Produce and livestock, along with a wide variety of arts and crafts, will be the focus of the St. Thomas-St. John Agriculture and Food Fair, scheduled for 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., on Saturday, Nov. 3, and Sunday, Nov. 4. The fair takes place on the grounds of UVI’s Reichhold Center for the Arts on St. Thomas. This year’s theme is “Agriculture: Key to Improving Our Economy.”
The opening ceremony of the fair, set for 2 p.m. on Saturday, will be emceed by UVI alumnus and local radio personality Rashidi Clenance. V.I. Department of Agriculture Commissioner Dr. Louis Petersen Jr. and UVI President Dr. David Hall will also make remarks during the ceremony.
The UVI Cooperative Extension Service 4-H Program will conduct a food drive on both days. Attendees are encouraged to bring canned and dried food items to contribute. Food collected will be donated to Catholic Charities and the Salvation Army.
Along with the usual delights of fresh produce, plants, and arts and crafts, food will be on sale. This year will feature a demonstration of the “Quick Tank” Aquaculture Systems, developed at UVI, that grow tilapia fish while producing plants. Contestants are still being sought for the best tasting maubi and ital competitions. For the first time, a coal pot lighting contest is planned. It will present entertaining cultural and historical perspective, while in other competition young people will be invited to show their prowess at current technology in a texting contest.
Informational displays on container gardening, composting workshops and tree grafting demonstrations are also planned. A livestock area – always a big hit with young and old alike – will feature some of the territory’s prized and unique animals.
Entertainment will include music by DJ Ubba and Ah We Band, with dancing by the St. Thomas Heritage Dancers. Children’s games will be held daily from 12:30-5 p.m.
Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children under 12 years.
The fair is sponsored by the UVI Cooperative Extension Service (CES) and the V.I. Department of Agriculture, with support from Fintrac.
For more information, contact the CES office at 693-1080. Connect online via the UVICES Facebook page – just search Facebook for UVICES. For the latest updates, join the 2012 Ag and Food Fair Facebook event from the UVICES page.
