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

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ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 7, 2024) ~ The Maryland Department of Agriculture's Maryland's Best program has officially launched the 2024 Maryland's Best Ice Cream Trail, featuring new additions and exciting prizes for participants. This year marks the twelfth year of the trail, which aims to promote the state's dairy industry and has gained popularity among residents and visitors alike.

At a recent event held at Prigel Family Creamery in Baltimore County, Maryland Department of Agriculture Secretary Kevin Atticks expressed his enthusiasm for the trail, stating, "We are excited to bring back the ice cream trail this year. On-farm creameries not only allow dairy farms to be more profitable, but also offer delicious treats for all to enjoy. We encourage all Marylanders 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 invites participants to learn more about dairy farming and the significant contributions of Maryland's nearly 300 dairy farms. According to the U.S. Department of Agriculture's 2023 Census of Agriculture, these farms produced over 101 million gallons of milk in 2022.

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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 upon completion of 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 enjoying delicious ice cream, participants can also take advantage of nearby hiking trails at each of the creamery locations. The Maryland Department of Agriculture has partnered with the Department of Natural Resources to encourage participants to get out and explore the state's natural beauty before or after their ice cream treat. By posting an additional photo of their hike and tagging @MarylandDNR, participants will receive a second entry each week to win the ice cream squishy. Details on the hikes can be found on Maryland's Best website.

Department of Natural Resources Secretary Josh Kurtz shared his excitement for this partnership, stating, "One of the best ways to enjoy ice cream is to earn it by completing a hike through one of Maryland's state parks or forests. That's why we've identified a dozen hiking trails near these great-tasting creameries so residents and visitors can experience Maryland's beautiful natural places before enjoying farm-fresh ice cream. So get out there and explore the state while also trying each one of these Maryland creameries."

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The 2024 Ice Cream Trail includes twelve on-farm creameries: 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 can be found on Maryland's Best website.

The 2024 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. Don't miss out on this delicious and educational experience!

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