To highlight the farming industry, O'Malley ate lunch with local farmers and elected officials at the Walters Farm near Hughesville. The event celebrated the "Buy Local Challenge," which was a week-long effort to encourage people to purchase produce and other food items from local farmers.

[...]

Cooper said later in the day that he was impressed that O'Malley dined with farmers.

"I was thinking, how many governors have you ever heard of who would humble themselves to go into a barn and have lunch?" Cooper said. "That's the kind of governor he is."

O'Malley responded: "I don't know how humble I am, but I was hungry, and it was good."

The Walters barn is where former Republican governor Robert L. Ehrlich Jr. held a campaign rally in the fall, during his election contest with O'Malley. Surrounded by stacks of hay, pumpkins, ears of corn and blue campaign signs at that event, Ehrlich picked up the endorsement of the Maryland Farm Bureau.

When asked about the coincidence, O'Malley's aides said it was just that — a coincidence.