VCF Opening Day
Volusia County Fair organizers hope to build on tradition, recent success
Volusia County Fair organizers hope to build on tradition, recent success
By SKYLER SWISHER, Staff Writer
October 31, 2011
DELAND -- The first time the Volusia County Fair was held in 1924 only 23,000 people lived in the county.
Today, that number is nearing half a million, and condos, subdivisions and strip malls dot once-idle land.
But take a drive off the main drag, and you'll still find thousands of acres in Volusia County devoted to pasture, timber, ornamental plants and citrus.
Volusia County isn't all about beaches and racetracks. About a third of the county's 717,000 acres are used for timber and agricultural production, according to statistics provided by the University of Florida's local agriculture extension office.
The fair, which starts Thursday and runs through Nov. 13, is a chance to see this aspect of the community, said David Griffis, extension office director.
"It showcases what we have to offer in Volusia," Griffis said. "It also gives the youth an opportunity to showcase what they have done. If you've ever tried to raise an animal, there are a lot of life skills involved in that."
Today, that number is nearing half a million, and condos, subdivisions and strip malls dot once-idle land.
But take a drive off the main drag, and you'll still find thousands of acres in Volusia County devoted to pasture, timber, ornamental plants and citrus.
Volusia County isn't all about beaches and racetracks. About a third of the county's 717,000 acres are used for timber and agricultural production, according to statistics provided by the University of Florida's local agriculture extension office.
The fair, which starts Thursday and runs through Nov. 13, is a chance to see this aspect of the community, said David Griffis, extension office director.
"It showcases what we have to offer in Volusia," Griffis said. "It also gives the youth an opportunity to showcase what they have done. If you've ever tried to raise an animal, there are a lot of life skills involved in that."
No comments:
Post a Comment