For many people, the annual Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair represents carnival rides, games, live entertainment and the chance to eat things you can only find – or only allow themselves to have – once a year.
For another group of people, it’s a chance to show off their accomplishments in agriculture. For some, it’s also a sales and marketing opportunity.
Many types of livestock are shown from cattle to pigs, chickens, rabbits, sheep and goats. There’s an incubator where visitors can watch baby chicks hatch.
Zak Edwards brought to the fair some of his Brahman cattle he raised at his ranch in Starke. He has about 50 head of the hump-backed bovines and sells and ships them to customers in Central and South America.
He said he and his family have been exhibiting stock in Jacksonville each year since 1966.
While it’s fun to see friends he only runs into at the fair, that’s not the real reason Edwards brings the Brahmans.
“For me, it’s a business. The fair is a trade show and I come for the advertisement,” he said.
There’s also an educational element to the livestock exhibits at the fair. Duval County isn’t as agricultural as it once was, so most young people haven’t grown up around cows, pigs and chickens. The fair is a popular field trip destination for students.
Tom Viniker from Plant City came to the fair again this year to give demonstrations and tours. He said it’s his 15th year guiding children through the exhibits.
“Most of the kids have never been this close to livestock,” he said.
Olive Inman has been a fair volunteer for 20 years and helps with the school tours. She said doing it for that long has given her the chance to see some of the young visitors every year.
“It’s fun to watch the kids grow up. Some of them who came here when I first started volunteering have their own herds now,” she said.
The Greater Jacksonville Agricultural Fair continues through Sunday.
For the complete schedule, visit www.jacksonvillefair.com.
356-2466