It’s snowing today here in New Hampshire and the white fluff will be adding up throughout the day. By this evening, the woods will be, as Robert Frost wrote, “lovely, dark and deep.”

Beginning Friday!

Our woods and fields are mostly at rest this month, which makes it a fine time to celebrate them at the greatest winter fair, the New Hampshire Farm & Forest Exposition, which kicks off on Friday morning at the Center of New Hampshire in Manchester. The expo marks its 31st year this year.

Part of the currency that gives the Granite State much of what we value, like open space and rural character, comes from our agricultural and forest industries. Both are integral to our economy in the jobs they provide, the spending of those wages in our communities and the economic multipliers that come from an industry of consumers and suppliers.

Tree Tapping ~ Fuller’s Sugar House ~ Lancaster

Then there is that which we can’t put a dollar value on – the scent of newly-mown hay on a summer’s afternoon, the architecture of a lovely old barn, a walk in the woods of a healthy forest and the sweet taste of maple syrup.

The expo is sponsored by our friends down the hall at the Division of Forest and Lands, the New Hampshire Department of Agriculture, Markets and Food and the UNH Cooperative Extension. Together, they have come up with a terrific schedule of events, including educational seminars, like backyard maple sugaring, a look at bees and beeswax and a farmers’ rap session.

There’s lots of fun for children, too, and if they are under 16, they get admitted for free. Some representatives of 4-H will be on hand, there will be some animals and other kid-friendly activities.

So come on out and help celebrate our fields, farms and forests this weekend. Bring two non-perishable food items to help restock the NH Food Bank and $1 comes off the admission price.

Lorna Colquhoun
Communications Director
NH Division of Economic Development