Monday 23 May 2016

33rd Annual AgFair Nov.19-20, 2016

AgFair 2016 Banner (To be updated once 2016 theme & artwork are created by school youth)
The 33rd Annual St. Thomas-St. John Agriculture and Food Fair is slated for November 19-20, 2016 to be held at the Reichhold Center Grounds. 
Official Event Name: 33rd Annual St. Thomas-St. John Agriculture & Food Fair
Short Name: AgFair (St. Croix has the “AgriFest” in February and Bordeaux has their Rastafarian & Vegan Fair in January)
Theme: TBA – We intend to do a school contest for the theme & artwork
Who: The St. Thomas-St. John Agriculture & Food Fair Committee (Inc.) - an organizing group consisting of staff from the University of the Virgin Islands Cooperative Extension Service, the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture and Fintrac along with members from the general community.
What: Community & Family Friendly Event (Agricultural Produce and Education, Livestock Animal Petting Zoo, Youth activities, Live cultural arts entertainment, food, arts & crafts and other vendors, Deejay music)
When: Sat/Sun November 19-20, 2016 10-6pm
Where: Reichhold Center Grounds
Cost: Children under age 12 $1/ages 13 + (Adults) $3

Contact Info:
    
                Phone/Fax: (340) 693-1080/1085 or 774-5182
               
Email: sttstjagfair@gmail.com
               
Social media: @sttstjagfair on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram Hashtag: #STTSTJAgFair
Why/Purpose: From our Articles of Incorporation - Section D
To foster and promote:
a. Interest and participation in agriculture, food preparation, nutrition, and related arts and crafts.
b. Agriculturally related                 science,                and environmental conservation through the medium of an Annual Fair.
c. Other related activities as the organization may undertake with emphasis placed on the involvement of young people.

The AgFair also exists with the intent of achieving the following:
·         To develop a closer relationship among Caribbean islands, government agencies, and other organizations having an interest in agricultural education, conservation of natural resources, promoting related industries, and community education in these areas.
·         To strengthen and extend cooperation among the farmers, Department of Agriculture, The University of the Virgin Islands, and the Community.

BASIC GENERAL ANNUAL PROMOTIONAL TEXT

To be adjusted and released closer to date

The application deadline for participating in the fair is Friday, October 28, 2016 (tentative) with a $15 late fee thereafter based on availability of space. The 33rd Annual St. Thomas-St. John Agriculture and Food Fair will be held on Saturday and Sunday, Nov. 19 and 20, at the grounds of Reichhold Center for the Arts. The theme is to be decided from an in-school competition.

On sale will be fruits and vegetables, nursery plants, fruit trees, vegetable seedlings, local arts and crafts, food and much more. There will also be educational displays and workshops. Throughout the day there will be live entertainment and lots of games and other activities for children.

The fair opens at 10 a.m. and closes at 6 p.m. on both days. An opening ceremony will begin at 2 p.m. on Saturday afternoon.
Admission is $3 for ages 12 years-and-older and $1 for those 11-and-under. For more information, call (340) 693-1080 or 774-5182. Email sttstjagfair@gmail.com or connect via social media @sttstjagfair on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram.

*** Applicants meet with the committee at 6pm on Friday, November 11, 2016 (tentative) at the UVI Academic and Conference Center (ACC).

Stay tuned for potential contests including sweet bread, ital and coal pot lighting etc. Sponsors and volunteer contributors are welcome to assist! Inquire with one of the committee members or contact the UVI Cooperative Extension Service office and the Department of Agriculture for details.

We greatly appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with agencies such as the VI Department of Agriculture, and look forward to continuing to spread the good word about what they do, which compliments our eXtending Knowledge; Changing Lives as we continue, "Responding to the Needs of the Community."

Listen in to our What’s Going on @UVICES weekly radio show
3-4pm Wednesdays on WUVI AM 1090, FM 97.3 or via online stream

Connect with us online: ces.uvi.edu | FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | LINKEDIN | SOUNDCLOUD

Saturday 21 May 2016

United Way USVI Service Saturdays Partnership

UVICES Staff Volunteer at a United Way Service Saturdays Community Event at the Flamboyant Garden Senior Home Facility on St. Croix. United Way USVI Photos
Our staff really enjoyed partnering with the United Way during their first Service Saturdays community outreach event on May 21, celebrating Senior Citizens’ Month at the Flamboyant Garden Senior Home Facility at #42 Barren Spot on St. Croix. According to the St. Croix Chamber of Commerce, our staff along with other volunteers helped to "spruce-up" the gardens and planted flowers for the elderly to commemorate Senior Citizens’ Month while promoting health and wellness activities. 

