Variety of exhibitors draws crowd
to 30th annual Agri-Business Trade Fair
“We’ve received a lot of positive comments and people thought we had interesting displays and a good variety of exhibitors.”
– Janet Kelle, executive director of the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce
Staff Writer
PRESQUE ISLE – This year’s 30th annual Agri-Business Trade Fair – hosted by the Fort Fairfield Chamber of Commerce – featured everything from antique farm tractors to high-tech potato equipment and whole wheat tortillas to scented candles.
With over 60 exhibitors participating in the show, Janet Kelle, executive director of the chamber, said she was not only pleased with the attendance, but also with the comments she received from exhibitors and spectators alike.
“I think it went really well,” she said. “We had a good crowd; the numbers were good … up from last year and the vendors were happy. We’ve received a lot of positive comments and people thought we had interesting displays and a good variety of exhibitors.
“The Hay Balers 4-H Club provided a number of demonstrations throughout the show,” said Kelle. “It was good to get the kids involved like that.”
The 4-H Club held both dog obedience and rabbit demonstrations, as well as a talk entitled, Power of the Wind.
John Raymond, owner/manager of Gary’s Yamaha in Caribou, was one of the many exhibitors on hand.
“It’s a great show with a lot of interest,” he said. “We participated last year, too. We’ve had some new Kioti tractors the last couple of years that we wanted to show off, and the Agri-Business Trade Fair is a great place to do that.”
While sales are great, Raymond said it’s equally important to interact with potential customers.
“We do quotes right there and try to do a show special,” he said, “but it’s more of a show-and-tell opportunity. We bring some inventory with us, and it’s always fun meeting the people.
“It’s a lot of work and you have to have the employees staff the booth,” said Raymond, “but we’ll likely be back again next year.”
The Agri-Business Trade Fair was held March 26-28 at The Forum in Presque Isle.
Staff photos/Scott Mitchell Johnson
SIX-YEAR-OLD Carter Belanger of Caribou “test drives” this Bobcat tractor that was on display at the Roger’s Sports Center booth at the March 26-28 Agri-Business Trade Fair.
KATE ALBERT, left, of Chops Ahoy Farm in Woodland, shows Sherralyn Robbins, 9, of Presque Isle a rope-making machine at the recent 30th annual Agri-Business Trade Fair. A number of children had the opportunity to turn the crank and make a jump rope during the weekend show.
MATTHEW SCOTT, left, of Dyer Brook, receives a hands-on lesson in plasma cutting from Tom Ferri, factory representative for Thermal Dynamics at the Advantage Gases & Tools booth at the recent Agri-Business Trade Fair held at The Forum in Presque Isle.
