Children and Full-time Students May Attend the Event on July 7 and 8 for Free

Hawaii 4-H members show-off their prized sheep at the Hawaii State Farm Fair.

For the first time in its 50-year history, the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation (HFBF) in partnership with Hawaii 4-H will hold its annual Hawaii State Farm Fair at Kualoa Ranch on the northeastern side of Oahu on July 7 and 8. The event will feature a wide array of activities, demonstrations, food samples, and workshops, and children and all full-time students will be allowed to attend for free.

“We are extremely excited to have found such an ideal location in partnership with Kualoa Ranch,” said Hawaii Farm Bureau Interim Executive Director Joy Gold. “As a family-owned enterprise that is also a 4,000-acre working cattle ranch, we feel that it meshes perfectly with our mission to create awareness of Hawaii’s agricultural and ranching industries.”

“Also, as an added benefit this year, in celebration of the Farm Fair’s 50th anniversary, we are welcoming children and all full-time students to attend for free thanks to our title sponsor The Hawaii Department of Agriculture.”

In addition to this being the 50th anniversary of the fair, the event is focusing its efforts on showcasing, the next generation of young, up-and-coming farmers who are paving the way for Hawaii’s agricultural future. “In Hawaii, we are constantly reminded that we are an island state, so we really take to heart our responsibility in striving to be more sustainable,” said HFBF President Dean Okimoto. “We are seeing more people making a conscious effort to grow local and buy local.”

Visitors at the Hawaii State Farm Fair shop for fresh, locally grown watermelon.

As in the past, 4-H is partnering with the Farm Bureau to help educate young people about the various aspects of agriculture. 4-H will exhibit their livestock and demonstrate their knowledge through interactive and hands-on displays. There will also be many other exhibitors to inform, entertain and delight fair goers.

This year Kualoa will also be opening six of its famous attractions to those attending the Farm Fair at a discounted rate.  The following will be offered at 50 percent off the regular price: Movie Site & Ranch Tour, Jungle Expedition, Secret Island, Ancient Hawaiian Fishpond & Garden, Legends & Legacy and Ocean Voyage. The discount is good through the following Sunday with proof of ticket purchase from the Farm Fair. Fair tickets for the public who are not children or full-time students will be $5.00. Free parking is available at Kualoa ranch.

Transportation to the event from Waikiki is available via shuttle for $15 round trip or visitors may catch the city bus. For more information on the shuttle, please contact Kualoa Ranch at (808) 237-8515. For more information please contact the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation at (808) 848-2074 or visit www.hfbf.org.

About the Hawaii State Farm Fair and Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation
The Hawaii State Farm Fair is an annual event started in 1962 by the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation (HFBF) as a way to promote awareness of Hawaii’s agricultural and ranching industries. The HFBF was founded in 1948 and is the largest non-profit general agriculture organization representing approximately 1,800 farm and ranch family members statewide. The HFBF serves as Hawaii’s voice of agriculture, protects, advocates and advances the interests of our diverse agricultural community.

About Hawaii State 4-H
Hawaii State 4-H is one of the oldest and most effective programs of non-formal education in Hawaii. The program assists young people in developing life skills and in forming attitudes that will enable them to become self-directing, productive, and contributing members of society though pride in workmanship and accomplishments, personal interaction with peers, and respect for the environment. 4-H touches approximately 35,000 young people annually throughout the State of Hawaii.

About Kualoa Ranch
Established in 1850, Kualoa Ranch is a 4,000-acre working cattle ranch. Family-owned and operated, Kualoa’s mission is to be a role model as stewards of the land by preserving, protecting and enhancing Hawaii’s natural beauty and culture, while developing recreational and agricultural enterprises compatible with the environment. For more information, call (808) 237-8515 or visit www.kualoa.com