Planning for the Northeast Regional Ag Expo, which is expanding to include several more counties this year, can be a daunting task. But so far, so good, according to Sarah Hodges, public information officer for Beaufort County Schools.

This year, the Ag expo will be held at the Sen. Bob Martin Ag Center in Williamston on Nov. 12. It includes participants from seven counties: Beaufort, Bertie, Hyde, Martin, Pitt, Tyrrell and Washington counties.

This will be the third Ag expo sponsored by the school district; the other two in 2013 and 2014 were held at Northside High School.

Hodges said they are still looking for sponsors and exhibitors to participate in the expo, although there have already been several new participants signing up. Logo entries are also being accepted through the end of the month.

“We have about another week that we can take sponsors,” she said, adding that this is a deadline to ensure the sponsors are included on the T-shirts.

Hodges said Beaufort County Farm Bureau has been a major supporter of the Ag expos and has worked to expand the event this year by reaching out to agencies in other counties.

“From each of these counties, they’re paying a portion; each county is paying for their own students,” she said. “It’s a very challenging task to expand this much.”

One of the big updates regarding planning for the event is East Coast Equipment’s donation of $1,500, Hodges said. But this is only one company that has agreed to help, and every donation, no matter how large or small, counts, she said.

Hodges said one of the most meaningful donations so far was $30 from a farmer in the area, and his excitement about the event was “neat to see.”

“That’s equally as exciting as a $1,500 check,” she said. “Every bit is so important.”

Along with expanding the number of counties involved, those involved with planning the event are also trying to increase the types of displays that each exhibitor brings, making them as interactive as possible.

“Static displays are not going to be of interest to these students for more than two seconds,” Hodges said, adding that some of the interactive displays lined up so far include topics such as chainsaw or all-terrain vehicle (ATV) safety. “We’re bringing on a lot of new people.”

So far, the expo is expecting about 1,000 students to participate, she said.

 

For more information about the Northeast Regional Ag Expo, visit the event page at www.beaufort.k12.nc.us or call Sarah Hodges at 252-940-6544.