ANNAPOLIS, MD (February 7, 2025) ~ Annapolis, MD - The 55th Annual Taste of Maryland Agriculture event, held on Thursday, February 6 at Maryland Live! Casino and Hotel, was a night to remember as Governor Wes Moore inducted the Deford Family of Baltimore County into the Governor's Agriculture Hall of Fame.

The event, sponsored by the Maryland Agriculture Council, brought together industry leaders and state and national legislators to celebrate the state's premier agricultural products. The evening featured a variety of food and tastings from Maryland's beer, wine, and cidery supporters.

During his speech at the event, Governor Moore emphasized the importance of agriculture in Maryland. "There is no Maryland without Maryland agriculture," he stated. "That's why my administration is committed to investing in the people who keep us fed, protect the environment, and grow our economy."

He went on to express his excitement for welcoming the Deford family into the Governor's Agriculture Hall of Fame. "This has been a challenging season for our farmers," he acknowledged. "The Deford family continues to model what it looks like to confront crisis with courage - and the whole of Maryland is better because of it."

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The Deford family was chosen for this prestigious honor due to their outstanding achievements and commitment to both the industry and their community. Created by former Governor William Donald Schaefer in 1991, the Governor's Agriculture Hall of Fame recognizes agricultural leaders who exemplify high standards of achievement.

Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks praised the Defords for their contributions to Maryland agriculture. "The Defords continue to be prime examples of what Maryland agriculture looks like," he said. "From their ingenuity in embracing new technologies in agriculture to remaining exceptional stewards of the land, they have earned this prestigious honor."

In addition to honoring the Deford family, 11 outstanding programs received educational grants from the Maryland Agriculture Council during the event.

The Taste of Maryland Agriculture event not only celebrated the induction of the Deford family into the Hall of Fame, but also highlighted the state's agricultural products. The event featured a bounty of Maryland agricultural products served throughout the evening, including food and tastings from the state's beer, wine, and cidery supporters.

The Deford family is now the 56th inductee into the Governor's Agriculture Hall of Fame. More information on each hall of fame family can be found on the Maryland Department of Agriculture's website. For pictures from the event, please visit this link.

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