Maryland’s Best Kicks-Off the Ice Cream Trail in 2024 with New Prizes and Locations!

Trending...
ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 6, 2024) ~ Annapolis, MD - The Maryland Department of Agriculture's popular Maryland's Best Ice Cream Trail has officially kicked off its 2024 season with new additions, prizes, and of course, delicious ice cream. Now in its twelfth year, the trail aims to promote the state's dairy industry and has gained popularity among participants from both within and outside the state. To celebrate this year's trail, Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks and team members from the Maryland's Best program held an event at Prigel Family Creamery in Baltimore County.

Secretary Atticks expressed his excitement for the return of the ice cream trail, stating that on-farm creameries not only contribute to the profitability of dairy farms but also offer a delicious treat for all Marylanders. He encouraged everyone to take the time to visit one of the twelve stops on the trail.

The 2024 Ice Cream Trail features twelve on-farm creameries across Maryland that produce and sell their ice cream directly to consumers. Stretching over 145 miles from Washington County to Kent County, the trail also aims to educate the public about dairy farming and highlight the important role played by Maryland's nearly 300 dairy farms. According to data from the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2023 Census of Agriculture, these farms produced over 101 million gallons of milk in 2022.

More on Marylandian
This year, participants in the Ice Cream Trail are called "Trailblazers" and are encouraged to snap a photo or selfie at each of the twelve participating creameries. These photos can then be submitted via email to icecream.trail1@maryland.gov once they have completed the trail. Participants are also encouraged to share their progress on social media by tagging Maryland's Best (@mdsbest, @mdsbestag) and each location they visit. Each week, a photo posted online and tagged will be selected as a winner for a limited edition ice cream cone squishy.

In addition to the ice cream trail, the Maryland Department of Agriculture has partnered with the Department of Natural Resources to identify nearby hiking trails at each of the creamery locations. Participants are encouraged to go on a hike before or after enjoying their ice cream treat. Those who post an additional photo of their hike and tag @MarylandDNR will receive a second entry each week to win the ice cream squishy. Details about these hikes can be found on Maryland's Best website.

Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz emphasized the importance of exploring Maryland's natural places while also enjoying farm-fresh ice cream. He stated that there are twelve hiking trails near the participating creameries for residents and visitors to experience.

More on Marylandian
The twelve on-farm creameries included in the 2024 Ice Cream Trail are Prigel Family Creamery (Baltimore County), Deliteful Dairy (Washington County), Happy Cow Creamery (Frederick County), Moo Cow Creamery (Frederick County), South Mountain Creamery (Frederick County), Rocky Point Creamery (Frederick County), Broom's Bloom Dairy (Harford County), Lockbriar Farms (Kent County), Keyes Creamery (Harford County), Woodbourne Creamery at Rock Hill Orchard (Montgomery County), Misty Meadow Farm Creamery (Washington County), and Chesapeake Bay Farms (Worcester County).

All completed email submissions for all twelve locations will receive a "2024 Maryland's Best Ice Cream Trailblazer" certificate, and one lucky winner will receive a $50 gift certificate to their choice of on-farm creamery, a copy of the children's book "Tales of the Dairy Godmother: Chuck's Ice Cream Wish," and the 2024 Maryland's Best Ice Cream Champion Trailblazer trophy. Participants who also complete all eleven hikes coordinated with the creameries will be entered to win an annual parks pass. More information about the trail and its prizes can be found on Maryland's Best website.

The 2024 season for the Maryland's Best Ice Cream Trail officially began on May 23 and will run through September 5. To learn more about the vital role of dairy farming in Maryland and the Northeast, visit americandairy.com.

Filed Under: Government, State

Show All News | Report Violation

0 Comments

Latest on Marylandian