Pago Pago, AMERICAN SAMOA — The ASCC-Agriculture Community and Natural Resources Department (ACNR) Extension Program hosted its first annual “Halloween at the Farm” event at the ACNR Compound on October 29. The community-wide event served to educate the community about the work done by the ASCC-ACNR while bringing the community together to socialize, destress, and have fun.

“After a year and a half of social restrictions and border closure, the main goal of this event was to bring people of all ages all walks of life together to socialize and establish positive relationships through social interactions among people and the community,” said ASCC-ACNR Extension Program Manager Molly Asifoa-Lagai.

Over 700 people from all over the island, which included 500 plus youth, participated in the event.

It consisted of several activities and attractions such as a raffle, food tents and game booths. Each of the ASCC-ACNR programs prepared booths and activities that integrated various aspects of their work into a Halloween theme. The ASCC-ACNR activities and attractions included: the Agriculture Extension Crazy Farmers Market and Scavenger Hunt, the Forestry Program’s Haunted Trail and Lifeless Man Photo Booth, the Expanded Family Nutrition Education Program’s Witch Healthy Snack Faleo‘o, the 4-H Fun Foam Soak Parking Lot, the Health and Wellness Rock Climbing Challenge, and the Research Invasive Species Educational Creepy-Crawly Hallway.

In addition to the ASCC-ACNR activities and attractions, several ASCC student clubs and organizations set up game booths. The participating clubs were the Students’ Association For Fa‘asamoa, HOSA – Future Health Professionals, Green Force, Impact, Powerhouse, Phi Theta Kappa, and the ROTC. Partner agencies in attendance were the Governor's Drug Control Office “Ku‘u Loa” Program, the Department of Public Safety, and Emergency Medical Services.

 “’Halloween at the Farm’ will be an annual event for ASCC-ACNR and we will do our best to focus on educating the public and creating opportunities for social engagement for families and youth within the community,” said Asifoa-Lagai.

The ASCC-ACNR Extension Program express their gratitude for the support of ASCC President Dr. Rosevonne Makaiwi-Pato, ASCC-ACNR Director Aufa‘i Apulu Ropeti Areta, ASCC-ACNR staff, the ASCC Finance and Procurement Departments, ASCC Security and Custodians, the Student Government Association (SGA) and its Advisor Ashley Felise, ASCC student clubs and organizations, the American Samoa Power Authority, the Department of Public Safety, the Fire Department, partner agencies, local farmers, Christina Sene, and the families and youth that participated in the event.

The ASCC-ACNR Extension Program consists of four main components: Agriculture Extension, Forestry, Family and Consumer Sciences, and the 4-H Youth Development. For more information about the ASCC-ACNR Extension Program, call the ASCC-ACNR at 699-1575.