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DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE BRINGING NUMEROUS ATTRACTIONS TO STATE FAIR Charleston , W.Va.- Commissioner of Agriculture Gus R. Douglass invites visitors to The State Fair of West Virginia to visit the Gus R. Douglass Annex Building this year to see a variety of educational exhibits and to shop for West Virginia Grown products at the West Virginia Department of Agriculture's (WVDA) traditional "Country Store." The Gus R. Douglass Annex will feature a park-like atmosphere - including trees and benches - along with the popular informational displays developed by WVDA. Animal Health Division will again feature its emergency response vehicles and farm owners will be able to register their premises as part of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's National Animal Identification System (NAIS). "We had a tremendous response to our display at last year's fair," said State Veterinarian Joe Starcher. "We signed up a lot of premises and hope to get even more this year." The program aims to create a computerized map of the state detailing all sites where livestock are present. New this year will be an agriculture photo contest, sponsored by the West Virginia Agricultural Statistics Service, and samples of soft-serve ice cream, which WVDA regulates. The Country Store will include daily sampling sessions of West Virginia products and a wide variety of West Virginia Grown products to take home and enjoy. The Poultry Building - on the opposite end of the midway from the Douglass Annex - will have more displays and activities than ever, including activities for children, food samples and displays related to animal health. Other exhibitors scheduled to share space in the Douglass Annex are the West Virginia Farm Bureau, West Virginia Beef Cattlemen's Association, USDA Farm Service Agency, USDA Risk Management Agency and the West Virginia Forestry Association.
The West Virginia Department of Agriculture protects plant, animal and human health through a variety of scientific, regulatory and consumer protection programs, as mandated by state law. The Commissioner of Agriculture is one of six statewide elected officials in West Virginia. Currently, Commissioner Gus R. Douglass is the longest-serving agriculture commissioner in the nation. For more information, visit www.wvagriculture.org. |
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©2001, 2002 West Virginia Department of Agriculture, All Rights Reserved |
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