SNOW HILL, MD. An Heirloom Tomato Tasting will be held at Furnace Town on Sunday August 3 from 1 - 4 pm. Tomatoes in shades of yellow, red and combinations, with names like Azoychka, Bloody Butcher, Garden Peach, and Mortgage Lifter are being grown for this event popular with those who treasure the summer flavor of fresh-from-the-garden tomatoes.

The various tomato varieties will be lined up on picnic tables beneath the Pavilion, where the tasting of about a dozen varieties such as Mr. Stripey, Yellow Pear, Jaune Flammee, Black Krim and more will take place. Actual tomatoes featured will depend upon the weather. Staff and volunteers, including tomato growers Jeff and Melissa Bacon, will be busy cutting bitesize samples of each heirloom variety, placing the samples in individual cups, and placing them on the tasting table in front of the un-cut tomatoes. Information about growing tomatoes will be shared by Extension Educators Ginny Rosenkrantz and Laura Hunsberger, along with Master Gardeners.

The set-up will be similar to a wine tasting, and judging cards will be available for each taster. The tomatoes may be rated from 1 - 5 (5 being best) on initial taste, texture, after-taste and overall - with room for comments. Comments from the 2007 tasting included: tastes better than it looks, bland, more acidic than expected, nice, sweet taste, yummy, wonderful and ew! The 2007 winner was a tie between Hogs Heart and Brandywine, followed by German Queen, Big Rainbow and Mariannas Peace.

The Heirloom Tomato Tasting is included in daily site admission of $4.00 adults/$3.50 AAA or over 60/$2.00 age 2 - 18. All proceeds benefit Furnace Town’s educational programs. Call 410-632-2032 or visit www.furnacetown.com.

I don’t know what the farm fields look like in your neck of the woods, but every field to the south and east of Salisbury seems to be popping up with corn plants. My first thought is that this is not a good thing. While farmers are trying to take advantage of the higher prices for corn, this means that other crops are going to be in shorter supply due to a lack of cultivation. If the pattern is more widespread than just this part of Wicomico County, then corn prices will likely hit a plateau while other commodities continue to rise since they will be in more limited supply. And if the corn crop is hit with some form of natural disaster before it can be harvested, then all bets are off.

The 3rd Annual Mater Mania will take place on Sunday, August 19th from 3-6 p.m. at Cedar Hill Park in Bivalve, MD. Mater Mania is sponsored by the Lower Eastern Shore Sustainable Organic Network in partnership with Provident Organic Farm.

Mater maniacs can sample from a selection of tomatoes, salsa, sandwiches, and more. The event will be accented by live folk and blues music, kids’ activities, and a silent auction.

Mater Mania benefits the Medora Harvest Fund, a charitable effort that provides fresh organic vegetables to local families in need. Admission to the event is a suggested entry donation of $5 per adult. Admission for kids is free.

Directions: From highway 50, take Nanticoke Rd (Rt 349) about 16 miles to Bivalve. Cedar Hill Park is on the right.

The entries will be judged on Thursday morning, and then the fair will open at 4:00 for all to see the agricultural and creative offerings of the Wicomico Farm and Home Show 2007. Formerly known as the Wicomico County Fair, the Farm and Home Show will run through Saturday. Everything from arts and crafts to baked goods and vegetables will be on display inside the Carriage House at Winterplace Park on the east side of Salisbury. Outdoor activies will include the livestock show and live entertainment, as well as a car show scheduled for Saturday. Check the schedule of events and make your way out to the fair.

Today marks the beginning of the 2007 Worcester County Fair. Events are centered around Byrd Park in Snow Hill from 11:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, and from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. on Sunday. Admission to the fair is free. New events for the 2007 fair include a lawn tractor pull, vintage motorcycle day, and a horseshoe tournament. There will be exhibits and entertainment to satisfy fair visitors of all ages. Fair goers can take a river cruise on Miss Rai, as well as enjoy food, games and the requisite livestock displays.

SNOW HILL, MD. What do artists, artisans, musicians, crafters, food vendors and farm animals have in common with 10 sixteen-ton farm combines? All will be gathered in downtown Snow Hill between Market Street and the Pocomoke River to celebrate and honor Worcester County’s agricultural community on Saturday August 4, 2007 at the 9th Annual Blessing of the Combines.

Streets are decorated with corn and black eyed susans. Church bake sales are set up well before Noon and sidewalks and side streets fill with people enjoying children’s games, the Petting Barnyard, a straw maze, face painting and displays from area businesses and organizations. A Custom Car and Truck Show, along the Pocomoke River, is set up from 11 until 4. Just before 1:00, the crowd moves to line Washington Street to watch the approach of the Parade of Combines cross the bridge and move slowly to turn onto Green Street. Each combine takes its place, literally turning on a dime, to face the Speaker’s Platform on Pearl Street. At a signal from the placement director, regulars to this event cover their ears as a roaring “throttle thrust” ensues, followed by a complete and impressive silence.

Event master of ceremonies, Ron Brittingham, sees that the program of Presentation of Colors, singing of the national anthem, welcomes and recognitions moves smoothly toward the introduction of this year’s keynote speaker, local farmer and Maryland Secretary of Agriculture, Roger Richardson. Following his address, the Rev. Shirley Evans of Bowen/Trinity Methodist Churches will say a few words leading up to the real reason for being here: The Blessing of the Combines. Her “Amen” is echoed by the crowd, who fully realize the importance of agriculture for Snow Hill and for Worcester County.

From about 1:45 until 4:00 the focus is on chatting with combine drivers, visiting Artist’s Alley and Crafter’s Row, taking hayrides, watching or being part of the children’s tractor pull or the pie eating contest, seeing Scales and Tales, checking out various booths, patronizing local businesses, purchase the 2007 Combines T-Shirt and more. For most, it is also a time to enjoy great food: BBQ chicken and BBQ pork, burgers, fries, lemonade, sno-cones, water and sodas are available from local civic organizations. Throughout the afternoon, musicians including God’s Country Crossroads and Danny Jackson will be on stage.

By 4:00 the thinning crowd comes alive as the combines start their engines as they get ready to head for home. These drivers/owners spend hours cleaning and polishing their combines, which will soon be seen in the farm fields shelling corn and cutting beans. There is just time for visitors to head to John Walter Smith Park for the Antique Tractor Pull which begins at 4:30. For more information about this down-home family-friendly event, contact Becky Payne at 443-783-1715.