Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – Officials hope a new name, different activities, and several new vendors will help draw people out this weekend to the first trade show of the season in central Aroostook County. According to Janet Kelle, executive director of the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the yearly event, the 28th annual Business & Agri Trade Fair will kick off Friday night at The Forum in Presque Isle.
Formerly the Agri-Business Trade Fair, Kelle said the name of the trade show was changed to better reflect the flavor of the fair.
“The reason for the change was there are so few farmers in the area now that the focus has been more on other businesses,” said Kelle. “It’s moved away from the harvesters and windrowers to more organic farming and other types of businesses attending.
“We still want to keep the potato farming aspect there,” she said. “We just want people to know the trade fair is more diverse than it once was. We have a variety of businesses that will be participating.”
From automobiles to alpacas, overhead doors to well drilling, this year’s trade fair has something for everyone.
“We have a lot of new vendors,” said Kelle, “along with our familiar exhibitors. Some of the new vendors are new businesses to the area, and ones that specialize in alternative energy and organic farming.
“Some of the vendors will have their product for sale,” she said. “It’s not just displaying their merchandise.”
The Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce will have a booth highlighting the events planned for the town’s sesquicentennial.
“We’ll have information about the Maine Potato Blossom, County Bluegrass Festival, and the County Gospel Festival,” Kelle said, noting that organizers are trying some new things this year. “Pyro Championship Wrestling will be on hand, and we’ll be having a weekend-long 50-50 raffle. It will start Friday night and the winner will be drawn Sunday before the end of the show. You do not need to be present to win.”
Pyro Championship Wrestling will hold exhibition matches Friday and Sunday, and a full show at 6 p.m. Saturday.
“We’re also going to have tickets on sale to all of our events that we’re going to be having,” said Kelle, “so it will be a good opportunity for people to pick up advanced tickets at discounted prices for the Bluegrass and Gospel festivals, Marko the Magician, Gary Crocker and the Don Campbell Band.”
The Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce will also be selling raffle tickets for a golf cart.
The 28th annual Business & Agri Trade Fair will be held from 4-9 p.m. Friday, March 28; 10 a.m.-9 p.m. Saturday, March 29; and 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Sunday, March 30 at The Forum in Presque Isle.
Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children 10 and under. Anyone who brings one non-perishable food item for the Friends Helping Friends food pantry in Fort Fairfield will receive $1 off their admission price. Tickets are available at the door.
McCain Foods has once again donated french fries to the chamber, which will be on sale at The Forum.
A list of vendors can be seen on the chamber’s Web site, www.fortcc.org.
