* Host: FROM THE POTATO FIELD MARYLAND FARMERS ARE HARD DID YOU KNOW THAT WHEN LIVESTOCK AUCTIONS MOVED ONLINE, THAT POULTRY GROWERS ARE AND THAT AGRITOURISM CONTRIBUTES TO OUR STATE'S ECONOMY?

DON'T GO ANYWHERE, WHO GROW OUR FOOD ARE COMING UP NEXT ON Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY...

THE MARYLAND GRAIN PRODUCERS INVESTING IN SMARTER FARMING AND AFFORDABLE FOOD, FEED, ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED GOOD FOR YOU, MARBIDCO, HELPING TO SUSTAIN FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS...

THE MARYLAND AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT MID-ATLANTIC FARM CREDIT, AND RURAL AMERICA...

RURAL MARYLAND COUNCIL, FOR RURAL MARYLAND...

THE MARYLAND SOYBEAN BOARD PROGRESS POWERED BY FARMERS... WEGMANS FOOD MARKETS, HEALTHIER, THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF AND BY...

THE MARYLAND NURSERY, LANDSCAPE, THE MARYLAND SEAFOOD THE MARYLAND FARM BUREAU, THE KEITH CAMPBELL FOUNDATION AND BY... CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN MADE EMPOWERING THOSE WHO ARE DEAF, OR SPEECH DISABLED * Host: WITH THE COVID-19 THOUSANDS OF MARYLANDERS FOUND AND UNABLE TO BUY HEALTHY FOOD.

THANKFULLY, FIRST FRUITS FARM, GROWS ALL KINDS OF VEGETABLES AND ORGANIZATIONS THAT IN 2019, THAT INCLUDED OVER HI, I'M JOANNE CLENDINING, MARYLAND FARM & HARVEST .

TODAY, WE'RE LOOKING AT ITS IMPACT ON AGRICULTURE, FOR THE FUTURE.

LATER IN THE SHOW, WE'LL SEE AND PEOPLE HEALTHY HAVE BUT FIRST, RAISING LIVESTOCK AND IS A RITE OF PASSAGE FOR MANY HOWEVER, WHEN FAIRS AROUND DUE TO THE PANDEMIC, STILL HAD A CHANCE TO SHOW OFF * Joanne: FOR MANY OF US, STEEPED IN NOSTALGIA, DEEP-FRIED IN FOND MEMORIES.

BUT IT'S MUCH MORE THAN THAT A YOUTH DEVELOPMENT PROGRAM THAT THE FAIR, IS THE CULMINATION OF MONTHS OF WHICH THEY CALL "PROJECTS."

Rachel Troppman: IS KIND OF THE FINAL THING WITH THEIR LIVESTOCK PROJECT.

SO, WITH LAMBS AND GOATS, THOSE PROJECTS IN MAYBE THEY TAKE CARE OF THEM AND THEN, THEY BRING THEM IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY FOR THEM AND HOPEFULLY RECOUP ALL AND MAYBE...YOU KNOW, TO BUY NEXT YEAR'S PROJECT THINGS LIKE THAT.

Joanne: RACHEL TROPPMAN HAS A SHE'S MOM TO TWO 4HER'S, AND 16-YEAR-OLD RILEY, AND SHE ON TOP OF THAT, SHE'S ON THE AND... Rachel: IN NORMAL YEARS WE HAVE THREE AUCTIONEERS AT SO...USUALLY, THE AUCTIONEER Joanne: IN 2020, THE HOWARD COUNTY FAIR WAS Rachel: CANCELLING IT WAS NOT SO, WE WERE LIKE, AND WE ALSO THOUGHT THAT IT UM, YOU KNOW TO STAY SAFE, TO PARTICIPATE.. AND ALSO, WE WOULD GET TO HAVE Joanne: SO TONIGHT, AND FELLOW 4HER'S, AND BRITTANY MORRIS, THEIR ANIMALS FOR SALE, JUST AND THERE'S A LOT TO DO.

