Plans are currently underway for the annual Octorara Agriculture, Business, Environmental Science & Technology (OABEST) Expo that will take place on Saturday, May 20, from 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at Octorara Junior-Senior High School, 228 Highland Road, Atglen. Among the planned festivities are a student art show, a petting zoo, a craft show, children's activities, a mobile video game truck, a tractor show and displays by student and community organizations.

Students from the Octorara Area Career and Technical Education Programs (OACTEP) are helping to organize the event along with Lisa McNamara, director of career and technical education for the Octorara Area School District.

"Planning (for OABEST) starts in October. We have about 2,000 people attend this event," said McNamara, noting that students in each of the OACTEP areas of study are planning certain aspects of the day.

New attractions this year will include a community job fair and a community yard sale.

Students in the Business, Marketing and Entrepreneurship program will help with the job fair during which participants will be able to speak with representatives from local companies that are hiring. "We are doing mock job interviews," noted student Denise Washington. "We will ask people interview questions and (discuss) what the company looks for in an employee to help them be prepared for their on-site interviews they will be doing at the job fair."

For the yard sale, residents of the Octorara Area School District are invited to set up a table in a 10-by-10-foot space and sell their gently used items. There is no fee to participate.

Also new this year is a cornhole tournament fundraiser for Kacie's Cause. For more information, contact Kristen Brown at kristen.kaciescause@gmail.com.

Students in the Graphic Design and Illustration program are in charge of the art show. "We are hosting and setting up the senior art show, and the National Honor Society is also selling ceramic bowls and artwork," noted student Lydia Ridderhoff.

Student Brady Zimmerman noted that the Engineering and Drafting Technology program students will demonstrate a 3D printer.

Students in the Culinary program will offer food items for sale, and Animal and Plant Science Technology students will run the petting zoo. "We will have pigs, chickens and seven or eight baby goats," noted student Caleb Spencer.

Home Security and Protective Service Academy students are organizing the displays by local first responders. "We will have fire companies (with) ambulances and fire trucks, and they will also demonstrate vehicle rescues," noted McNamara.

Students from the Diversified Occupations program will have a display table, and students in the Child Care Education program will present children's crafts and offer temporary tattoos.

Shoes will be collected as part of a fundraiser being presented by the high school Leo Club and the Octorara Parent-Teacher Organization (PTO).

For more information, visit http://www.oabestexpo.com or contact McNamara at lmcnamara@octorara.org. Local artists and crafters as well as yard sale vendors are also asked to contact McNamara to reserve a spot.