"Putting in the flower gardens helped to lift the spirit of the seniors, while also encouraging them to venture outside more among other benefits," Ms. Andrea Burgess-Figueroa, Development Officer/Volunteer Coordinator (STX)

Members of the UVICES staff that participated included Mr. Stafford Crossman, Mr. Randall Macedon, Ms. Vanessa Forbes and Dr. Louis E. Petersen, Jr. who was visiting St. Croix from the St. Thomas campus office. 
Please listen in below to the interview aired on Wednesday, June 8, 2016 between 3-4pm on our radio program at WUVI (AM 1090/FM 97.3). United Way USVI CEO Vinod Dadlani called in to everyone about our experience as well as the other Service Saturdays and community initiatives that they have planned. Every week, we also stream the radio program live, record it, share the recording via social media and mass emails as well as on our website. For reminders to tune in, send us an email at ces.uvi.edu@gmail.com to be added to the weekly mailing list for radio shows. Listen in below and share on Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus, Pinterest or via email! Ask us for help if you don't know how! Call 340-693-1081 to reach DaraMonifah Cooper, our CES Computer and Technology Class Instructor.


"We greatly appreciate the opportunity to collaborate with agencies such as the United Way USVI, and look forward to continuing to spread the good word about what they do, which complements our eXtending Knowledge; Changing Lives as we continue, Responding to the Needs of the Community," Mr. Kwame Garcia, UVICES State Director

Listen in to our What’s Going on @UVICES weekly radio show
3-4pm Wednesdays on WUVI AM 1090, FM 97.3 or via online stream!

eXtending Knowledge; Changing Lives! Connect with us online: ces.uvi.edu
FACEBOOK | INSTAGRAM | TWITTER | LINKEDIN | SOUNDCLOUD

Wednesday 18 May 2016

160518 Radio Show | National FFA President Visit & New Astronomy Club

Weekly Radio Show | National FFA President Visit & New Astronomy Club
 

CLICK THE LINK BELOW TO:
Listen to the Radio Show Archive Part 1 | FFA Pres
Listen to the Radio Show Archive Part 2 | STARS Club What's Going on @UVICES Weekly Radio Show

A weekly radio program co-hosted by UVI Extension Staff DaraMonifah Cooper and Christina Chanes sharing lively interviews of UVICES Community Partners, Stakeholders, Administrators, Staff or Current and Past Clients as they share experiences and examples of how we all work together in responding to the needs of the community.

Click “Streaming LIVE” to start listening 3-4 pm on Wednesdays
Call us at on air at 340-643-1090 (or ext. 1670 on campus) to join the conversation.
Connect with us online: ces.uvi.edu

TODAY'S TOPICS (May 18, 2016) with guests Dr. Louis E. Petersen, Jr.,
1. National FFA President's First Trip to Territory
2. New Organization STARS

Other past or upcoming happenings...
1. Sewing & Batik Class Closing Program
2. SUMMER Youth Programs @UVICES
3. From the Ground Up Newsletter - Sept 2015

Tune in weekly from 3pm - 4pm on WUVI AM 1090 /FM 97.3
(or via live stream from the WUVI.AM app on your smart device) 

National FFA President Taylor McNeel traveled to three FFA chapters on St. Thomas along with Dr. Louis E. Petersen, Jr., Dr. Eddie Williams, USVI FFA Advisor and Mr. Frank Saldana. The goal was to visit FFA chapters, meet with their administration, encourage students, and answer their questions about FFA and agricultural education. They also visited with the Commissioner of Education, Dr. McCollum. Throughout the day they spread the message of FFA and agricultural education.

“I traveled to three FFA chapters in St. Thomas. The goal was to visit FFA chapters, meet with their administration, encourage students, and answer their questions about FFA and agricultural education. We also visited with the Commissioner of Education, Dr. McCollum. Through the day we spread the message of FFA and agricultural education.”~Taylor McNeel, National FFA President
According to Dr. Petersen, FFA has been here in the territory, in some from since 1955 on St. Croix. However, FFA chapters were not established in the district of St. Thomas- St. John until 2013. As a result of local growth and expansion as well as our renewed participation in the annual National FFA Convention, the USVI FFA Association has been receiving increased attention from the national organization, resulting in increased opportunities for local students.
Having the FFA President here is a historic occasion, because it has never happened before.“The hope and expectation was all about encouragement. Hearing from one of their own. Our students listening to another FFA student from somewhere else telling them about the opportunities available to them. Letting them know that agriculture isn’t just about farming. It really was effective and I could hear through their questions that the interest growing and that they were beginning to think differently and that’s what it was about, encouragement and awareness.”
~ Dr. Louis E. Petersen, Jr., UVICES
Dr. Petersen also shared that, “The historic visit of the President McNeel of the National FFA Organization and our visits to the school chapters will hopefully serve as another building block in our on-going efforts to develop an effective agricultural education program and encourage youth involvement in the field of agriculture.”

FROM OUR WEBSITE: · Farmers Marketing Course STT or STX campus | PHOTOS
· Computer Trainings: Classes & Workshops

Call (340) 693-4090 (STX) or (340) 693-1081 (STT) CES PUBLICATIONS:
· Tropical Fruits of the VI Book | Book Cover
· From the Ground Up Newsletter - Sept 2015

Connect with us online: ces.uvi.edu