Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – The 28th annual Business & Agri Trade Fair, sponsored by the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, not only gave people a break from cabin fever last weekend, but also gave vendors an opportunity to make some sales.
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
ARIEANN DAVENPORT, 6, of Caribou “test drives” this snowmobile at Plourde & Plourde, Inc.’s booth Saturday at the 28th annual Business & Agri Trade Fair held at The Forum in Presque Isle. The event is sponsored by the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce.
According to Janet Kelle, executive director of the chamber, the exhibitors all seemed pleased with the show.
“Numbers were consistent with past years … attendance was good,” she said, “and everything seemed to run smoothly. There were a few minor glitches here and there as with anything, but I was pretty pleased with how well things went.”
The chamber circulated evaluation forms to all exhibitors at The Forum and Kelle is starting to get some back.
“The response is good,” she said. “Vendors want us to take a look at the hours of the show, and maybe getting some different types of entertainment and vendors.
“Once we get all the evaluations back and get the numbers crunched,” said Kelle, “we’ll take a look and see what worked and what didn’t.”
This year’s trade fair featured grapplers from Pyro Championship Wrestling, which held exhibition matches Friday and Sunday, and a full show Saturday.
“They drew a good crowd,” Kelle said, noting that over 200 people attended Saturday night’s show. “It’s not for everybody and it was a little loud. We’ve tried to keep an open mind and think outside of the box. The guys who are involved in the wrestling do a lot of charity work and community service, and we wanted to help promote that.
“Our goal is to promote business and agriculture by bringing as many people as we can through the doors and give the exhibitors the best exposure for their products and services as possible,” she said. “To be successful you need to evolve with the changing environment and have new ideas.”
With more than 50 vendors exhibiting, Kelle said foot traffic was steady all weekend.
“We had a lot of new exhibitors and from what I’ve heard from them, business was phenomenal,” she said. “I talked to the guys at Jordan Equipment, for example, and they had a great weekend. Representatives from Bruce’s Tractor Sales have already told me they’re coming next year and want the same spot.”
Recognizing that the number of agricultural exhibitors is waning, Kelle said she will continue to encourage more to participate next year.
“This is an ag show and we want it to continue to be an ag show,” she said, “but we’re trying to evolve with the changing look of agriculture. Next year we hope to include more equipment dealers and exhibitors of interest to ‘gentlemen farmers’ who have acreage and run their own property.
“We’re also going to continue to encourage the local agri businesses and industry representatives to participate, as well,” said Kelle.
Kelle said this year’s Business & Agri Trade Fair would not have been possible without the help and dedication of numerous volunteers and exhibitors.
“I’d like to thank the volunteers who helped man the chamber booth and put on the event,” she said, “as well as thank the exhibitors and community members who came to the show.
“We are already working on next year’s trade fair,” said Kelle. “If people have suggestions or would like to help plan it, we’d like them to get involved. I welcome peoples’ participation.”
Staff photo/Scott Mitchell Johnson
The Maine Antique Tractor Club was one of the many exhibitors at this year’s 28th annual Business & Agri Trade Fair. Officials said they were pleased with not only the attendance, but also the variety of products and services displayed at the show. According to fair officials, the attendance numbers were consistent with past years and the weekend went smoothly. “This is an ag show and we want it to continue to be an ag show,” said Janet Kelle director of the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, sponsor of the fair. “But we’re trying to evolve with the changing look of agriculture.”
Contributed photo
Accepting the Best in Show Award at the annual Business & Agri Trade Fair was Tri-Community Landfill. Shown are, from left: Junior Miss Fort Fairfield Aleeshia Campbell, Sharon Raymond and Mark Draper from Tri-Community, and Janet Kelle, executive director of the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, which sponsors the trade fair. More than 50 exhibitors were at the fair, which was held at the Forum in Presque Isle. Kelle said that work has already started on next year’s trade fair and she urged more participation from county residents and businesses.
