Fair Board forgets its reason for being

What mean irony the Alaska State Fair Board is attempting.

Selling off prime farmland to anybody but a farmer or a farm land protection agency is blatant hypocrisy and inexcusable given the fair’s mission — at least in its more humble beginning — to showcase the importance of agricultural to the community. Granted, the fair has turned into something resembling a carnival sideshow in its modern history. But, as long as the board continues to encourage FFA and 4-H students to bring their farm animals to town, uses giant cabbages as a selling point and awards ribbons for the best jars of rhubarb jam, then it should at least show some dignity in its stewardship of the land. That’s just being a good corporate citizen.

The Fair Board and NIT have enjoyed a working partnership for some years now, as witnessed by the truck-driving school in the fairgrounds parking lot. There’s no reason that marriage can’t continue, but proximity to the fairgrounds isn’t necessary for both parties to flourish.

It’s not like there’s a lack of land in the Valley for NIT to build its school. If NIT would put out a notice that it needs 40 acres to build its campus and teaching facility, it would likely be contacted by several interested parties.

The city of Houston has more land than people and could use the jobs and income and taxes generated by such a campus. Think other communities might be interested?

With the new prison going in at Point MacKenzie, NIT’s project would fit right in, making a fine industrial area compatible with the port. If somebody wants to learn how to drive a truck, there’s no better proving ground than heading north on Knik-Goose Bay Road into Wasilla and then hanging a right onto the Palmer-Wasilla Highway.

There’s no disputing NIT has, at least on paper, a good plan. Teaching trades is a fine alternative for ambitious people who have no interest in a college education. Revenue generated by a business like that will help more than its home community. A buck spent in Houston creates another buck spent in Palmer.

So NIT should be encouraged to work toward its goal.

But in the Valley we can’t continue to pour asphalt over farm land and still think we can eat well, even if it’s just for a part of the year.

Paved-over Americans have become inexcusably ignorant about their food and its sources. When a few hundred of them get sick with salmonella, and a handful die, they cry out for more government oversight.

Buy some fresh vegetables from a Valley farmer this summer. If you get sick, you’ll know right where to go.

The real bottom line is this: Fair Board members have an opportunity to show us where their hearts are regarding what’s best for the long-term health of this community.