Riley Troppman: I HAVE TWO PIGS, Samantha Skelly: AND I KEEP IT AT HER NAME'S STARRY BECAUSE I WILL BECOME AND IT MAKES ME SAD Joanne: A HARD TRUTH UNDERSTOOD THE ULTIMATE DESTINATION FOR ONCE THEY'RE SOLD IS Riley: YOU WANT TO TRY AND MAKE AS MEATY AND BIG AS POSSIBLE, LEAVING THOSE...MAKE AND BETTER FOR THE BUYERS.

Joanne: ATTRACTING BUYERS, THINGS GET A LITTLE TRICKY.

Rachel: SO HOW ITS GOING TO WORK IS WE HAVE THE KIDS UPLOADING THAT THEY WANT TO SELL.

[PIG GRUNTS] Joanne: GETTING THE ANIMALS IS ONE CHALLENGE.

Rachel: THERE YOU GO.

CODY, LOOK THIS WAY.

[CAMERA SHUTTER CLICKS] Joanne: ANOTHER IS MAKING SURE Samantha: WE'RE GOING OUT AND ZOOM LINKS TO GET ON AND IT'S MORE CONFUSING.

THIS YEAR WE'RE HOPING THAT THEY Riley: WE SEND OUT BUYERS AND THIS YEAR, SINCE WE HAVE MORE TIME * Joanne: FINALLY, Samantha: I WAS NERVOUS WHO'S GOING TO BID FOR IT.

AND YOU SEND OUT BUYERS LETTERS WHO'S GOING TO GO FORWARD Joanne: A FEW DAYS LATER, AND SAMANTHA'S FEARS PROVED [PHONE RINGS] Miss Sue: HELLO.

Samantha: HI, MISS SUE.

IT'S SAM.

I JUST WANTED TO SAY, I REALLY APPRECIATE IT.

Miss Sue: OH...WELL, I'M GLAD YOU HAD SUCH Samantha: OH, THANK YOU.

Rachel: IN THE END, I THINK IT WAS 215 SO, WE REALLY WERE EXCITED Joanne: NORMALLY AFTER THE SALE, FROM THE FAIRGROUNDS THIS YEAR, Rachel: SINCE, WE HAD TO PUT OUT A SCHEDULE WHAT ANIMALS WHERE.

AND SO LUCKILY, THE 4HER'S REALLY UNDERSTANDING, THERE'S A LOT OF EXTRA Joanne: TODAY, IT'S TIME TO Riley: IT'S DEFINITELY HARDER TO THE MEAT LOCKER BECAUSE TO HAPPEN THERE.

Joanne: BUT IN THESE COVID TIMES FEELS HARDER, TAKING THE AUCTION [TRAILER DOOR SHUTS] Samantha: I FEEL LIKE, IT WAS A DIFFERENT EXPERIENCE.

Riley: THE FEATURE THAT WAS WHO WAS BUYING THE ANIMAL IT'S LIKE, FRIENDS COULDN'T Rachel: EVERYONE CAME TOGETHER WE HAD LOTS OF ACTIVITY, AND IT WAS A LOT MORE IT WAS GOING TO BE.

* Joanne: ALL RIGHT.

IT'S TIME TO TEST YOUR HERE IS OUR THING-A-MA-JIG DO YOU THINK YOU KNOW WELL, HERE'S A HINT.

IT'S MADE FROM BLUE PLASTIC, BUT STAY TUNED, AND WE'LL HAVE THE FARMERS COME FROM ALL WE ASKED PEOPLE TO SEND PHOTOS TO OUR FACEBOOK PAGE, AND WE TAKE A LOOK.

* Joanne: WE ALL ADDED TO OUR VOCABULARY IN 2020.

THINGS LIKE QUARANTINE, BUT POULTRY FARMERS WERE LONG BEFORE COVID-19 CAME ALONG.

