Breaking

ST. THOMAS — The Annual St. Thomas/St. John Agriculture and Food Fair featuring new “Art by the Sea” youth attractions will be held on Nov. 21 and 22, 2015 on the grounds of the Reichhold Center for the Arts. The theme for this year’s fair is “From Drought to Green 2015″, a press release the University of the Virgin Islands issued on Thursday makes known.

“Art by the Sea” youth attractions, held throughout the day on Saturday, will feature art projects from marine debris including sculptures, a costume contest and a fashion show with students from various schools. There will also be gardening and arts and crafts stations using recycled materials. Watersports, including paddle boarding and kayaking, will be available right across the street on John Brewers Bay Beach.

“This is a very welcome collaboration between ‘Art by the Sea,’ the Cooperative Extension Service (CES), and our Agriculture and Food Fair Committee. Not only does this joint effort offer a new and meaningful feature to our fair, but it addresses a current and genuine need of our community,” said Dr. Louis E. Petersen, Jr., Ag Fair Committee president.

The fair officially opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. on both days. The opening ceremony begins at 2 p.m. on the Saturday afternoon followed by the school costume contest and environmental awareness pitch presentation. On sale will be fruits and vegetables, nursery plants, fruit trees, vegetable seedlings, local arts and crafts, prepared food and much more.

Throughout the day there will be live entertainment, educational displays and workshops including performances from the Flambo Combo, Mascilyn Bamboula Dancers, the Holy Family Youth Cultural Dancers, and the Ah We Band. DJ Wendell Thomas will be providing music throughout the day. There will also be a grafting demonstration from the Charlotte Amalie High School (CAHS) Future Farmers of America students, a composting workshop with UVICES and the V.I. Waste Management Authority, as well as a coal pot lighting contest.

CES’ 4-H collegiate and youth clubs will collaborate with the WUVI Student Radio Station conducting live interviews and going on field trips between the fairgrounds and the campus radio station. They will learn how the station operates and get hands-on experience.

On both days, other games and activities for children will include an agricultural education game from Fintrac, face painting, hula hoops, sack racing and a petting zoo at the livestock pavilion. Dr. Richard Pluke will be available for “Ask the Doctor,” – an on-site clinic where fairgoers can receive advice and solutions to plant pest problems – courtesy of Fintrac and UVICES.

The event is hosted by the St. Thomas-St. John Agriculture and Food Fair Committee in partnership with the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service, the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture and Fintrac. The cost is only $3 for those 12 years and older and $1 for youth 11 and under. For more information call the UVI Cooperative Extension Service at (340) 693-1080 or the Department of Agriculture at (340) 774-5182. Email [email protected] and stay connected with the AgFair online using #sttstjagfair2015 for pictures, videos and the latest information @sttstjAgFair on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter or visit ces.uvi.edu for details.