Staff photo by PAUL S. WARNER Port Tobacco residents Deb Engle, left, and Courtney Laigle compete in a cornhole tournament as part of the Southern Maryland Hoedown at Serenity Farm in Benedict on Sept. 29. Deb and Bryant Engle won the match against Laigle and Curt Aspelin, also of Port Tobacco. The event also boasted cow pir bingo, police dog demonstrations, live music and vehicles from Benedict Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Squad and Mechanicsville Volunteer Rescue Squad. The event raised funds for CancerCare, a national organization that supports cancer patients and their families while they go through treatments.

Staff photo by PAUL S. WARNER Cpl. J. Freeman of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office leads police dog Brix through an obstacle course set up at the Southern Maryland Hoedown at Serenity Farm in Benedict. Freeman also demonstrated Brix’s searching skills by throwing “evidence” into the field for him to find. Sgt. R. Nasatka, who wore a protective arm cover for the chasing demonstration, acted as the “bad guy” who Brix chased down. Later, Nasatka returned the favor, having Erno, another police dog chase down Freeman. Funds from the event went toward CancerCare, a national organization that supports cancer patients and their families.