Value-Added Ag Day scheduled for August 30 at State Fair
For Immediate Release: August 21, 2007
Contact: Mary Lehecka Nelson, 773-3301
PIERRE, S.D.- Agricultural products will take center stage at the State Fair on August 30 as South Dakotans celebrate Value-Added Ag Day.
The South Dakota Value-Added Ag Development Center, Governor’s Office of Economic Development and Department of Ag are working together to give fair goers a full-day of activities, including wine tasting, a biotech forum, beading demonstration, specialty food demonstrations, retail shopping and more.“This promises to be a fun day at the Fair,” said Richard Benda, Secretary, Department of Tourism and State Development. “This is an excellent venue for us to promote SOUTH DAKOTA CERTIFIED™ Beef and our Made in South Dakota™ program.” Benda said there will be 38 vendors showcasing and selling their products. Twelve of the vendors also sell their products on www.madeinsouthdakota.com
Another highlight of the day will be a wine pavilion sponsored by the Department of Agriculture. “South Dakota currently has more than a dozen wineries and we felt this was the right time to highlight these companies,” said Bill Even, Secretary, Department of Agriculture. Seven of these wineries will be participating at the Fair.
The day will also feature a Biotech Forum sponsored by the South Dakota Value-Added Ag Development Center. “Biotech is really the next generation of ag in South Dakota,” said Cheri Rath, executive director of the VAADC. “It’s imperative that we stay on the cutting edge of this industry. South Dakota is an ideal location for companies in this industry. Governor Rounds, through his 2010 Initiative, has set the stage for us to move forward,” she added.
The Second Annual Taste the Flavor of South Dakota Chef’s Competition and Demonstration will take place at the Women’s Building at 11 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. This unique event will bring together some of South Dakota’s top chefs and specialty producers to create innovative cuisine from unique South Dakota produce. The audience will be able to witness the culinary wizardry of South Dakota’s award winning chefs and then taste the results. The audience will also be able to vote for their favorite dish.
A full agenda for the day is listed below:
9:00 am Value-Added Ag Exhibits Open
9:45 am SOUTH DAKOTA CERTIFIED™ Beef Cooking Demonstration
10:30 am Dakota Grills Cooking Demonstration
11:00 am Vanguard Ethanol Squadron Fly-by
11:00 am Chef’s Competition and Demonstration
11:00a.m.-2:00 pm SD Corn Utilization Council ~ FREE Corn Feed ~
11:30 am Schiltz Foods Goose Demo
12:15 pm Specialty Foods Demonstration
1 pm Chef’s Competition and Demonstration
1:45 pm Dakota Nation Art & Gifts Beading Demonstration
2:30 pm Free Ice Cream (Tent & Heartland Building)
2:45 pm Vanguard Ethanol Squadron Fly-by
3 pm Chef’s Competition and Demonstration
2:45-4:00 pm Value-Added Ag Development Center— Biotech Forum
“The Next Generation of SD Agriculture”
Door Prize Drawings (must be present to win)
5:00 p.m. Value-Added Ag Exhibits Close
For more information, visit www.sdvalueadded.coop
All events will take place in the Dakota Marketplace, Heartland Building, Women’s Building, Value-Added Ag Specialty Tent or on the Freedom Stage.
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