Contact:  Alexis Henderson
Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation
410-222-7410

 

 

ANNAPOLIS, MD (June 2, 2010) - - - A Sunset River Cruise is planned to support a new agriculture program at Southern High School.   The cruise aboard the Richard Lee Tour Boat will depart West River Cruises at Discovery Village in Shady Side, MD at 6:30 pm on Thursday, June 10, 2010.   The public is invited to enjoy music, fine cuisine, and beautiful views of the West and Rhode Rivers while supporting agriculture education in Anne Arundel County.  All proceeds benefit the Southern High School Curriculum for Agricultural Science Education Program (CASE). Tickets are $65 and can be purchased by calling 410-222-7410 or by visiting the website www.aaedc.org/initiatives.

“Agriculture is an important part of the Anne Arundel County economy,” said Anne Arundel County Executive John R. Leopold.  “The educational program that will benefit from this event prepares students interested in agriculture with a full selection of career opportunities.”

“This is a great opportunity for the community to come together and help kick off a program that will provide direct benefit to students,” said Superintendent Kevin M. Maxwell. “More importantly, the students we educate through this program will become more well-rounded stewards of our environment who will help enhance the quality of life for us all in the years to come.”
 
The CASE program develops a structured sequence of courses and serves as a model for elevating rigor and relevance in agriculture education.  Students are provided the opportunity to explore careers such as animal production, biochemistry, nutrition, and plant science.  CASE is a special project of the National Council for Agriculture Education providing resources for curriculum development and course rollout. The courses include Supervised Agriculture Experience (SAE) and Life Knowledge as integral connections to enhance the future growth of the students.  The CASE program at Southern High School is supported by a financial contribution from the Anne Arundel County Farm Bureau and grants applied for by the Program Advisory Board.

 

The sunset river cruise is sponsored by Herrington on the Bay (Cuisine for the cruise), Bay Breeze (music), the Maryland Agricultural & Resource-Based Industry Development Corporation ($500), and the Anne Arundel County Fairgrounds ($100).  Anyone interested in sponsoring the river cruise to support this educational program should contact Lisa Barge, Agriculture Marketing and Development Manager, at the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation, 410-222-7410.
 
The CASE program at Southern High School is made possible by the cooperative efforts of a Program Advisory Board consisting of representatives from Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation, Anne Arundel County Board of Education, Anne Arundel County Farm Bureau, Anne Arundel County Government, Anne Arundel Soil Conservation District, Southern High School, College of Agriculture and Natural Resources, University of Maryland and University of Maryland Cooperative Extension, Maryland Agricultural Education Foundation, Maryland Department of Agriculture, Maryland State Board of Education, Homestead Gardens, and Greenstreet Growers.

 

The Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation manages and promotes agricultural and environmental programs on behalf of Anne Arundel County. These programs are part of the AAEDC mission to serve business needs and to increase the County’s economic base through job growth and investment. For additional information on agriculture programs or Farmers Markets’ in Anne Arundel County please contact Lisa Barge at the Anne Arundel Economic Development Corporation, (410) 222-7410 or visit the website at www.aaedc.org.