Agriculture emphasized during Alaska State Fair Board of Directors Reception

PALMER— The Alaska State Fair ushered in the 2021 season with a board of directors reception during the first day, Friday, Aug. 20.

Alaska State Fair CEO Jerome Hertel said there’s a lot to look forward to this year with a combination of familiar Fair staples and new additions.

“Welcome back to the Alaska State Fair. After a year and a half of epic challenges, we are back… It reestablishes those connections with family and friends. We’re so happy to back,” Hertel said.

According to Hertel, there are over 100 new vendors featured in the 2021 season mixes with many iconic and longstanding booths like the Ninja Warrior course, farm exhibits, and lumberjack show. He said there’s also a lot of new events, activities, and points of interest to check out this year, including the new Aftershock rollercoaster, the largest in the state and exclusively featured at ASF.

“We’re back with a lot of the traditional favorites and things you’ve enjoyed in the past,” Hertel said.

The Fair is holding a three weekend season this year for the first time, taking two days off each week to sanitize the grounds. Hertel said the new schedule gives more opportunities to enjoy the Fair.

“We are so glad people are back after coming through a year with so many challenges, and it’s reassuring to know that we can count on everyone here to support us through these difficult times. Thank you for your valuable contributions to the Alaska State Fair. We offer our best wishes to you and your families as we all look forward to a great Fair this year,” Hertel said.

Governor Mike Dunleavy was one of several special guest speakers at the reception. He said there is plenty of hope on the horizon.

“Last year was a tough year. You guys did a tremendous job and did a great job putting it together this year. We’re getting back on our feet. We’re gonna start marching forward. This virus will be with us for a while, but nonetheless, we gotta keep on living… We’re here. We’re ready to roll,” Dunleavy said.

UAF Cooperative Extension Service professor and ASF board member, Dr. Steve Brown presented the 2020 and 2021 Alaska Farm Family of the Year Awards.

The Bates family received the 2020 award for their wide range of efforts running the Glacier Point Oyster Farm out of Halibut Cove Brown noted this was the first mariculture farm to receive the award.

“The Bates represent the new, innovative young generation of Alaskan farmers,” Brown said.

The 2021 award went to the Chugach Farm, owned and operated by Chickaloon farmers, Allie Barker and Jed Workman. Barker and Workman were recognized for their work growing nutrient dense food through sustainable methods with a philosophy centered on self sufficiency.

“Allie and Jed embody the innovative and Alaska and Alaska agriculture,” Brown said.

Dunleavy helped present the awards and posed for photos with recipients during the ceremony. He said the pandemic prompted his administration to embark on an agricultural initiative to promote farms across the state with the hope of securing more food reserves grown from local soil.

“For a long time we’ve relied on the systems globalism has produced over the last several decades... You take it all for granted until all that stuff stops, and all that stuff stops when you have a pandemic,” Dunleavy said. “We’ve got to start coming up with an Alaskan solution... I think Alaska has tremendous opportunity in agriculture. I think we should take advantage of it, if not just for food security, but because food is better when it’s fresher and when it’s closer by.”

Contact Mat-Su Valley Frontiersman reporter Jacob Mann at jacob.mann@frontiersman.com