Upcoming Agri-Business Trade Fair celebrates 30th anniversary

By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
    PRESQUE ISLE – The Agri-Business Trade Fair, sponsored by the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, will celebrate its 30th anniversary next month.     Scheduled for March 26-28 at The Forum in Presque Isle, Janet Kelle, executive director of the chamber, said the event will once again focus strongly on agriculture.
    “We’re continuing to promote the importance of agriculture in our community,” she said. “We’re going to be offering demonstrations and talks again. The discussions were new last year. We were looking for something new to bring to the show … something that would interest all types of people and to let people know that agriculture is more than just potato farming.
    “We’ll have someone talking about the Farm Worker Jobs Program, the Northern Maine Antique Tractor Club will be holding a variety of different demonstrations, plus we’ll have a welding and plasma cutting demonstration,” said Kelle. “We’re still finalizing the schedule, but there will be a lot of interesting topics covered.”
    Each year the fair features in excess of 60 exhibitors providing a wide spectrum of agricultural and business-related displays.
    “Booth space is filling up fast,” said Kelle, “so anyone interested in reserving a spot should contact the chamber.”
    Kelle is in the process of putting together a commemorative booklet celebrating the 30th anniversary of the trade fair.
    “As part of being in the show, all of the exhibitors will be able to provide an advertisement in the booklet, which will feature a little history on the show and some old photos,” she said. “All attendees will receive a copy of this special commemorative booklet.”
    Area queens will be on hand for a special event for children that is still in the planning phase, and McCain Foods has once again donated french fries to the chamber, which will be on sale at The Forum.
    Kelle said this year’s trade fair will see slightly different hours on the final day.
    “The hours used to be 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Sunday,” she said, “but we changed it to noon-4 p.m. this year to allow vendors and attendees to go to church.
    “The Fort Fairfield Community Market has grown and will be on hand again,” said Kelle, “and we’re looking forward to another good show. Hopefully people who have been experiencing cabin fever will come visit this year’s fair.”
    The Agri-Business Trade Fair will be held from 4-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, and noon-4 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children under 12. Anyone who brings a non-perishable food item for the Friends Helping Friends Food Pantry will receive a $1 off their admission.
    For more information, contact Kelle at 472-3802 or log onto www.fortcc.org.