Farm Fest '05 Invites Exhibitors

HUDSON—Farm Fest '05, scheduled for October 1 at the Chatham Fairgrounds, has sent out applications for participation to farmers, foresters, and a wide range of agricultural businesses and organizations serving Columbia County.

Produced by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce and now in its third year, Farm Fest is a family-oriented celebration of local agriculture that features food, music, exhibits, children's activities and farm animals.

Applications have gone out to the many vendors and exhibitors who participated in the two previous festivals. New vendors and exhibitors are invited as well.

The purpose of Farm Fest is to showcase the exceptional agricultural diversity in the county. The festival provides a unique opportunity for farmers and foresters to sell their product as well as tell their story.

We strongly encourage that exhibitors selling products such as eggs, fruits, vegetables, herbs, firewood, cut flowers, perennials, shrubs, trees, grains, milk and other products should come from Columbia County soil or livestock.

Food vendors are invited to cook up their best using locally grown ingredients when possible. For example, if the chicken in a chicken barbecue cannot be obtained locally, then the potato salad or other side dishes should be Columbia County produce. Those selling cheeseburgers, as another example, should obtain their cheese from milk produced in Columbia County . Cabot and MaCadam Cheeses are made from Columbia County milk.

Those selling “value-added” products are strongly encouraged to feature items made from locally grown raw materials. Grapevine wreaths, applesauce, jams, sweaters, hand-made furniture are just some of the possibilities. Vendors that use local products will be noted as such in the Farm Fest program.

Vendor space is available both indoors and out, ranging in size from 10' x 10' to 10' x 20'. Electricity is available, if needed. For those selling anything, the vendor space fee is $35. For those putting up an educational display, workshop or program, animal exhibits, but not selling any items, there is no fee. All vendors are entitled to free passes based on booth space. 

Farm Fest '05 runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, October 1 at the Columbia County Fairgrounds off Route 66 in Chatham . Vendors can set-up on Friday afternoon.

Dozens of farms and related businesses will provide information that builds a better understanding of the county's agricultural and forest products and showcase their wares. The farmer exhibits and food vendors offer festival-goers the choice of eating in or taking home delicious, farm-fresh foods.

Among the many featured attractions are meet and greet with animals, musicians and entertainers, storytellers, a hay maze and hay jump, farm equipment displays, hands-on activities for children, and much more.

Admission, which includes parking and raffle tickets, is $5 per person. Children 12 and under enter for free.

Farm Fest ‘05 is produced by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce with overwhelming support from The Columbia Land Conservancy. Additional supporters include the Columbia County Agricultural Society, Columbia County Farm Bureau, Community Supported Agriculture of Columbia County, First Pioneer Farm Credit ACA, Assemblyman Patrick Manning, Cornell Cooperative Extension of Columbia County, and Columbia Hudson Partnership..

For sponsorship or vendor information, please contact the Chamber at 828-4417.  Please click here for a vendor application.