Winter means the Vermont Farm Show!
12/18/2021 12:49PM ● By John Gales
Gatherings
Vermont’s Biggest Winter Agricultural Event
The bounty of Vermont’s
agriculture industry will be celebrated February 1 through 3 at the Vermont
Farm Show. The show, held since 1935, is the chance for the state’s agriculture
industry to exhibit and promote their products as well as to come together to
talk, share, and learn.
The Vermont Farm Show is
one of the state’s biggest celebrations of its agriculture,
farms, products, and related organizations. The theme for this winter’s
show is “Vermont Agriculture—From Farm to Consumer: Showcasing Vermont’s
Agricultural Diversity and Providing an Inspiration for the Future.” The show expects
to draw more than 5,000 people from all over Vermont, New Hampshire, New York,
and Canada.
The first Vermont Farm
Show grew out of the Farm Products Show and its purpose was to “foster the Farm
Products Show and to conduct a commercial and educational exhibit of farm and
home equipment and supplies.”
Who Exhibits?
All industries are represented, including all those associated with dairy, forage, maple, Christmas trees, beef, sheep, vegetables, and fruit. Growers and producers as well as other related businesses like banks, agricultural education groups and institutions, and related service industries will all be on hand.
For exhibitors, the value of the show is manifold. They have the opportunity to showcase their products and services attending public. This exposure is a great way to build brand awareness. The show is a sales and marketing goldmine, great for expanding the customer base of a business. Important connections are made in face-to-face encounters with other exhibitors and consumers. Industry associations hold their annual meetings and offer many informational or educational seminars. Anyone associated with the agricultural industry in Vermont is welcome to the show. Those interested in exhibiting should visit the website and fill out the application.
Who Visits?
Everyone! From large-scale operations to craft-type producers, professionals in the various industries make a point to be at the show. With everything there is to see and sample, families of all kinds will find that entertainment and educational experiences abound. Many folks spend the entire day.
Visitors to the Vermont Farm Show will find exhibits of equipment and farm supplies, aisle upon aisle of booths displaying produce, dairy and maple products, beef, goat, and sheep products, and more. If it’s made in Vermont, you can probably find it at the Farm Show.
Vermont Product Contests
The first Vermont Farm Products Contest was held in 1932 and was the inspiration of the Vermont Dairymen’s Association with the Maple Sugar Makers’ Association. That first contest had about 50 entries and was such a success that other producers, like potato, apple, and chicken farms, wanted to participate. Three years later, the Vermont Farm Show was born, with the Products Contest a prominent feature.
Cash prizes are awarded to entries judged Best of Show, Class Winner, Excellent, or Acceptable Class. For 2022, the contest categories are Christmas Trees & Wreaths, Fiber & Wool, Home Products, Honey, Maple, and Silage & Hay.
A notice on the website reminds exhibitors and attendees that we are still functioning under the reality of the COVID-19 pandemic, which may have an unforeseen impact. Their intention is to run the show as scheduled while preparing for contingencies.
The show will be open to the public Tuesday, February 1, 9am–5pm; Wednesday, February 2, 8:30am–5:30pm; and Thursday, February 3, 9am–4pm.
For questions about exhibiting, contact Karen Forbes at [email protected] or (802) 865-5202. Those interested in sponsoring the show may contact Karissa Hasser at [email protected] or (530) 520-6933. Exhibitors and sponsors can register on the website.
Champlain Valley Exposition
Essex Junction, VT
February 1–3, 2022