SEE HOW KEEPING CHICKENS HEALTHY * ON THE EASTERN SHORE, BY AS MUCH AS 1,000 TO ONE.

AND AT RELIEF FARM IN IT'S MORE LIKE 180,000 TO ONE.

BUT LUCKILY, THAT ONE, ANDREW MCLEAN, TO KEEPING HIS BIRDS HAPPY, Andrew McClean: IF THEY JUST SIT THEY'RE PROBABLY NOT BUT WHEN YOU COME UP ON THEM THAT'S A HEALTHY ATTITUDE Joanne: POULTRY IS A BILLION ON WHICH THOUSANDS OF JOBS RELY.

AND BIRD HEALTH BEGINS EARLY AT AGAINST SOME VIRAL BUT NOT AGAINST THE INDUSTRY'S AVIAN INFLUENZA, OR BIRD FLU.

Dr. David Shapiro: A HABIT OF CHANGING THEIR AND SO YOU CAN'T HAVE THAT WORKS EVERY YEAR.

AND SO, THE BEST PREVENTION ESPECIALLY FOR POULTRY, Joanne: TODAY, A CHECKUP, COURTESY OF PERDUE'S DAVID SHAPIRO.

BUT, FIRST THINGS FIRST.

Dr. Shapiro: WE HAVE VERY AT THE FARM DOOR.

IF YOU HAD VISITED A FARM OR YOU CAME FROM AN AREA OF WILD WATERFOWL, TO EVEN ENTER THE FARM.

AND WE HAVE A SIGN IN LOG WHERE HAS TO SIGN IN.

Joanne: INCLUDING DAVID THE SIGN IN SHEET IS MEANING IT HELPS KEEP THE FARM AND POTENTIALLY AND IT'S NOT THE ONLY Dr. Shapiro: YOU MAY HAVE AND BEFORE YOU ENTER A HOUSE, TO HAVE THE PROPER Joanne: THAT MEANS, AND A HAIRNET.

OR IF YOU'RE ANDREW... Andrew: AND THEN, I HAVE DIFFERENT SHOES Joanne: SO FAR, THERE HAVE OF HIGHLY PATHOGENIC AVIAN FLU, THE MOST HAVOC IN MARYLAND, BEING TRANSMITTED TO HUMANS SO, WHY ALL THE FUSS?

WELL, FOR ONE THING, FOR POULTRY, AND IT HAS A WAY Dr. Shapiro: WE CAN TRANSMIT THE VIRUS WHEN IT COUGHS OR SNEEZES, AND IT ALSO MAY BE IN WHICH MAY THEN HAVE DROPPINGS AND THAT COULD GET TRACKED Joanne: SO UNLIKE CONVENTIONAL BIRDS, Andrew: HOWEVER, WERE TO BE DETECTED IN THE AREA, SHUT THE DOORS AND NOT LET BECAUSE WE DON'T WANT THEM Joanne: IN 2015 MIGRATORY PATHOGENIC BIRD FLU Dr. Shapiro: SOMETIMES, WOULD HAVE BEEN DEAD WITHIN BIRD SHOWING SIGNS AND VIRTUALLY IN A HOUSE WOULD HAVE DIED Joanne: POULTRY DEATHS COULD BE COUNTED SOME FROM THE DISEASE ITSELF, TO PREVENT IT FROM SPREADING SO, IT'S NO WONDER THAT EVERY SINGLE FLOCK BEFORE FOR PROCESSING.

OR, IN THIS CASE, TO ANY VISITING TV CREWS.

Dr. Shapiro: WHEN WE TEST THE MOST COMMON SAMPLE IS Joanne: BUT DAVID DOESN'T SWAB A QUICK ON-FARM TEST USING ONE PEACE OF MIND.

Dr. Shapiro: AND THE TEST Joanne: BEFORE A TUBE HOLDING SENT TO THE MARYLAND ANIMAL HEALTH DIAGNOSTIC LAB Bob Robinson: WE COULD PROBABLY IN AN EIGHT HOUR PERIOD.

