MOFGA unveiled the 2023 Common Ground Country Fair artwork earlier today at the Agricultural Trades Show in Augusta. The artwork for the fair’s promotional materials is selected from contest submissions each year and the winning design is highly anticipated. This year’s artwork by Rebekah Lowell is titled “Monarchs and Milkweed.” With the monarch butterfly population declining due to habitat loss, the message of “Monarchs and Milkweed” is both timely and a fitting selection for MOFGA’s annual celebration of rural living.
“As a survivor of domestic abuse, monarchs hold a special place in my heart — for their resiliency, strength and metamorphosis, despite their size. Over the past several years, I’ve rescued and released over 1,000 monarchs from local hayfields, and have started tagging them,” says Lowell. “Monarchs are suffering due to climate change and habitat loss. They need milkweed to survive so anywhere you can let native milkweed grow, or plant new milkweed, you’re helping monarchs have a chance at life.”
The “Monarchs and Milkweed” posters are available for sale in MOFGA’s online store and at The Maine Organic Marketplace, located at 55 Main Street in Freeport.
Planning is underway for the 2023 Common Ground Country Fair taking place September 22, 23 and 24 in Unity, Maine, with vendor applications now being accepted for many areas of the fair. Vendors and exhibitors interested in learning more about how they can participate in the event this year can learn more at: mofga.org/the-fair.
“We are grateful to feature Rebekah’s beautiful artwork as the central image for the 2023 fair. Her detailed portrayal of the monarch butterfly’s life cycle offers us the opportunity to highlight the importance of this keystone species and the continued conservation efforts needed to help ensure the survival of pollinators,” says April Boucher, MOFGA’s Common Ground Country Fair director. “Education is an important part of the fair, for our communities and for the future of agriculture. We hope you will join us to learn more.”
