State Fair of Virginia Set to Take on Agricultural Focus
Agriculture is set to take center stage at this year's State Fair of Virginia
According to a recent article from the Richmond Times Dispatch, the State Fair of Virginia, set to kick-off September 27, will put a large focus on agriculture thanks to a new ownership structure.
The 10-day event, to be held at the Meadow Event Park in Caroline County, Virginia, is now fully controlled by the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation, which plans to bring the fair “back to its roots” by putting a greater focus on agriculture. Up until this year, the Farm Bureau Federation owned 50% of the fair, purchasing the remaining 50% as a long time operator filed for bankruptcy.
Virginia Farm Bureau spokesman Greg Hicks says in the article, “It was a huge relief when we were able to control it and really involve our people and our ideas and really to let the Farm Bureau run this thing the way we want. We can call the shots now on what we want to do, and that’s the biggest thing.
New to the fair this year will be a “Seed Survivor” educational display, which will teach children some crop raising best practices. Attendees will also have an opportunity to see about 1,600 animals as part of livestock competitions by the Future Farmers of America and the 4-H youth development organization, as students will compete for scholarship money.
Assuming the weather is fair, Hicks is expecting a total of 200,000 to 250,000 visits this year, up from 160,000 visits a year ago.
Agriculture is set to take the stage at this year’s State Fair of Virginia, as the Virginia Farm Bureau Federation plans to bring the event back to its roots with new displays and events on showcase.