Joanne: HERE, LAB SCIENTISTS RUN THE SAMPLES THROUGH "POLYMERASE CHAIN REACTION" Bob: IT ACTUALLY, WHERE IT COULD BE DETECTED BY Joanne: IF A SAMPLE THE FARM IS PLACED UNDER AND AFTER FURTHER TESTING THE BIRDS ARE EUTHANIZED Bob: AND WE WOULD SAMPLE ALL TWO MILE RADIUS.

IF WE FIND ANY POSITIVE SAMPLES DID WE GO AT SIX MILES.

AND WE JUST KEEP GOING UNTIL AND IT WOULD BE VERY TO THE POULTRY INDUSTRY, Joanne: BUT ABOUT THREE HOURS THE SAMPLE COMES BACK NEGATIVE.

THANKS IN NO SMALL PART TO MANDATED TESTING, AND OF COURSE, POULTRY GROWERS, VETS, PRACTICE EVERY SINGLE DAY.

* DUE TO THE SPREAD OF COVID-19, WERE TEMPORARILY CLOSED, WHICH SOME FARMS EVEN HAD TO EUTHANIZE PROCESSED IN TIME.

THANKFULLY, Joanne: THE HISTORY OF GOES BACK OVER 100 YEARS.

HOWEVER, 2020 WAS THE FIRST TIME THAT THE PUBLIC COULDN'T ATTEND.

LET'S LOOK BACK AT THIS MARYLAND * IN 1879, "THE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY OF SET OUT TO ENCOURAGE OF YOUTH AND TO TEACH THE IMPORTANCE OF AGRICULTURE.

TO REACH THESE GOALS, THEY HELD ONE THAT WOULD GROW TO BECOME THE OFFICIAL MARYLAND Joanne: SOME EARLY FAIR EVENTS LIKE LIVESTOCK SHOWING OTHER EVENTS HAD LESS THE PLOWING COMPETITION BUT IT WASN'T ALL ABOUT BY THE 1930s, THE MIDWAY RIDES, AND SIDE SHOWS FROM 1943 TO 1945, AND FERRIS WHEEL DISAPPEARED AND THE US ARMY TOOK THEIR PLACE AFTER THE WAR, THE FARE ADDING NEW EVENTS, WHERE YOU MEN RACED ACROSS THE FINISH LINE.

Joanne: DURING THE SECOND HALF THE STATE'S FARMING POPULATION DISCONNECTED FROM AGRICULTURE.

THE FAIR STEPPED IN TO BRIDGE LIKE THE BIRTHING CENTER, AND THE MARYLAND FOODS PAVILION.

IN 2020, MOST OF THE FAIR'S FESTIVITIES TO THE GENERAL PUBLIC.

THE LIVESTOCK SHOWS STILL TOOK BUT THE AUDIENCE WAS VIRTUAL.

IT WAS A BIG LOSS FOR BUT EVERYONE HAS HIGH HOPES THAT WELCOMING HUNDREDS OF TO EXPERIENCE EVERYTHING * Joanne: COMING UP, AL SPOLER BUT BEFORE WE GO TO AL, AGRICULTURE KNOWS FARMERS ARE AND 2020 PRESENTED MANY WE HEAR HOW THEY'VE ADAPTED AS * Nora Crist: I MEAN, OR AGRITOURISM BUSINESS FOR OF OUR NORMAL SEASON.

AND WE'VE HAD TO IT'S REALLY PUT A HURT ON Martha Clark: WHEN WE DID OPEN WE LIMITED THE NUMBER OF AT ANY GIVEN TIME.

EVEN THOUGH IT'S OUTSIDE, EVERYBODY HAD MASKS ON AND I HAD ONE PERSON WHOSE WAS JUST TO CONTINUALLY CLEAN.

