CENTREVILLE — Monday evening, Aug. 12, as part of the Queen Anne’s County 4-H Fair opening ceremonies, held annually at the 4-H Park in Centreville, lifelong Queen Anne’s resident, and past Farm Bureau President Michael Cohey Sr. was recognized and honored to have this year’s fair dedicated to him. This year is the 82nd annual Queen Anne’s County Fair, which began in 1942, and is ranked as one of the top county fairs in the state of Maryland, running six-days, Monday through Saturday evening.
Born and raised on the family farm, just north of Church Hill, Cohey, was presented a plaque by Queen Anne’s County Fair Chair Laura Leager, recognizing his lifetime of service to the agricultural community.
Cohey attended and graduated from the former Charlotte Hall Military Academy (on a senatorial scholarship) in St. Mary’s County before attending Chesapeake College as a general studies major for two years. Afterward, he farmed with his father, and on his own, first as a dairy farmer, and later transitioning completely to grain farming.
Later, he took a long-time job with Pioneer Hybrid Seed Company where he served as a salesman until retiring two years ago, at the age of 70. He’s still an active farmer.
Cohey has served as past president of the Queen Anne’s County Farm Bureau.
In 1992, the Cohey family lost their only son, the late Michael Cohey Jr. at the age of 9. Michael Jr. contracted a rare form of childhood cancer. Before the cancer, Michael Jr. would attend the fair with his father, as they manned the Pioneer Seed booth. From his youngest age, Michael Jr. learned to love the fair and made many friends there. He developed a love for rabbits and had hoped to show rabbits when he became a full-fledged 4-H member when he turned 8 years old.
The cancer prevented Michael Jr. from achieving that dream.
Since his death, his father has sponsored two annual 4-H youth awards: sponsoring the rabbit bred and owned class at the county fair and the annual Michael Cohey Jr. Memorial Award to the Clover (under 8 years old) 4-H child who writes the most outstanding 4-H personal experience story each year. Those awards have been presented for 30-plus years to more than 60 children involved in 4-H.
Had Michael Jr. survived the cancer, he would now be 41-years old.
Two-years ago, the father purchased the new rabbit shed that stores all of the supplies and equipment that the county fair rabbit show needs to operate.
The honor of the fair being dedicated to individuals began in 1976 and has been awarded to more than 40 people from the county and many local organizations that have contributed substantially to the farming and welfare of the community. in general. Cohey said, “I am very, very honored to receive this recognition.”
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