25th annual expo returns to Manchester

A winter standard since 1984, the 25th annual New Hampshire Farm & Forest Exposition will take place on Friday and Saturday, Feb. 6 and 7, at the Radisson Hotel in Manchester. The public event begins on both days at 9 a.m. and continues until 8 p.m. on Friday and 4 p.m. on Saturday.

Tori Berube, manager of the N.H. Farm and Fores Expo, says the event has a dual purpose. Those in the forestry and farming industries come together and share ideas, and the Expo gives these two industries a venue to showcase what they’re doing to the public. The Expo is like a cross between a business conference and a town fair, with opportunities for networking between agencies and interactive appeal for the public.

With more than 80 organizations holding exhibits, Berube is certain there will be something for everyone. Admission into the Expo will give individuals all-day access to the exhibition hall, where they can take part in activities such as petting live llamas, tasting maple syrup samples and spinning sheep’s wool, to name a few. There will also be drawings for New Hampshire-made products and ongoing rounds of FARMO, a variation on the classic BINGO where the game is won by visiting different booths and learning farm and forest facts. Admission is $7 for adults; free for children under age 15.

The University of New Hampshire Cooperative Extension, one of the Expo’s major sponsors this year, will also be host “Kid’s Day” on Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., featuring a series of kid-centered programming and activities.

In addition to the fun and games, the Expo is also intended to provide an educational exchange. From insurance companies and industry magazines to lumber yards and whoopie pie bakers, “If you want to know anything farm or forest related, somebody in that building is going to know it,” Berube says.

Attendees from the greater Seacoast will include the 4-H Foundation of New Hampshire, of Durham; New Hampshire Sheep & Wool Growers Association, of Epping; NH/VT Christmas Tree Association, of Strafford; and Walnut Grove Farm Electric Fence Systems, of Lee.

Over the course of the two-day event, there are about 20 seminars scheduled, some of which require pre-registration and an additional workshop fee. The full listing is available at www.nhfarmandforestexpo.org/schedule.htm. Many of the Friday seminars are geared toward industry-specific agenda items, while Saturday’s schedule targets the general public. For those with a green thumb, there is a gardening workshop from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday. Another beginner-friendly workshop is “Backyard Maple Sugaring—How to Make Your Own Maple Syrup!” from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. on Saturday. This workshop will teach each step of maple sugaring, including tree identification and tapping, collecting and boiling sap, finishing, filtering and packing syrup.

The Expo’s 2009 theme is “Growing Opportunities: N.H. Agriculture & Forestry Today.” Berube says the theme was chosen with an eye on the economy. “Here we are in this climate of economic uncertainty, and with everyone looking for ways to sustain themselves long-term, we want to show how farming and forestry will be an area of growth in New Hampshire’s future,” she says.

The hodge-podge of commercial and educational booths represent the many faces of rural New Hampshire, and the Expo is a way for these historic livelihoods to unbury themselves and make their presence known to the rest of the state, Berube adds.

In past years, the Expo has brought in anywhere from 3,500 to 5,000 individuals and families from all over the state. This year, Berube is hoping for at least 4,000 (and praying for a weekend of kind weather). The Expo is a non-profit organization, largely run by volunteers, so all of the money that is made from admission will be reinvested in next year’s event.

To recognize industry leaders and their contributions over the past year, an annual awards ceremony and breakfast will be held on Saturday morning at 7:30 a.m. Though reservations are required, there will be about two-dozen tickets available at the door for $15 each. Governer John Lynch and U.S. Sen. Jeanne Shaheen will attend the 90-minute pancake and waffle breakfast where, rumor has it, an individual from Seacoast Eat Local will be honored.

For more information about the New Hampshire Farm and Forest Exposition, visit www.nhfarmandforestexpo.org.