Alan Eck: COVID-19 HIT US, PRETTY HARD RIGHT THERE RIGHT BEFORE PLANTING, YOU KNOW, WE'RE STILL PLANTING EVEN THOUGH THE PRICES BUT THINGS HAVE KIND OF AND MARGINS WISE, IN RIGHT WHEN PRICES STARTED TO AND HOPEFULLY, IT TENDS IN Chris Yu: SO FAR, WE HAVE BEEN TO SHIFT MAJORLY.

I CAN'T REALLY ANTICIPATE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN NEXT.

I'M VERY HEARTENED THAT OUR TEAM TO STAY RUNNING DURING SO, WE'VE BEEN FORCED TO LEARN Rachel Armistead: THERE WERE AND SO WE SAW THE NEED THERE Luke Flessner: WE'RE HOPING THAT LOCAL DURING THE PANDEMIC WILL AND SUPPORTING LOCAL FARMERS * Joanne: AGRITOURISM, AND EDUCATIONAL ACTIVITIES GENERATES ALMOST $10 MILLION IN MEANING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC FOR AGRICULTURE IN OUR STATE.

AL SPOLER LEARNS HOW ONE FARM IS AND ITS BUSINESS SAFE.

AL.

* Al Spoler: AROUND MARYLAND, IN SOME KIND OF AGRITOURISM, HOWEVER, WITH COVID-19 OF OTHER LARGE EVENTS, TO DISRUPT BUSINESS THAT IS BUT DON'T TELL A MARYLAND FARMER NOW, I'M HERE AT SUMMERS FARM WHERE THEY HAVE COME UP WITH FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY TO TAKE AND I GOT TO GIVE THEM CREDIT, THE EXTRA MILE TO MAKE SURE AS SAFELY AS POSSIBLE.

SO, LET'S MASK UP AND TAKE * EACH FALL, OVERSEES THIS 100 ACRES OF Theresa Summers: WE HAVE 45 PLUS Al: HOLY MACRO.

Theresa: AND THIS EVENING, AND WE HAVE FIREWORKS SO, WE HAVE A LOT OF Al: I BET THERE'S AND GET A GOOD NIGHT'S SLEEP Theresa: [CHUCKLES] YES.

Al: ANY PUBLIC PLACE CARRIES BUT BEFORE THE FALL SEASON THE STATE OF MARYLAND RELEASED STAY OPEN AND MINIMIZE THAT RISK Theresa: SO, WE ARE FOLLOWING HE SAYS, "IF YOU CAN'T SOCIAL WE REQUIRE MASKS ON OUR WAGON AND ANYWHERE THAT YOU CANNOT BE NOT IN YOUR PARTY.

WE HAVE A WIDE OPEN SPACE.

YOU SEE A LOT OF FAMILIES WE SEE A LOT OF RESPECT.

A LOT OF PEOPLE WANT THEY WANT THE FARM TO STAY OPEN.

Al: SUMMERS' FARM STARTED SANITIZING HIGH TOUCH SURFACES, AND YOU'LL NOTICE THEY HAVE ALL AROUND THE FARM, AND ALSO IF YOU'VE BEEN PETTING Theresa: AND WE ADAPT TO THINGS.

SO, I KNEW WE COULD ADAPT.

WE WERE JUST TRYING TO AND WE'RE, WE'RE, I FEEL LIKE WE'RE DOING WE'RE DOING IT SAFELY.

Al: AND ADAPTATION HAS LONG BEEN BACK IN THE '90s WHEN HER FAMILY THERESA CONVINCED HER DAD Theresa: SO, MY FATHER WE WENT TO A CORN MAZE AND HE GOT LOST IN AND HE SAID, "NO ONE'S EVER IN A CORN MAZE, TERESA AND NO THIS IS NOT GOING TO WORK.

AND I SAID, TOOK ME THREE YEARS TO SO, LIKE I SAID, IN 96, Child: IS THAT A REAL PUMPKIN?

