SOUTH FLORIDA FAIR & PALM BEACH COUNTY EXPOSITIONS INC

THE PRIMARY PURPOSE OF THE SOUTH FLORIDA FAIR AND PALM BEACH COUNTY EXPOSITIONS, INC. IS TO PRODUCE THE ANNUAL SOUTH FLORIDA FAIR. THE FAIR IS A STATE CHARTERED DISTRICT AGRICULTURAL FAIR SHOWCASING THE SOUTH FLORIDA AREA. THE FAIR ACCEPTS ENTRIES INTO ITS AGRICULTURAL AND EDUCATIONAL COMPETITIONS FROM THE FIVE COUNTIES THAT IT IS CHARTERED TO SERVE: PALM BEACH, MARTIN, BROWARD, OKEECHOBEE AND HENDRY. WITH THE EVOLVING NATURE OF THE AGRICULTURAL INDUSTRY IN FLORIDA, WE ALSO ENCOURAGE YOUTH IN 18 FLORIDA COUNTIES TO BECOME INVOLVED IN OUR COMPETITIVE LIVESTOCK AND AGRICULTURE PROGRAMS. THROUGH THIS OUTREACH, WE HOPE TO PROMOTE THE GROWTH OF SUCH PROGRAMS THROUGHOUT FLORIDA. HIGHLIGHTS ARE A LIVESTOCK DISPLAY ENCOMPASSING OVER EIGHT ACRES, A YOUTH HORTICULTURAL DISPLAY, HUNDREDS OF YOUTH 4H AND FFA EXHIBITS AND SEVERAL PROGRAMS WHICH CONCENTRATE ON THE YOUTH OF OUR AREA THROUGH COOPERATION WITH THE LOCAL SCHOOL DISTRICT.THROUGHOUT THE REMAINDER OF THE CALENDAR YEAR, THE FAIRGROUNDS OFFERS ITS FACILITIES TO VARIOUS GROUPS AND ORGANIZATIONS WHOSE EMPHASIS IS THE BETTERMENT OF THE COMMUNITY, INCLUDING THE SCHOOL DISTRICT SCIENCE FAIR, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT'S COLLEGE AND CAREER NIGHTS, PALM BEACH COUNTY SHERIFF'S DEPARTMENT, FLORIDA NURSERY GROWER'S ASSOCIATION, AND THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO NAME A FEW. THE FAIR ALSO PROVIDES SEVERAL EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES TO LOCAL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL STUDENTS. THESE INCLUDE SCHOOL TOURS HIGHLIGHTING THE HISTORY OF EARLY FLORIDA IN THE FAIR'S YESTERYEAR VILLAGE, SCHOOL TOURS OF THE FAIR'S EXTENSIVE AGRICULTURAL EXHIBITS DURING THE ANNUAL SOUTH FLORIDA FAIR, PROGRAMS IN EMBRIOLOGY AND A PROGRAM THAT ENCOURAGES STUDENTS TO READ BOOKS ABOUT AGRICULTURE OR WITH THEMES THAT CENTER ON AGRICULTURE. FINALLY, THE FAIR ASSISTS LOCAL YOUTH THROUGH ITS SCHOLARSHIP FUND, WHICH SINCE THE EARLY 1980'S, HAS SUPPLIED OVER $700,000 IN GRANTS TO WORTHWHILE STUDENTS. GRANTS PAID FOR THE CURRENT YEAR TOTALED $94,000.