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NORTH EAST, MD:��As a steward for ��һ�Թ��� County’s agricultural industry, Ariel Balog is passionate about preserving the environment for today and future generations. According to the��U.S. Department of Agriculture, ��һ�Թ��� County has more than��81,040��acres of agricultural land, which equates to one-third of the entire size of the county’s 223,000 acres. It is this land that Ms. Balog works to protect through education, awareness, and support��as ��һ�Թ��� County’s Agriculture Industry Coordinator for the��Office of Economic Development.��

Ariel Balog graduated with a degree in General Studies from ��һ�Թ���. The diversity of courses this program afforded Ariel have certainly benefited her work. The agricultural industry in ��һ�Թ��� County is more than growing crops. ��һ�Թ��� County is home to large livestock and dairy producers, an equestrian industry, and food processing, all of which go hand-in-hand with the tourism aspect of boating and fishing.��

“Agri-businesses, like other businesses, are about relationships. My goal��as the Ag Industry Coordinator��is to generate connections between our farmers and ag businesses, creating a greater network of partnerships throughout the region.��Familiarity with our area and with the various community partners will be a huge asset in this endeavor, which is one way in which my time at ��һ�Թ��� College is an asset,” said Ms. Balog.

“Some students know what they want to do coming out of high school, but I didn’t, and that’s okay. ��һ�Թ��� College played a key role in helping me figure it out,” said Ms. Balog, the benefactor of a scholarship from the ��һ�Թ��� College Foundation

Ms. Balog was still searching for her career pathway when she fell into a job that would change her life. While working at a local perennial plant nursery, she developed her passion for working with the environment, which led to continuing her education at the University of Maryland Global Campus. Building upon her associate degree from ��һ�Թ��� College, she went on to earn a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Management.

“��һ�Թ��� College prepared me for UMGC. My associate degree fulfilled many of the prerequisites, enabling me to focus on my environmental��management��courses,” said Ms. Balog. “If I could talk to high school juniors and seniors, I would tell them that beginning their education��at ��һ�Թ��� College is a valuable yet affordable way to experience new things and garner the knowledge they need to jumpstart their careers.”��

Ms. Balog’s office organizes the annual Rooted in Our Community event,��which raises public awareness of the importance of agriculture and increases public understanding of modern agricultural production processes. ��һ�Թ��� College hosts the annual conference, which brings together members of��Future Farmers of America, regional farmers, political influencers, the public, and educators.