Agri-Business Trade Fair marks 30th anniversary
KEITH BOULIER, left, president of the Northern Maine Antique Tractor Club, and Sterling Haynes chatted at last year’s Agri-Business Trade Fair while looking at a Cummings seed cutter they had on display. The antique tractor club will be on hand again at this year’s 30th annual Agri-Business Trade Fair to be held March 26-28 at The Forum in Presque Isle.
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – The 30th annual Agri-Business Trade Fair – hosted by the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce – is this weekend and organizers are celebrating by offering more informational, fun events.
“We have over 60 exhibitors including some new ones such as Roger’s Sports Center in Fort Kent which will be showcasing Bobcat tractors,” said Janet Kelle, executive director of the chamber. “We’re excited about the new participants joining us.
“Last year we provided a number of demonstrations as a way to add something new and interesting to the show,” she said. “We wanted to make it more interactive and interesting for people … instead of just walking around and looking at vendors. It went over so well last year that we’re offering demonstrations again this year.”
The schedule for demonstrations is as follows:
Friday, March 26
6 p.m. Canning for Today (Lisa Fishman, University of Maine Cooperative Extension)
Saturday, March 27
Noon Dog Obedience Training (Hay Balers 4-H Club)
12:30 p.m. Rabbit Demonstration (Hay Balers 4-H Club)
1 p.m. Fun with Whole Wheat Tortillas (Mainely Grains)
2 p.m. Children’s Queen’s Tea (Maine Potato Blossom and Fort Fairfield queens)
3 p.m. Power of the Wind (Hay Balers 4-H Club. Sponsored by Horizon Wind Energy)
4:30 p.m. Steve Boody with his viola
6 p.m. Fun with Whole Wheat Tortillas (Mainely Grains)
Sunday, March 28
2 p.m. Children’s Queen’s Tea (Maine Potato Blossom and Fort Fairfield queens)
3 p.m. Fun with Whole Wheat Tortillas (Mainely Grains)
Ongoing demonstrations throughout the weekend will include plasma cutting from large machine pieces to small crafts at the Advantage Gases & Tools booth, basket making with the Swartzentruber family and jump rope making with Kate Albert, both with the Fort Fairfield Community Market, and potato picking contests for young and old, and old-time barrel truck with hoist barrels presented by the Northern Maine Antique Tractor Club.
Trade fair attendees will also receive a free commemorative booklet celebrating the 30th anniversary of the show.
Among those exhibiting at the trade fair include Hay Balers 4-H Club, Advantage Gases & Tools, Amity Professional Services, Aroostook Agri-Women, Aroostook Teen Leadership, Blvd Graphix, Caribou Project Graduation, Center Farms COAL, Channel X Radio, County Federal Credit Union, Cushman’s Embroidery/Pampered Chef, Day & Night Landscaping, Eastern Maine Development Corp., Efficiency Maine Business Program, Farm Service Agency, Feed Depot, Fort Fairfield Class of 2010, Fort Fairfield Historical Society, Fort Fairfield Lion’s Club, Freightliner of Maine, Gagnon’s Auto, Gary’s Yamaha, and Gene’s Electronics.
Also, Global Protein Products, Go with the Flow Seamless Gutters, I Care Pharmacy, Kauffman Metals, Lynox Welding Supply, Maine Farm Bureau, Maine Media Resources, MarCar Solar Panels, Marquis/Michaud Well Drilling, Micmac Environmental Laboratory, Northeast Publishing, Northern Flags, Northern Maine Development Commission, Northern Maine Antique Tractor Club, Our Maine Street, Overhead Door of Aroostook, PDQ Door, Riverview Homes, RL Todd & Son, Inc., Roger’s Sport Center, St. John-Aroostook RC&D, Southern Aroostook Soil & Water Conservation, Spudnik Equipment, Stellar Herbals, Time Warner Cable, Tri-Community Landfill, USDA Natural Resources Conservation Services, USDA Rural Development, and York’s of Houlton.
Fort Fairfield Community Market members include Bewitching Beauties, Chops Ahoy, Kaclyn Krafts, Mainely Grains, Miller’s Metals, One of a Kind, Robin’s Chocolate Sauce, Rusty Rods, Scentsy Wickless Candles & Scents, Swartzentruber Baskets and Crafts and Yoder’s Home Bakery & Crafts.
Sponsors for this year’s event are the Maine Potato Board, Horizon Wind Energy and Employee Benefits Design.
“There’s going to be something for everybody,” said Kelle. “New and old equipment that men will find interesting, and various crafts, baked goods and activities for the women and kids.”
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 $1 off their admission.
For more information, contact Kelle at 472-3802 or log onto www.fortcc.org.
THE 30th ANNUAL Agri-Business Trade Fair – hosted by the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce – is this weekend and organizers are celebrating by offering more informational, fun events. With over 60 exhibitors participating and several discussions and demonstrations planned, the trade fair is sure to have something for everyone. The event has always been popular as can be seen here in this 1982 photo. The Agri-Business Trade Fair will be held at The Forum in Presque Isle from 4-8 p.m. Friday, 10 a.m.-8 p.m. Saturday, and noon-4 p.m. Sunday.
