ESSEX JUNCTION — The annual Vermont Farm Show returns to the Champlain Valley Exposition on Jan. 28-30. The annual statewide gathering — which has been going strong since its founding in 1931 — celebrates Vermont’s agriculture, farms, products and organizations. The three-day trade show also features exhibits of new equipment, farm supplies, food producers and agriculture education opportunities.
The event is free and open to the public, according to Jackie Folsom, manager of the Vermont Farm Show.
“This is a great time to preview products and machinery and network with Vermont’s farming community,” Folsom said. “Plus it is a great place for families to learn about agriculture and job-seekers to make connections.”
The Vermont Farm Show’s hours are:
•  Tuesday, Jan. 28, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.
•  Wednesday, Jan. 29, from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
•  Thursday, Jan. 30, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
Association meetings play a big part in the Vermont Farm Show. This year’s participating associations include the Vermont/New Hampshire Christmas Tree Farmers, Vermont Beekeepers, the Future Farmers of America, and the Vermont Dairy Industry.
Handspun fibers, jellies, silage, pies, and many other agricultural products will be judged and on display as part of the annual product competitions. For a full list of product competitions and entry rules, visit vtfarmshow.com/product-contests.html. There will also be some great animals on display, including a Morgan horse, sheep and birds.
The always popular Consumer Night is Wednesday, Jan. 30, from 4 to 7 p.m. at the Vermont Farm Show. Food enthusiasts will enjoy the Buy Local Market, which will showcase foods and products from Vermont farms.
The “Capital Cook-off,” an Iron Chef-type competition featuring members of the Vermont House of Representatives, Vermont Senate, and Agency of Agriculture, Food and Markets, is another highlight. Teams will have 90 minutes to create a dish using Vermont products bought at the adjacent Buy Local Market. Visitors will have time to taste and purchase Vermont products from the exhibitors while waiting for the cook-off winners to be announced.
The Vermont Farm Show is again partnering with the Chittenden Emergency Food Shelf.
“Over the years that we have asked for food donations, visitors to the Farm Show have provided several tons of food and lots of cash to assist the folks in Chittenden County,” Folsom noted. “It’s a great partnership and one of the highlights of the show.”
For more information, including a list of scheduled 2020 exhibitors and association meetings, head online to vtfarmshow.com.