HARRINGTON – Visitors to the Delaware State Fair can learn how to cook Japanese foods, carve a chicken, eat healthy on a budget and make a watermelon banana split – all in one place, at the Department of Agriculture‘s Education Building.
Starting Friday, July 19, DDA and its partners will offer a lineup of free food and cooking demonstrations every day of the fair, with plenty of comfortable seating so visitors can relax. Both DDA buildings, located between the Kent Barn and the Simpson Building, offer air-conditioning for fairgoers to cool off on hot days.
Visitors can also learn about the benefits of real Christmas trees, the Planting Hope in Delaware garden project, and home brewing. The Department’s Commodities Building, next door, features informational exhibits and activities sponsored by farm groups and other organizations to educate the public about their livelihoods.
“We have an exciting lineup of educational programs this year,” said Secretary of Agriculture Ed Kee. “I hope that all our visitors will find something of interest. I invite everyone to stop by both our Education and Commodities buildings and learn more about Delaware agriculture and related industries, which contribute $8 billion to the First State’s economy.”
The demonstrations, conducted by Delaware commodity groups, farmers and Department of Agriculture staffers, take place each day of the fair from July 19 to 27. Additional events may be added, with an updated schedule available at dda.delaware.gov or posted at the Education Building. The events include:
Friday, July 19
- Fruits and Vegetables, 3-4 p.m., Fruit and Vegetable Growers of Delaware
- Healthy Eating on a Budget, 5-6 p.m., University of Delaware
Saturday, July 20
- Giant Sundaes, 3-4 p.m., Delaware Dairy Princess Committee
- How to Carve a Chicken, 5-6 p.m., University of Delaware
Sunday, July 21
- Home Brewing, 1-2 p.m. and 3-4 p.m., Dan Woodall, Delaware Department of Agriculture
- Benefits of Real Christmas Trees, 5-6 p.m., Delaware Christmas Tree Growers Association
Monday, July 22
- Planting Hope in Delaware, 1-2 p.m., Dr. Faith Kuehn, Delaware Department of Agriculture
- Samples and Dairy Trivia, 5-6 p.m., Delaware Dairy Princess Committee
Tuesday, July 23
- Cooking with Fresh Produce, 1-2 p.m., T.S. Smith & Sons
- Watermelon Banana Split, 3-4 p.m., Mar-Del Watermelon Association
Wednesday, July 24
- Japanese Cooking, 1-2 p.m.
- Fire and Ice Salsa, 3-4 p.m., Mar-Del Watermelon Association
- Japanese Cooking, 5-6 p.m.
Thursday, July 25
- Japanese Cooking, 1-2 p.m.
- Cool Salads With Chicken, 3-4 p.m., Delmarva Poultry Industry, Inc.
- Japanese Cooking, 5-6 p.m.
Friday, July 26
- Cooking With Beef, 1-2 and 3-4 p.m., Delaware Beef Advisory Board
- Refreshing Spinach and Cilantro Salad, 5-6 p.m., University of Delaware
Saturday, July 27
- Fun Summer Dessert: Grapes With Ginger Crème, 1-2 p.m., University of Delaware
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Contact:
Dan Shortridge
Chief of Community Relations
Delaware Department of Agriculture
302-698-4520