Farm Fest Puts Out Call for Vendors, Exhibitors

Hudson, NY — Farm Fest '05, the October 1 celebration of agricultural diversity in Columbia County, invites farmers and foresters, chefs and landscapers to register now to display their product.  Please click here for a vendor/exhibitor application.

Produced by the Columbia County Chamber of Commerce and now in its third year, Farm Fest is a family-oriented event that features food, music, exhibits, children's activities and farm animals. The festival provides a unique opportunity for those who live off the land to sell their product as well as tell their story.

Vendors selling everything from eggs, fruits, vegetables, herbs, firewood, cut flowers, perennials, shrubs, trees, grains, milk and other products that come from Columbia County soil or livestock are welcome.

Food vendors are invited to cook up their best using locally grown ingredients when possible. If the chicken in a chicken barbecue cannot be obtained locally, for example, then the potato salad or other side dishes should be Columbia County produce. Those selling cheeseburgers, for example, might use Cabot or MaCadam cheeses, which 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. The Farm Fest program will make special note of vendors who use local products.

Vendor space is available both indoors and out, ranging in size from 10' x 10' to 10' x 20'. Electricity is available. For those selling anything, the fee is $35. For those putting up an educational display, workshop or program or animal exhibits, but not selling anything, there is no fee. All vendors are entitled to free passes based on booth space. The deadline to register for a booth is September 9, 2005.

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 Friday afternoon.

Among the many featured attractions are: the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show, sure to draw a good crowd, 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, the Columbia Hudson Partnership, Hudson River Bank & Trust Company Foundation, and the Green Pastures Grant awarded by the Berkshire Taconic Community Foundation. Sponsors include: American Farmland Trust, The Berry Farm, Beckenrah Farm, Coach Dairy Goat Farm and Trustco Bank. Media Sponsors include: The Independent Newspaper, The Register Star and Clear Channel Radio of the Hudson Valley . Hudson River Bank & Trust Company Foundation is the lead sponsor of the Paul Bunyan Lumberjack Show. Additional sponsors include: Dunn Builders Supply, Davis Tractor & Turf, Inc. and Meltz Lumber.

For sponsorship or vendor information, please contact the Chamber at 828-4417.