The Milk Producers' Organization (MPO), Eastern Cape will be hosting the first milk festival ever held in South Africa. This historic event will take place on 23 and 24 September between Jeffreys Bay and Gqeberha (Port Elizabeth). The main sponsor is The Co-op | Die Koöperasie.
Anri Wolmarans, MPO Eastern Cape's regional manager, told Maroela Media that the idea of the festival is to promote the dairy industry, which currently also has to face many challenges.
"We want to bring the dairy farmer and the consumer together and get the public excited about milk. There is also a lot of information we want to pass on and educational work that needs to be done to promote the true image of milk as a whole and to increase demand, "she says.
The interest is great and Wolmarans has already received 40 applications for stalls in the first week. She says there is still a lot of space and would like to invite more agricultural stalls to exhibit their products and services.
The MPO's national annual general meeting (AGM) also takes place on 23 September. The AGM will be held on Friday afternoon, but the festival will run from lunch on Friday to Saturday night.
Other attractions include:
• Fun zone to keep the children busy all day,
• daily cow milk demonstration,
• melktert eating competition.
• heaps of dairy products. food and craft stalls.
• obedience and security demonstrations by a Belgian Malinois and a German Shepherd dog, and
• tool exhibitions.
Grant Puttergill, a farmer from Port Elizabeth, will bring some of his "ladies" to the festival every day to teach children about cows and milk production.
Jakkie Louw will perform on the evening of 23 September and Altus Theart on the evening of 24 September - both well-known South African artists. During the day, local talent will also have the opportunity to entertain visitors. Wolmarans assures prospective visitors that there will be enough accommodation available , which includes camping space. "The family can easily make this a weekend event," she adds.
Other sponsors include: Alltech, Camelus, CHOC, Crickley, DeLaval, GEO, Jefferys Bay Tourism, Standard Bank, Waikato SA, Woodlands Dairy.
For more information contact Anri Wolmarans on 064 934 3951, or send an email to ec@mpo.co.za.
Source Credit: Du Preez de Villiers, Maroela Media
