St. Croix showed up and showed out once again for AgriFest 2026, officially known as the 54th Annual Agriculture and Food Fair of the U.S. Virgin Islands — and affectionately known across this island as simply “Ag Fair.”
Held February 14–16, 2026, at the Department of Agriculture Agricultural Fairgrounds on St. Croix, the annual fair is organized by the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture (VIDA) and jointly sponsored by the University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) School of Agriculture and the Virgin Islands Lottery.
While the Agriculture and Food Fair serves the entire U.S. Virgin Islands, it lives and breathes right here on St. Croix. The farmers, the vendors, the musicians, the students, the families — most of them are from this land or call this land home. Ag Fair belongs to the territory, yes. But it is rooted deeply in St. Croix soil.
And this year? It was beautiful.
For three full days, the fairgrounds transformed into a living celebration of agriculture, culture, music, fashion, youth innovation, entrepreneurship, and that unmistakable Crucian energy you simply cannot replicate anywhere else.
A Marketplace That Reflects St. Croix Creativity
The vendor lanes stretched long and vibrant beneath the Caribbean sun, showcasing the depth of talent across St. Croix and the wider Virgin Islands community. Handmade dresses in bold prints moved gently in the breeze. Jewelry artisans arranged intricate pieces that caught the light. Authors stood proudly beside books they had written themselves. Designers shared the inspiration behind their fabrics and collections.
The marketplace felt personal and grounded — not mass-produced, not imported energy, but creativity cultivated right here.
And then there was the food.
Golden, flaky pâtés were everywhere: conch pâté, oxtail pâté, shrimp pâté, beef pâté — crisp on the outside and rich within. Vendors served generous plates of stew chicken and seasoned rice, thick callaloo, bubbling conch water, and slow-simmered goat soup that carried the aroma of tradition across the grounds.
The sweets table delivered its own kind of nostalgia. Vienna cakes. Butter cookies. Sugar cakes. Familiar flavors that feel inseparable from St. Croix gatherings.
Drink vendors kept everything refreshing and rooted in island agriculture, offering passion fruit juice, local cherry juice, fresh coconut water, sea moss drinks, peanut punch, and other blends that reflected what grows here.
Music as the Weekend’s Pulse
Live entertainment gave Ag Fair its steady rhythm. Performances from 411 Live Band, Hartatak Band Int’l, and Stanley and the Ten Sleepless Knights energized the crowds, while DJs kept the sound flowing between sets.
The music didn’t stay contained to one stage. It rolled across the Department of Agriculture Agricultural Fairgrounds, weaving into conversations and echoing over open fields. You could be halfway to the agriculture building and still feel the bass under your feet.
Ag Fair has always been about more than farming — it is celebration layered on top of heritage.
The Heart of Ag Fair: Agriculture in Full Display
At its core, the St. Croix Ag Fair exists to honor farming, food production, sustainability, and the future of agriculture on St. Croix and throughout the U.S. Virgin Islands.
Inside the agriculture building, farmers from across St. Croix proudly showcased the results of this land. Starter plants and young fruit trees stood ready for new yards. Tables overflowed with leafy greens, squash, pumpkins, fresh beans, bananas, mushrooms, spices, honey, and homemade sauces. Bottles of pepper sauce in deep reds and bright oranges lined the displays.
The scent inside the building was unmistakable — earthy, sweet, green, and rich. It was the smell of harvest and hard work. It was St. Croix soil made visible.
Floral exhibits added bursts of color and care, reinforcing that agriculture here is not only practical but beautiful.
The collaboration between the Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture and the UVI School of Agriculture was evident throughout the fair, underscoring that agriculture on St. Croix is not only legacy — it is research, innovation, food security, and future opportunity.
Youth Innovation and Community Investment
One of the most encouraging aspects of AgriFest 2026 was the strong presence of youth and educational programming rooted right here in St. Croix schools.
Students presented agricultural and sustainability-focused projects that reflected creativity, research, and real-world application. These weren’t simply classroom displays — they were signs that the next generation is thinking seriously about land stewardship, environmental protection, and local food systems.
Under the UVI tent, programs from the School of Agriculture, UVI GROEE, VI EPSCoR, and the Research and Technology Park highlighted forward-thinking initiatives happening on St. Croix and across the Virgin Islands. Agencies like the Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority (VIWMA) and the Department of Planning and Natural Resources (DPNR) provided outreach connecting agriculture to environmental responsibility and sustainable development.
The children’s area, supported by organizations like CMCArts and the Children’s Museum, ensured that even the youngest attendees were engaged in hands-on learning and creativity.
Ag Fair continues to show that agriculture on St. Croix is both heritage and horizon.
Animals, Tractor Rides, and Simple Joy
Livestock exhibits remained a favorite among families. Cows, goats, pigs, and birds rested calmly in shaded enclosures, offering children an up-close introduction to farm life and the agricultural systems that sustain this island.
Tractor rides circled the fairgrounds in bright yellow wagons pulled by sturdy blue tractors, carrying families through the property with laughter and wind in their hair. The open fields created space for children to run freely, for elders to sit comfortably in the shade, and for friends to reconnect without hurry.
Ag Fair always leaves room for that kind of joy.
Culture Walking Tall
Throughout the weekend, the Guardians of Culture Moko Jumbies towered above the crowd in vibrant madras and bold garments. Their presence at the St. Croix Agricultural Fair felt grounding and celebratory at once — a reminder that culture here stands tall.
Fashion was equally part of the experience. Men arrived sharp and intentional. Women brought color and texture through madras prints, African fabrics, flowing dresses, layered jewelry, and beautifully styled natural hair. The fairgrounds felt like a runway rooted in heritage and self-expression.
Ag Fair is agriculture, yes — but it is also identity.
Why Ag Fair on St. Croix Matters
For visitors searching for things to do in St. Croix in February, especially during the annual St. Croix Ag Fair, this celebration remains one of the most authentic and immersive cultural events in the Caribbean.
For residents, it carries deeper meaning.
At some point during the weekend, nearly everyone ran into someone they hadn’t seen in a while. Conversations stretched. Hugs were exchanged. Stories were shared.
Ag Fair gathers St. Croix without forcing it. It uplifts farmers. It celebrates youth. It honors land and culture. It strengthens community bonds.
It’s community in its most organic form.
Three days of farming, flavor, fashion, music, education, and shared pride. Three days of St. Croix being fully, unapologetically itself.
If we missed something you loved about AgriFest 2026 at the Department of Agriculture Agricultural Fairgrounds on St. Croix, let us know. What was your favorite moment at this year’s St. Croix Ag Fair?
Until next year, Crucial Crucian family. 🌾🇻🇮
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