Delaware News

Governor’s Weekly Message Transcript: Celebrating the Delaware State Fair

Former Governor Jack Markell (2009-2017) | News | Date Posted: Friday, July 29, 2016



This week, for the final time as Governor I had the opportunity to attend our Delaware State Fair which for nearly a century has celebrated our vibrant agriculture community. It’s our state’s largest industry and, anchored by our 2,400 family farms, it generates tens of thousands of jobs and contributes 8 billion dollars to our economy. Our farmers lead the nation in the value of products produced per acre and their impact continues to grow. That success is on full display at the State Fair through thousands of exhibits, demonstrations, student agricultural projects and much more. They show that Delawareans of all ages are developing products, growing crops, and raising poultry and livestock that’s strengthening our food supply and making our lives better.

At this year’s Fair I visited with the next generation of farming families who, with the help of our Young Farmers Program, are able to purchase the homesteads that they’ll farm for years to come. Each one is enrolled in our farmland preservation program which this week celebrates its 20th anniversary. Thanks to the strong support of our agriculture community, we’ve leveraged this program to permanently preserve 120,000 acres for future generations of farming families.

I think the 300,000 visitors who come each year to take in the many sights and sounds, indulge in culinary favorites, and enjoy wholesome family entertainment will agree that the Delaware State Fair is among the best in the country. I am honored to pay tribute to the many dedicated staff and volunteers, 4-H and FFA students, and farming families who make the State Fair possible and who help us better appreciate the important role that agriculture plays here in Delaware. Their contributions drive our success today and will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come. And that will keep Delaware moving forward.

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Governor’s Weekly Message Transcript: Celebrating the Delaware State Fair

Former Governor Jack Markell (2009-2017) | News | Date Posted: Friday, July 29, 2016



This week, for the final time as Governor I had the opportunity to attend our Delaware State Fair which for nearly a century has celebrated our vibrant agriculture community. It’s our state’s largest industry and, anchored by our 2,400 family farms, it generates tens of thousands of jobs and contributes 8 billion dollars to our economy. Our farmers lead the nation in the value of products produced per acre and their impact continues to grow. That success is on full display at the State Fair through thousands of exhibits, demonstrations, student agricultural projects and much more. They show that Delawareans of all ages are developing products, growing crops, and raising poultry and livestock that’s strengthening our food supply and making our lives better.

At this year’s Fair I visited with the next generation of farming families who, with the help of our Young Farmers Program, are able to purchase the homesteads that they’ll farm for years to come. Each one is enrolled in our farmland preservation program which this week celebrates its 20th anniversary. Thanks to the strong support of our agriculture community, we’ve leveraged this program to permanently preserve 120,000 acres for future generations of farming families.

I think the 300,000 visitors who come each year to take in the many sights and sounds, indulge in culinary favorites, and enjoy wholesome family entertainment will agree that the Delaware State Fair is among the best in the country. I am honored to pay tribute to the many dedicated staff and volunteers, 4-H and FFA students, and farming families who make the State Fair possible and who help us better appreciate the important role that agriculture plays here in Delaware. Their contributions drive our success today and will leave a lasting legacy for generations to come. And that will keep Delaware moving forward.

image_printPrint


Graphic that represents delaware news on a mobile phone

Keep up to date by receiving a daily digest email, around noon, of current news release posts from state agencies on news.delaware.gov.

Here you can subscribe to future news updates.