Nov. 2, 2001 – It's that time of year again: Once the pumpkins have been carved for Halloween, once they're put aside for the Thanksgiving pies, then, in between the holidays, it's time for the St. Thomas-St. John Agriculture and Food Fair.
The 20th annual fair will take place Nov. 17 and 18 on the grounds of the Reichhold Center for the Arts at the University of the Virgin Islands. Although the official opening ceremony is at 2 p.m. Saturday, the fair will be open both days from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Admission each day is $2 for those 12 years of age and older and 50 cents for those 11 and younger.
This year's theme is "V.I. Agriculture is Growing Strong," and it seems the fair is growing in size and offerings as well.
For the first time, gospel groups will perform on Sunday morning at the fair. Throughout both days there will be live musical entertainment with DJs and bands. P'your Passion is scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday; the Territorial Court Rising Stars Steel Orchestra is on for 3 to 5 p.m. Sunday.
Visitors, both adults and children, will find a lot to see and do. Local growers will be selling fruits and vegetables, nursery plants, fruit trees, vegetable seedlings. (Early birds get the best selection!) Vendors will be offering local arts and crafts and, of course, lots of food. There will be educational displays and workshops and, for the younger set, a petting zoo at the livestock pavilion and pony rides.
Traditional competitions will be held to select the Best Tasting Sweet Bread and the Best Tasting Maubi. There'll also be two new contests, for the Heaviest Pumpkin and the Heaviest Turkey.
As a prelude to the fair, and for the first time in its history, a School Agriculture Activity Day is set for 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Nov. 16. Students from nine public, private and parochial schools will present their agriculture-theme displays for judging.
It's expected that up to 20 other schools may send students to observe the event, and Carlos Robles, UVI Cooperative Extension Service acting district supervisor, is planning for as many as 300 students to be on hand. There will be workshops for the young people on grooming horses and on animal care. If this activity day is successful, Robles said, it will be expanded for next year's fair.
