The gates opened at 9 a.m. Saturday and by 10 a.m. the roads and walkways were teeming with couples, families and groups of young people looking for food, culture and fun at the 56th Agriculture and Food Fair of the U.S. Virgin Islands, simply known as Agrifest.
A little after 10 a.m., government officials and community leaders gathered to recognize the trailblazers and pioneers of the farming community – those who make the annual Ag Fair one of the most popular events in the Caribbean.
The two most coveted awards are Crop and Livestock Farmers of the Year. The winners’ names are closely guarded until the Saturday announcement by the Agriculture Department.
This year, Reuben Liburd was doubly recognized. He was named the 2017 Crop Farmer of the Year and the fairground was renamed in his honor.
Six years ago, Liburd leased two acres of land from the Department of Agriculture and took training courses at the University of the Virgin Islands, according to Assistant Ag Commissioner Errol Chichester. Liburd sells peppers, eggplant, beans, collard greens, sweet potatoes, carrots, beets and other produce at the Saturday Farmers’ Market at Estate La Reine. He has participated in the Agrifest farmers’ market for the last five years, the annual Farmer Chef Market day and National Farmers’ Market Day.
Liburd thanked the Ag Department and his customers, even those who call at 10 p.m. with produce requests.
The Livestock Farmer of the Year is Vernon Ezekiel Herbert, who raises “beautiful goats and beautiful sheep,” he said. He thanked those responsible at the Department of Agriculture for the “most prestigious award,” and others, including the governor, his family and his landlord.
Each year, the Rudolph Schulterbrandt Fairgrounds complex, the farmers’ market and the food and livestock pavilions are renamed in honor of individuals and families who are known and respected for their food and/or farming.
The fairgrounds complex will be known for three days as the Janice “Auntie Janice” Tutein Fairgrounds in honor of the local educator, storyteller and cook.
“She continues to preserve the culture and teach children about the culture of the Virgin Islands,” said Kofi Boateng, executive vice president of the Agrifest board of directors, in introduction.
The livestock pavilion was retitled for Charlie and Anna Schuster, livestock and dairy farmers who helped develop the Senapol cattle breed and organize the first Ag Fair, as it is often called, in 1961. Both are deceased and a plaque was presented to their son, Robert Schuster.
Rita Chiverton’s name will grace the food pavilion in honor of her long time participation in the Agriculture and Food Fair and numerous first-place prizes for cooking.
The families of Veronica Gordon and Pentti Taivainen were presented with plaques honoring the two posthumously for their contributions to furthering the use and knowledge of local produce and plants. Gordon, known as “Bush Woman,” promoted the use of black wattle, baobab, coco plum, maubi bark and calabash trees. Taivainen operated a farm in Estate Glynn for more than 34 year and was well known for a wide variety of tomatoes.
Youth also were recognized. Students from Ricardo Richards Elementary School, John Woodson Junior High, Good Hope Country Day School, the Boys and Girls Club and the welding class from the St. Croix Educational Complex were commended by Sarah Smith of the Agriculture Department. Richards Elementary won the overall sweepstakes in a “job well done,” Smith said.
Unexpected recognition was given to the young man who played the National Anthem and V.I. March on steel pan. University of the Virgin Islands President David Hall, while welcoming the crowd, commended Kevin Williams, Jr., a ninth grader at the St. Croix Educational Complex, and offered him a scholarship.
“We want you at UVI and I’m offering you a full scholarship. You are our future and our present,” Hall said.
Later, it was announced that both Williams’s parents graduated from UVI.
Other speakers who greeted fairgoers included Delegate to Congress Stacey Plaskett, Senate President Myron Jackson, Lt. Gov. Osbert Potter and Gov. Kenneth E. Mapp.
Mapp pointed out that $1 million of government funding has been set aside for such agriculture improvements as machinery, equipment and seeds. He commended the Education Department for the Farm-to-Table school lunch program and said 5,400 pumpkins and 13,000 watermelons had been grown by local farmers and sold to the DOE to feed school children. He praised Arthur Richards Junior High for its chicken farm that sells 30 dozen eggs a week. The goal is to have gardens in every junior high in the near future, he added.
The fair continues Sunday and Monday with cooking demonstrations, food, music, fresh produce and a farm animal display. Food and other vendors will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Sunday’s entertainment includes the Rising Stars Steel Orchestra and the Guardians of Culture Moko Jumbies. For Reggae Monday, Fyah Train and Pressure Busspipe will be featured as well as the steel orchestras from St. Patrick’s School and Ebenezer Methodist Church.
Entry fees are $6 a day for adults, $4 for seniors and $3 for children.