2024 Maryland Day and Ag Day Show on the Campus Farm

April 27 was a cool and rainy Maryland Day that brought tens of thousands of raincoat clad and umbrella wielding visitors and alumni to campus to enjoy hundreds of booths with UMD swag, activities and events, such as “Arts for All” participatory mural painting, foam turtle 'fishing’ in the Omicron Delta Kappa Fountain on McKeldin Mall, and the Animal Sciences student livestock show competition, horse riding exhibition, and other activities on the Campus Farm.

Maryland Day has its roots in the College of Agriculture and Natural Resources’ Agricultural Day, or Ag Day for short, an event that was first held 99 years ago in 1925, and will celebrate its century mark next year at Maryland Day, so pencil in Saturday, April 26, 2025.

The 2024 livestock show began with two classes of swine, followed by three of sheep, and four of dairy, but the 38 student participants first started working with their animals early in the semester. Each show person clocked hours of training with their animals, learning how to properly walk, stand, and present them to the show judges. Additional tasks like how to wash, groom, and care for the animals added to the bonds formed with their partner in the ring.

This year’s Grand Champion was Raven Herron, who jumped at the opportunity to take part in the show, saying, “When I got to the University of Maryland and learned about Ag Day, I was so excited to participate in any way possible.” Before college, Herron had been part of 4-H and FFA livestock shows where she had shown beef cattle. She was excited to take a step into a different industry and try dairy. “I am so grateful I did; the personalities of the heifers are something I will never forget, and I am so happy I got to build a bond with my heifer, Fauna.”

“The beef industry and the dairy industry are very different. There are so many small industry-specific differences that were so fun to learn,” Herron explained. “Dairy heifers have a sweeter and more forgiving personality. They truly do love you once they can trust you, and it was so nice working with an animal who is so happy to be there.” Before being named Grand Champion, Raven Herron was awarded Dairy Champion, along with the other species award winners: Ashlynn Kidwell as Swine Champion, and Carly Pierson as Sheep Champion. 

The work put in by the student participants resulted in a unique learning experience for them and an excellent Ag Day Show for the crowd in the stands. Full results from the show are below.  Following the student livestock show, a class of alumni showed dairy with Cheyenne Van Echo, Class of 2024, awarded Alumni Champion.

The Chad Dulin Clark Memorial Herdsmanship Award, presented during Maryland Day to a student who best embodies the following qualities: leadership, willingness to help, positive and inspiring attitude, and going above and beyond, was awarded this year to Olivia Scuderi.  

As for students who may consider participating as a show person next year, Raven Herron had this advice, “Do it! No matter your background, you have something to learn. The community of showmen is so supportive, and it is something you will be able to look back on and be proud of trying something new or working on something old!”

Ag Day Show Results:

Grand Champion: Raven Herron