27th Agricultural Fair this Saturday

The 27th annual Saipan Agriculture Fair will take place this Saturday, May 24, at the Sabalu Market in Susupe.

After two years of absence, the Saipan Agricultural Fair Committee chairman Isidoro T. Cabrera said he anticipates that the event will have a big comeback this weekend.

Saturday’s event is also bringing back its traditional animal auction for interested farmers or buyers, and even spectators.

This year will also include the annual Agricultural Fair plants and animals competitions where trophies and cash prizes are at stake.

Farm owners will be entering their pigs, cattle, rabbits, and pigeons to vie for the year’s overall championship in the animals category, while farmers will have as many as 69 different fruits and vegetables entered in the plants division.

Saipan Zoo will also be participating this year by bringing in a selected group of animals for people young and old to see.

There will be food and entertainment for the community to enjoy. A special recognition ceremony for two retired farmers, Dr. Jose Chong and Manuel Manglona, will also take place.

According to Cabrera, this is the first time in the history of the CNMI Agricultural Fair that the event will include a special recognition for longtime farmers in the islands.

This year should have marked the 29th year of the CNMI Agricultural Fair but because of its absence in 2006 and 2007, they are officially celebrating only its 27th.

A budget of at least $20,000 was needed to host the annual event that has become almost like a tradition to the local people of the CNMI.

“We [finally] got the funding through Saipan delegation through an appropriation and we also solicited from private businesses. [With that,] we got just enough to conduct the event,” Cabrera said.

The event will take place this Saturday at the Sabalu Market in Susupe from 8am to 2pm. The opening ceremony will be at 9am.