Montgomery County Agricultural Fair Promotes Maryland Farmers

Sixty-two years ago there was an old fashioned barn raising in Montgomery County Maryland to house a 4H-Fair. That effort has evolved into the state's biggest agricultural event.

Beyond the midway and the carnival games, lies the heart of the Montgomery County Agricultural Fair.

It's still a showcase for 4H'ers and farmers.

"They have the rabbit barn, they have the geese and the ducks, Old McDonalds barn has a birthing area and all kinds of other animals to see," says Mary Mitchell Cox.

She owns a horse farm in Waldorf Maryland and has been showing at the fair for fifteen years.

In 1980, Montgomery County established a ninety thousand acre agricultural reserve.

Silver Spring resident Joe Sandri praises the counties foresight in combating urban sprawl.

"A lot of other counties around here haven't really taken that step so people don't always see this side of Montgomery County but we see it clearly when we drive there's huge expanses and you're in the country," says Sandri.

The Montgomery County Agricultural Fair is at the Gaithersburg Fairgrounds through the 21st of August.