Agri-Business Trade Fair returning to its roots
By Scott Mitchell Johnson
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE — Just as Aroostook County potato farmers hope each year will bring a bumper crop, organizers of this weekend’s Agri-Business Trade Fair are optimistic that format changes will lead to a high yield of spectators and positive feedback.
The 32nd annual Agri-Business Trade Fair will be held March 24-25 at The Forum in Presque Isle.
“Last year there was a lot of question as to the relevance of the trade fair being an agricultural-related event,” said Michael Bosse, executive director of the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce, which hosts the event. “So we felt that we needed to bring it back around to its roots. Originally that’s what the Agri-Business Trade Fair was … it’s how it got its name. It showcased products and services as it related to the farming industry, so we felt that it was necessary to bring it back to its roots … and it worked.
“The Forum will be full. Last year we were hovering around 75 percent capacity; this year we’re 100 percent full,” he said, “with over 60 exhibitors expected to attend.”
Bosse said he’s excited to have some returning exhibitors this year.
“We’re real happy to see that Crown Equipment is joining us again; they’ve stuck with us over the years,” he said, “and as an added bonus, Theriault Equipment is returning. Spudnik is coming back, as is Matheson Valley Gas Products. Other returning featured displayers include Freightliner and Lynox, Inc.”
Other vendors participating will include Collegiate Entrepreneurs, Dead River, Edward Jones, Gary’s Upholstery, Maine Association of Agricultural Fairs, Maine Potato Growers, Maine Public Service, VIP and more.
Bosse said this year’s trade fair will have more of an educational component than previous years.
“We’ve partnered with the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, and they’re going to have a spray certification seminar for farmers. The seminar will be held Sunday from 9:15 a.m.-12:15 p.m. and then there’s a test,” said Bosse. “If you’re going to be a farm worker, you need to receive a safety certification, and we’ll be offering that throughout Saturday, as well as other classes.
“The biggest change is having seminars and demonstrations,” he said. “We’re going with more of an educational side. We’ve got Theriault Equipment doing a farm technology seminar, Maine Public Service is going to do a heat pump seminar, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension will hold canning demonstrations, and an area 4-H Club will hold both rabbit and dog demonstrations.”
Trade fair goers will also be able to sample wares offered by many vendors, not to mention the very popular french fries offered by the Chamber and provided by McCain Foods.
“We’re really hoping people will come out for this year’s fair and see that it is a worthwhile event,” said Bosse. “We’ve hovered right around 3,500 in attendance and we’d like to boost that up and get over 4,000. That would be really great.
“Everybody looks to the Agri-Business Trade Fair as the beginning of spring,” he said. “When you hear it being advertised and you know that it’s going on, you know that summer is right around the corner.”
The Agri-Business Trade Fair will be held from 9 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Sunday. Admission is $3 for adults and $1 for children under 12.
For more information, contact Bosse at 472-3802 or log onto www.fortcc.org.
