the Taylor House Museum lawn in Berlin. Enjoy live music and kids' activities. Peach pies, peach slushies, and more will be available to purchase. Learn more about this sweet event at www.taylorhousemuseum.org.

August 4 two events will take place. Experience beekeeping at BayBees Honey, at 11244 Hall Road in Whaleyville. Learn why everyone should be a beekeeper and how to make honey products. The cost is on special for $35 per person. RSVP at https://tinyurl.com/BayBeesHoney. Available spots are first come, first served.

Then from 2-4 p.m., take a behind-the-scenes tour of ice cream making operations at Worcester County's last working dairy farm, Chesapeake Bay Farms, at 4111 Whitesburg Road in Pocomoke. All participants will receive a free waffle cone upgrade with any ice cream purchase.

August 5 two events will take place. From 3-5 p.m., cheer the fastest decapod to victory during the crab races, learn about scallops and bivalves, and paddle out on the bay atBaywater Landing, at 3908 Bayside Road in Snow Hill. Visitors will learn about the seafood industry and this aquaculture business.

Then at 6 p.m. children ages 8-12, can dive into STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) at Peach Oak Farm, at 10839 St. Martin's Road in Berlin. Participants will explore the process of the four chambered stomach. Space is limited. RSVP at 443-397-2113.

August 6, from 2-4 p.m. see a Japanese kokedama making demonstration and shop the pottery studio at Libelle Homestead, at 8152 Libertytown Road in Berlin. Parking is limited to 20 vehicles. Wear comfortable shoes. Heels are not permitted in the greenhouse.

August 7 from 2-6 p.m. view life on a working horse farm at Rusted Star Ranch, at 8616 Cedar Lane Road in Berlin. There will be an open house and free kids' activities. Children must wear closed-toed shoes for pony rides in the arena.

August 8 two events will take place. From 3-6 p.m. take part in a fiber processing workshop at Marshall Creek Farm, at 9048 Marshall Creek Road in Newark. Signature cocktails and light refreshments will be provided. The cost per person is $55. Sign up at https://tinyurl.com/Fiber-Processing-Workshop.

Then at 6:30 p.m. indulge in Practice Where You Peach yoga at Bennett Orchards, at 31442 Peachtree Lane in Frankford, DE. Afterward enjoy complimentary gather alfajores and pick-your-own ¼ peck bag of peaches. Space is available for 75 individuals. The cost is $45 per person. Tickets are available at https://tinyurl.com/Bennett-Orchards.

August 9 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. savor fresh, delicious tomatoes and learn about the harvesting process at Cross Farm, at 9933 Pitts Road in Berlin. An heirloom tomato tasting event will be hosted by The Blacksmith Restaurant.

The grand finale of Agriculture Week includes not one, but two fairs. August 8-11 visit the Great Pocomoke Fair, at 2037 Broad Street in Pocomoke. Witness Bullride Mania Rodeo Company cowboys tame their steeds. Then take in carnival rides, games, live entertainment, and more at this iconic country fair.

August 9-11, take in the Worcester County Fair, at John Walter Smith Park at 6022 Public Landing Road in Snow Hill. This fair celebrates the fruits of harvest, handiwork of local artisans, and the prowess of farmers, young and old alike, who raise crops and blue-ribbon quality livestock.

Both fairs will include live entertainment, kids' activities, farm animals, and farm-fresh food and beverages. View the schedule of events at www.thegreatpocomokefair.org or www.worcestercountyfair.org.

Agriculture Week in Worcester County - hosted by WCTED in partnership with the Worcester County Department of Recreation and Parks - is also a great time to explore the local farmers markets.

"Shopping at area farmers markets is a great way to eat healthy and support local farm families," WCTED Advertising and Destination Marketing Specialist Brianna Dix said. "Discover fresh farm-to-table foods and crafts from local artisans at the farmers markets that operate in each of the seven districts within Maryland's Coast."

Farmers markets schedules are as follows: Saturdays from 8 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Ocean Pines Farmers and Artisans Market takes place at White Horse Park. Sundays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. the Berlin Farmers Market takes place on Pitts, Commerce, and Main Streets. Thursdays from 12-5 p.m. the Snow Hill Farmers Market takes place at the Green Street Parking Lot.

Fridays beginning at 7 a.m., the Pocomoke Farmers Market takes place at 3 Market Street. Tuesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. the Ocean City Farmers Market takes place at Gold Coast Mall.

Learn more about Agriculture Week activities at www.visitmarylandscoast.orgor visit the individual Facebook event pages. For additional information, contact Dix at bdix@co.worcester.md.us or 410-632-3112 x2123.