2023 Vermont Farm Show canceled; board cites COVID issues

ESSEX JUNCTION, Vt. (WCAX) - The Vermont Farm Show is canceled again next year because of COVID-19.

The board of trustees cited circumstances related to and created by the coronavirus pandemic for the 2023 cancellation. Organizers say it was a combination of issues, such as not having a complete leadership team on the farm show volunteer board, missing president or show manager.

They also say before the pandemic hit, they were seeing waning numbers attending their show.

So they need to take a step back and figure out a way to re-envision the farm show to attract a broader audience.

“We are really excited to take this break to hopefully bring in more partners and try to kind of diversify and widen our audience, we’d love the farm show to include not just farmers but also consumers and eaters as well,” said Kyla Bedard, the vice president of the Vermont Farm Show.

The board voted unanimously to bring the show back in 2024.

They are working with the Agency of Agriculture to create a focus group working to help make the show reach more people in Vermont.

The annual Vermont Farm Show promotes agriculture in the state with its farming displays, exhibits and demonstrations.

The show was also canceled in 2021 and 2022 because of health and safety concerns due to COVID.

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