Holiday gifts, native fruits and children's
games top the list of attractions offered to the public as the 27th
St. Thomas-St. John Agriculture and Food Fair celebrates the season
on Dec. 5 and 6.
Promoters are also inviting the public to take a look inside the
lives of bees at a special exhibit being set up on the fair
grounds.
The fair takes place on the grounds of the Reichhold Center for the
Arts, on the UVI St. Thomas campus each day from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Opening ceremonies are scheduled to begin Saturday at 2 p.m.,
featuring the presentation of awards to this year's Crop Farmer of
the Year and Livestock Farmer of the Year.
This year's event is jointly sponsored by the UVI Cooperative
Extension Service, the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture,
Fintrac, and the St. Thomas-St. John Agriculture and Food Fair
Committee.
The theme for the agriculture fair is "Fresh Start, Grow Smart."
Dale Morton, public relations officer for the committee says the
theme was chosen to reflect the need for farmers to organize and
modernize in order to increase profitability. "In order to be a
successful farmer, you need a plan," he says.
A poster depicting the theme was created by Randall Hartman. It
features a farmer in overalls and a colorful hat beaming as he
strikes a pose atop a pile of money bags.
Morton said it's hard to predict how many residents and visitors
will make the upcoming ag fair part of their weekend plans. Because
fair goers do not pass through a gate or pay admission, they're
hard to count, he says. One good measure is the disappearance of
potted plants, the most popular item sold each year.
"People start coming through from 7:30, 8 a.m., although it
officially opens at 10 a.m., he says. "Some people who normally go
to market on Saturdays come down to pick up plants." Other
early-day fair goers appear in search of native fruits to take home
or enjoy on the spot.
Nine arts and crafts vendors and 25 food vendors are expected to
take part, although Morton says some vendors may display on either
Saturday, Dec. 5 or Sunday, Dec. 6. Others are expected to greet
the public throughout the two-day event.
Judges will have a chance to choose the best dishes in four
separate contests. Cash prizes will be awarded for the best ital,
the best sweet bread, the best maubi and the best dumb bread. Those
who want to compete have until Thursday to sign up. Call Mary
Bertie at the Department of Agriculture at 774-5182 for further
information.
A number of demonstrations are also scheduled for Saturday. There
will be juice making with Elridge Thomas, a grafting demonstration,
and a cross sectional display of an active bee hive.
"You can actually see how the bees behave inside their hive,"
Morton says.
Around 3 p.m. on Saturday, livestock farmer Lionel Boschulte is
scheduled to give a demonstration of goat and sheep herding.
Organizers are also planning to stage a series of traditional games
for children, including sack races, musical chairs and a spoon and
lime race. Adults will have a chance to join in on the fun.
There will also be educational displays put on by the Department of
Agriculture, the Virgin Islands National Guard, the VI Energy
Office, the Department of Health, the Department of Planning and
Natural Resources, the UVI Cooperative Extension Service and Kwanza
365, Inc.
An exhibit will also be presented by a new student group, the UVI
Council for Exceptional Children, promoting the inclusion of
children with special needs.
The entertainment line-up for Saturday and Sunday features the St.
Thomas Heritage Dancers, the Addelita Cancryn Junior High School
Quadrille Dancers and St. John's Ah We Band, jamming live music
until the end of the day.
On Sunday, the Heritage dancers are expected to entertain the
crowds. Fruit tree enthusiasts can still look in on the grafting
demonstration. The bee hive display will remain open to the public
and children can continue to have fun with traditional games.
For further information, contact Dale Morton at UVI's Cooperative
Extension Service, 340) 693-1086 or e-mail dmorton@uvi.edu.
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