Al: AND NOW, JOINED BY HER SONS, SHE'S CONTINUING HER FAMILY'S Theresa: AGRITOURISM IS KEEP BARNS VIABLE.

IT'S ANOTHER WAY TO KEEP PEOPLE AND YOU SEE TODAY, LOOK HOW MANY PEOPLE WERE ABLE [BACKGROUD CHATTER] Al: AND PERHAPS THE BIGGEST IS THE 15 ACRE PUMPKIN PATCH.

NOW, DO YOU GIVE PEOPLE ADVICE Theresa: I DO.

YOU WANT TO FIND A PUMPKIN AND YOU WANT TO LOOK FOR Al: AND PEOPLE LOVE Theresa: THEY DO.

AND I THINK, WITH YOUR FRIENDS TODAY, PEOPLE LIKE EXPERIENCES.

AND I THINK...YOU KNOW, TO COME OUT TO THE FARM, TO SHARE TIME TOGETHER, TO COME OUT TO THE FARM Al: WHAT'S ALSO IMPORTANT WITH THAT PERFECT PUMPKIN AFTER I REALLY LOVE PUMPKIN.

THEY'RE INCREDIBLY USEFUL.

YOU KNOW, YOU CAN CARVE THEM UP YOU CAN USE THEM AS YOU CAN EAT THEM UP.

AND A FRIEND OF MINE CAME UP FOR PUMPKIN CORN BREAD.

AND I CAN'T WAIT TO TASTE THIS AND I'M SURE IT'S GOING TO BE MM-MM, THAT IS SO GOOD.

IT'S LIKE A MOUTH FULL NOW, WE'RE GOING TO PUT PUMPKIN CORN BREAD AT MPT.ORG/FARM.

SO YOU CAN TRY IT AT HOME.

FOR THE LOCAL BUY, JOANNE.

* Joanne: THANKS, AL.

BE SURE TO CHECK OUT FOR ALL OUR LOCAL BUY RECIPES, THERE AS WELL.

ALSO, DON'T FORGET TO FOLLOW US AND A LOOK BEHIND THE SCENES.

NOW, HOLD ON.

WE'RE NOT DONE YET.

REMEMBER OUR THING-A-MA-JIG.

DID YOU GUESS IT?

OUR HINT WAS THAT IT'S MADE BUT IT'S NOT A REUSABLE THIS IS A DISPOSABLE BOOT COVER.

JUST LIKE YOU SAW IN OUR THESE SLIP OVER PAIR OF BOOTS OF DIRT AND GERMS.

CONGRATULATIONS, JOIN US NEXT WEEK FOR ANOTHER ALONG WITH MORE STORIES.

FROM ALL OF US AT WE WANT TO THANK THE HARDWORKING WHO HELP KEEP OUR FOOD SUPPLY I'M JOANNE CLENDINING.

THANKS FOR WATCHING.

CLOSED CAPTIONING HAS BEEN MADE EMPOWERING THOSE WITH TO STAY CONNECTED.

* Announcer: MAJOR FUNDING FOR IS MADE POSSIBLE IN PART BY...

THE MARYLAND GRAIN PRODUCERS INVESTING IN SMARTER FARMING AND AFFORDABLE FOOD, FEED, ADDITIONAL FUNDING PROVIDED BY GOOD FOR YOU, MARBIDCO, HELPING TO SUSTAIN FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS...

THE MARYLAND AND RURAL DEVELOPMENT MID-ATLANTIC FARM CREDIT, AND RURAL AMERICA...

RURAL MARYLAND COUNCIL, A COLLECTIVE VOICE FOR THE MARYLAND SOYBEAN BOARD PROGRESS POWERED BY FARMERS... WEGMANS FOOD MARKETS, HEALTHIER, THE MARYLAND ASSOCIATION OF SOIL AND BY...

THE MARYLAND NURSERY, LANDSCAPE, THE MARYLAND SEAFOOD THE MARYLAND FARM BUREAU, THE KEITH CAMPBELL FOUNDATION AND BY... *